Senate Resolution No. 675

BY: Senator SANDERS

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
February 2023, as Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular
Disease Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of American Heart
Month

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 2023, as
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Month in the State of New York,
in conjunction with the observance of American Heart Month; and

WHEREAS, The American Heart Association truly wants to help the
citizens of this great nation to live longer, healthier lives so they
can enjoy all of life's precious moments; American Heart Month, a
federally designated event, is a perfect way to remind Americans to
focus on their hearts and encourage them to get their families, friends
and communities involved; and

WHEREAS, Each year the American Heart Association, the National
Heart, Lung and Blood institute and other health-oriented organizations
celebrate American Heart Month to raise awareness of the seriousness of
heart disease and to promote healthy lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States;
one in every four deaths is attributed to it, ahead of cancer, diabetes
and Alzheimer's disease; one person dies every 37 seconds from heart
disease (also known as cardiovascular disease), and one in three
American adults (85 million people) live with some form of heart
disease; and

WHEREAS, Many of us may be familiar with cardiovascular events,
including heart attack, stroke, and heart disease, though less familiar
with the underlying condition of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
(ASCVD) causing these events; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 21 million adults in the United States have
been diagnosed with ASCVD and are at risk of a cardiovascular event; and

WHEREAS, ASCVD is linked to the build-up of low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein(a) cholesterol [Lp(a)] in the
arteries; and

WHEREAS, Studies have shown nearly 70 million United States adults
had higher than recommended LDL-C levels and one in five had elevated
Lp(a); and

WHEREAS, Only 20 percent of people with ASCVD who are taking
statins, one of the leading lipid-lowering therapies, actually achieve
healthy levels of LDL-C; and

WHEREAS, Limited awareness of Lp(a) among providers and patients has
resulted in less than one percent of ASCVD patients being tested for
Lp(a) in the United States, leaving them at risk for associated
cardiovascular events; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this health issue and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, state and national levels to promote screening and support
patients and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 2023, as
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Month in the State of New York,
in conjunction with the observance of American Heart Month; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.