Recognizing February 2022 as American Heart Month, encouraging Philadelphians to be mindful of their heart health, and honoring the American Heart Association for their advocacy on the issue of heart health.

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 696,000 people died of heart disease in 2020, making heart disease the continued leading cause of death in America; and

WHEREAS, Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Philadelphians, taking lives at a higher rate in Philadelphia than in any other American big city; and

WHEREAS, Hypertension impacts 34% of adults in the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The notion that heart disease is exclusive to older men is pervasive and misleading. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both women and men. One in every five female deaths stem from heart disease; and

WHEREAS, Numbers from the United States Department of Health and Human Services say that, “in 2018, African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites”; and

WHEREAS, People with cardiovascular disease are more likely to experience severe symptoms of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared the first American Heart Month; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association is the largest not-for-profit funder of heart disease research, having invested over $4.8 billion in heart disease research; and

WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia takes great pleasure in recognizing organizations, like the American Heart Association, that, through dedication and excellence, contribute in a meaningful way to the wellbeing of communities in the City of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes February 2022 as American Heart Month, encourages Philadelphians to be mindful of their heart health, and honors the American Heart Association for their advocacy on the issue of heart health.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to the American Heart Association of Philadelphia, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

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