Senate Concurrent Resolution 501

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE FEBRUARY 5, 2016, AS AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION "NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY" IN MISSISSIPPI TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE EFFECTS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN WOMEN.

WHEREAS, "Go Red For Women" is the American Heart Association's solution to save women's lives. Too many women die each year because they are unaware that heart disease is their No. One killer; and

WHEREAS, each year, one in three women die of heart disease and stroke, killing approximately one woman every minute. But we can change that because 80% of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes; and

WHEREAS, women who are involved with the Go Red For Women movement live healthier lives:

· 90% have made at least one healthy behavior change.

· More than 1/3 have lost weight.

· More than 50% have increased their exercise.

· Six out of 10 have changed their diets.

· More than 40% have checked their cholesterol levels.

· One-third has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans; and

WHEREAS, heart disease is largely preventable; in fact, 80% of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking; and

WHEREAS, celebrate National Wear Red Day, the first Friday in February, is when Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. The national awareness campaign for women about heart disease introduces the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness to deliver an urgent wake-up call to American women. The Red Dress reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action. National Wear Red Day promotes the symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or Red Dress Pin. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Office on Women's Health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; the Mississippi Chapter of the American Heart Association; and many other groups promote National Wear Red Day in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, each year thousands of men and women at companies, organizations, churches and schools wear red to fight heart disease on this day:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and designate February 5, 2016, as American Heart Association "National Wear Red Day" in Mississippi and encourage all citizens to join in bringing awareness to the effects of cardiovascular disease in women.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Mississippi Chapter of the American Heart Association, forwarded to the State Board of Health for appropriate distribution to the citizens of our state, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.