Res 0978-2016

By Council Members Eugene, Palma, Gentile, Chin and Ulrich Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control, 610,000 people die of heart disease every year in the United States, making it the cause of one out of every four deaths; and Whereas, Statistics from the Heart Foundation indicate that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, the state of New York, and the city of New York and that it claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined; and Whereas, The New York State Department of Health has found that 43,112 people in New York State and 16,573 people in New York City died of heart disease in 2013; and Whereas, Research from the American Heart Association shows that since 1984, more women than men have died of heart disease; and Whereas, The National Institutes of Health advises that individuals eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, monitor their blood pressure, and refrain from smoking to lower their risks of developing heart disease; and Whereas, The United States Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30, 1963, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating February as American Heart Month, with President Obama issuing the most recent proclamation for February 2015; and Whereas, Heart Disease Awareness Week would also present an opportunity to educate young people and adults alike about steps one can take to prevent heart disease and live in a healthy way; and Whereas, The prevalence of heart disease poses grave risks to people both in New York City and nationwide; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes the first week of this and every February as Heart Disease Awareness Week. LS# 7073 12/28/2015 MK