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Recommendation to respectfully request City Council to recognize February as American Heart Month and support efforts to educate the public about heart disease, detection and prevention; and
Request City Manager to notify City employees and residents about participating in American Heart Month and provide information from the American Heart Association about how to take positive actions to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
DISCUSSION
Nationwide, heart disease and strokes are the No.1 & 3 leading killers, claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 every year. According to the American Heart Association, that is more than the next five causes of death in women combined. The direct and indirect cost of cardiovascular diseases in the U.S., including stroke, is estimated to be $503.2 billion per year. As a result, AHA hopes to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by at least 25% by 2010 with campaigns such as Go Red for Women Day, American Heart Month and Jump Rope for Heart that encourage men, women and children to learn more about the disease, get check-ups, exercise regularly and embrace a healthy diet.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It is typically a process that begins in childhood and involves a gradual buildup of plaque inside your arteries. Plaque contains fat, cholesterol and other substances, and can grow large enough to significantly reduce blood flow through an artery. Most of the damage occurs when a plaque becomes fragile and ruptures.
Plaques that rupture can cause blood clots to form. These clots can block blood flow at the site of the rupture or can break off and travel through the artery to another part of the body. If either happens and blocks an artery that feeds the heart or brain, it causes a heart attack or stroke. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems. Seeking early treatment can minimize the potentially devastating effe...
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