Newswise — health groups today commended the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee for approving crucial legislation aimed at fighting heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in women, their No. 1 killer.
The American Heart Association, Society for Women's Health Research, WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. and their millions of volunteers, advocates and supporters are urging Congress to enact the Heart disease Education, Analysis and Research, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act.
The HEART for Women Act would improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases by educating both women and health care providers about prevention and diagnosis and the most effective treatments for women. It would also tighten Food and Drug Administration requirements for reporting sex and race-based data about new medicines and devices and make all 50 states eligible for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WISEWOMAN screening program for low-income, uninsured women.
The bill has broad bipartisan support with nearly 280 cosponsors in both the House and Senate. Approval by the Energy and Commerce committee is an important victory in the battle to save women's lives. The HEART for Women Act is expected to move to the full House floor for a vote soon.
"By approving this critical legislation today, the Committee brought women's health issues to the forefront," said Timothy J. Gardner, M.D., American Heart Association President. "We are now steps closer to improving cardiovascular disease treatment for women and eliminating the health disparities they face. We urge the full House to complete this vital task and pass the HEART for Women Act promptly."
"Finally, the day has come when women's heart health will receive the hearing it deserves before Congress," said Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., President and CEO, Society for Women's Health Research. "Research and effective treatment for women with heart disease continues to lag. Advancing this legislation is critical to ensuring that women and their doctors will some day have the right tools for prevention and treatment of this leading killer."
"We urge you to pass the HEART for Women Act (S. 573/H.R. 1014), which will increase education and awareness of heart disease among women and their health care providers, expand the WISEWOMAN program and improve reporting of research data on women with heart disease," says Lisa Tate, CEO, WomenHeart.
"Through education and advocacy, WomenHeart, is trying to change the deadly impact heart disease is having on our mothers, sisters, daughter and wives. Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in this country and kills eight times as many American women as breast cancer. In fact, one in four American women dies of heart disease."
Every minute in this country, someone's mother, sister, wife or friend will die from heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases claim the lives of nearly 460,000 American women each year " more than the next five causes of death combined. Nearly half of all African-American women have some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to 35 percent of white women. More than 90 percent of primary care physicians do not know that more women die each year from cardiovascular disease than men, according to an American Heart Association survey.
In addition to the American Heart Association, Society for Women's Health Research, WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and the Association of Black Cardiologists, the HEART for Women Act is also supported by more than 50 organizations. The legislation was introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Barbara Cubin (R-WY).
For more information, visit http://www.heartforwomen.org.
American Heart AssociationFounded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006"07 the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
Society for Women's Health ResearchThe Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the Society brought to national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions affecting women disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health; encourages the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about contemporary women's health issues. Visit the Society's Web site at http://www.womenshealthresearch.org for more information.
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart DiseaseWomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease is the only national organization dedicated to promoting women's heart health through advocacy, and patient support. As the leading voice for the 44 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease, WomenHeart advocates for equal access to quality care and champions prevention and early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of women's heart disease. For more information, visit http://www.womenheart.org.
Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.Founded in 1974, the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., is a nonprofit organization with an international membership of nearly 600 health care professionals. The ABC is dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease in all people of color. Today, the ABC's public and private partnerships continue to increase our impact in communities across the nation. The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and has successfully
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