For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 2, 2002
American Heart Month Proclamation
American Heart Month, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
A new era in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular
diseases has created renewed hope for those suffering from
heart-related disorders. Anti-coagulant drugs and other
technologically innovative artery-opening treatments, like angioplasty,
are enabling doctors to better treat cardiovascular problems in their
early stages. Armed with the knowledge that lifestyle plays
a significant role in the prevention of heart disease, more and more
Americans have recognized the importance of not smoking, getting
regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Despite these advances, cardiovascular disease, including heart
disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of death in the United
States and greatly increases disability among
Americans. This year, cardiovascular disease will be the
primary or contributing cause in about 60 percent of all deaths and
will cost our Nation more than $330 billion in lost wages, diminished
productivity, and medical expenses. It is a little known
fact that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, with
over 370,000 deaths every year.
According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, most heart attack
patients wait more than 2 hours before seeking emergency care,
primarily because they do not recognize the symptoms of a heart
attack. Delayed awareness of the onset of a heart attack
means that only one in five heart attack victims gets to the hospital
quickly enough to benefit from life-saving medical treatments.
Fortunately, many new public-private partnerships are working to
educate Americans about the warning signs of a heart attack and the
need for rapid response. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute and the American Heart Association have recently joined with
other national organizations to sponsor a campaign called "Act in Time
to Heart Attack Signs." This public awareness initiative
emphasizes preventing heart attacks, recognizing sometimes subtle heart
attack symptoms, and immediately calling 911 when those symptoms first
appear.
The AHA has developed an educational campaign, "Operation
Heartbeat," that focuses on reducing sudden deaths from cardiac
arrest. Cardiac arrest, an abnormal heart rhythm that stops
the heart from effectively pumping blood through the body, usually
results in death within 10 to 14 minutes. Currently, only
about five percent of those who experience sudden cardiac arrest
survive. Operation Heartbeat is educating the public about
the signs of cardiac arrest, reinforcing the importance of calling 911
immediately and promoting the benefits of knowing and administering
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, until advanced care can be given to
restore a normal heartbeat.
At this observance of American Heart Month, we pay tribute to the
researchers, physicians, and other health professionals, public
education professionals, and volunteers for their tireless efforts in
preventing, treating, and researching heart disease. We
recognize the critical importance of developing tools that will
increase survival rates from heart attacks and cardiac
arrest. By incorporating these new tools into aggressive
education programs and partnerships, we can save tens of thousands of
lives annually.
In recognition of the important needs in the ongoing fight against
cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved
December 30, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101), has
requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating
February as "American Heart Month."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2002 as
American Heart Month. I invite the Governors of the States,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to
the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join
me in reaffirming our commitment to combating cardiovascular disease
and stroke.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this first
day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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