Designating February as American Heart Month and recognizing Women of Heart/Go Red for Women in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading cause of death and stroke and is the third leading cause of death; and

WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women; and

WHEREAS, Heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than half a million women each year -- more than the next seven causes of death combined, and nearly twice as many as all forms of cancer including breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, The cost of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the United States is estimated at $352 billion; and

WHEREAS, One in five females in the United States have some form of cardiovascular disease; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-three percent of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms of this disease; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association has launched a new campaign, Go Red For Women, to encourage women to pay attention to their hearts and help them live longer, stronger lives by reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby proclaim February 19, 2004 as Women's Heart Day in the City of Philadelphia. We call upon all women to recognize the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and urge all women to be educated and aware of the risk factors for this devastating disease and take action to reduce them.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the American Heart Association further evidencing the sincere sentiment and high esteem of this legislative body.

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