Online Tool Helps Promote

Legislative Support On HEART For Women Act

A new website launched by the American Heart Association (AHA) provides the public with an effective tool to urge Congress to pass federal legislation aimed at reducing the No. 1 killer of American women — heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases.

Visitors to www.heartforwomen.org can send letters directly to their members of Congress urging them to cosponsor the HEART for Women Act, landmark legislation introduced earlier this year that would improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in women. Heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than 480,000 American women each year — more than the next five causes of death combined — and minority women have a greater prevalence of risk factors. To help educate women about cardiovascular diseases, AHA’s Go Red for Women nationwide movement encourages women to learn the risk factors and protect their health.

 “With just the click of a few buttons, citizens can take the Go Red for Women movement to the next level by making certain that our elected leaders recognize that reducing cardiovascular disease in women needs to be a national priority,” said Alice Jacobs, MD, past president, AHA. “By supporting and cosponsoring the HEART for Women Act, our lawmakers will help countless women across the country live longer and healthier lives.”

The HEART for Women Act would authorize an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women; tighten Food and Drug Administration requirements for reporting gender-based data about new and experimental medicines and devices; and expand cost-effective screening programs for low-income, uninsured women at risk for heart disease and stroke.

The HEART for Women Act was introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Barbara Cubin (R-WY).