Published: 03-02-09
Encourages Texans to get heart-healthy during American Heart Month
WASHINGTONU.S. Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas announced his support for the Heart Disease Education Analysis and Research and Treatment for Women Act S. 422. Sen. Cornyn co-sponsored this legislation in the 110th Congress as well. The legislation aims to improve the prevention diagnosis and treatment of heart disease stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in women.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women today and with February being American Heart Month now is the time to get heart-healthy and help raise awareness among friends and family" Sen. Cornyn said. While heart disease has already taken a dramatic toll on too many American lives there is still time to reverse this dangerous trend through awareness education and lifestyle changes. This legislation is important because it takes several steps to improve the prevention diagnosis and treatment of these diseases among women and their health care providers.
The HEART for Women Act would provide crucial resources to combat heart disease including grants to educate health care professionals unique aspects of heart disease in women and proper care and treatment and also provide gender and race-specific information for clinicians and researchers. The legislation would also improve access to screening for low-income women at risk for heart disease and stroke an important preventive step in reducing heart disease-related deaths. I will continue to work to implement policies on the federal level that promote preventive care and healthy lifestyles to help save more lives."
Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Stabenow (D-Michigan) introduced the bill earlier this month. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and stroke is the number three. Since 1979 the death rate for heart disease in men has declined steadily (by 17) while the death rate for women have declined by only 1.5 resulting in a disparity in heart disease mortality in women compared to men. Women are more likely than men to die within a year of having an initial heart attack. Also women are less likely than men to receive certain diagnostic testing and treatments such as angioplasties and stents for cardiovascular diseases.
Background:
Sen. Cornyn has worked in the Senate on several other initiatives that support preventive health care and awareness efforts that teach families steps they can take to prevent disease and illness:
• Introduced in the 110th Congress the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act S. 625 to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the authority to keep tobacco manufacturers from enticing young people to smoke and reduce overall tobacco use. According to the American Heart Association cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. More than 90000 people die each year from heart diseases caused by smoking.
• Has been a strong advocate for the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) a national effort that was created to help initiate expand and improve physical education programs for K-12 students. According to the Texas Heart Institute physical inactivity is a leading cause of heart disease and also increases the risk of developing other heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol high blood pressure obesity and diabetes.
• Supported the Senate-passed 2007 Farm Bill that includes several provisions to improve childhood nutrition. Sen. Cornyn secured an amendment to combat childhood obesity through the Food Stamp programthe largest federal nutrition programand ensure the government does not encourage unhealthy diets.
• Introduced in the 110th Congress the bipartisan Catalyst to Better Diabetes Care Act that would boost diabetes prevention and treatment efforts. Among other provisions the bill would help monitor progress against diabetes by creating a National Diabetes Report Card to track prevention and screening efforts. It would also encourage states to do more to combat the disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among
