American Heart Month, 2002

Proclamation 7521 of February 1, 2002

American Heart Month, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

A new era in the prevention and treatment of
cardiovascular diseases has created renewed hope for
those suffering from heart-related disorders.
Anticoagulant drugs and other technologically
innovative artery-opening treatments, like angioplasty,
are enabling doctors to better treat cardiovascular
problems in their early stages. Armed with the
knowledge that lifestyle plays a significant role in
the prevention of heart disease, more and more
Americans have recognized the importance of not
smoking, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a
healthy diet.

Despite these advances, cardiovascular disease,
including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading
cause of death in the United States and greatly
increases disability among Americans. This year,
cardiovascular disease will be the primary or
contributing cause in about 60 percent of all deaths
and will cost our Nation more than $330 billion in lost
wages, diminished productivity, and medical expenses.
It is a little known fact that heart disease is the
leading cause of death among women, with over 370,000
deaths every year.

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, most
heart attack patients wait more than 2 hours before
seeking emergency care, primarily because they do not
recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. Delayed
awareness of the onset of a heart attack means that
only one in five heart attack victims gets to the
hospital quickly enough to benefit from life-saving
medical treatments.

Fortunately, many new public-private partnerships are
working to educate Americans about the warning signs of
a heart attack and the need for rapid response. The
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the
American Heart Association have recently joined with
other national organizations to sponsor a campaign
called ``Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs.'' This
public awareness initiative emphasizes preventing heart
attacks, recognizing sometimes subtle heart attack
symptoms, and immediately calling 911 when those
symptoms first appear.

The AHA has developed an educational campaign,
``Operation Heartbeat,'' that focuses on reducing
sudden deaths from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest, an
abnormal heart rhythm that stops the heart from
effectively pumping blood through the body, usually
results in death within 10 to 14 minutes. Currently,
only about five percent of those who experience sudden
cardiac arrest survive. Operation Heartbeat is
educating the public about the signs of cardiac arrest,
reinforcing the importance of calling 911 immediately
and promoting the benefits of knowing and administering
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, until advanced care can
be given to restore a normal heartbeat.

At this observance of American Heart Month, we pay
tribute to the researchers, physicians, and other
health professionals, public education professionals,
and volunteers for their tireless efforts in
preventing, treating, and researching heart disease. We
recognize the critical importance of developing tools
that will increase survival rates from heart attacks
and cardiac arrest.

By incorporating these new tools into aggressive
education programs and partnerships, we can save tens
of thousands of lives annually.

In recognition of the important needs in the ongoing
fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by
Joint Resolution approved December 30, 1963, as amended
(77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the
President issue an annual proclamation designating
February as ``American Heart Month.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim February 2002 as American
Heart Month. I invite the Governors of the States, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and
the American people to join me in reaffirming our
commitment to combating cardiovascular disease and
stroke.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of February, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

(Presidential Sig.)B