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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, February is American Heart Month, and on February |
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20, 2025, the American Heart Association is hosting the Texas |
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Advocacy Day rally at the State Capitol in Austin to raise awareness |
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of heart disease and urge all Texans to learn more about cardiac |
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emergency response; and |
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WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death |
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and disability in the world; the chance of developing heart disease |
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increases with age, and nearly half of Americans have at least one |
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of the several key risk factors, which include obesity, physical |
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inactivity, unrelieved stress, high blood pressure, an unhealthy |
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diet, high cholesterol, a history of smoking, and diabetes; and |
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WHEREAS, Individuals of every background can significantly |
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reduce these risks by making positive lifestyle changes, such as |
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taking part in regular aerobic exercise, quitting smoking, and |
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adopting a low-sodium, heart-healthy diet; routine medical |
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checkups are also an important part of managing the conditions that |
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can lead to heart disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year in the U.S., more than 350,000 people |
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experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, with approximately |
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70 percent of these occurrences happening at home; cardiopulmonary |
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resuscitation, especially if performed immediately, can double or |
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triple a person's chance of survival, yet only about 46 percent of |
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individuals who have gone into cardiac arrest were administered CPR |
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while waiting for emergency responders; and |
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WHEREAS, CPR education and the accessibility of automated |
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external defibrillators are crucial components of helping during |
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cardiac emergencies; by 2030, the American Heart Association hopes |
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to have doubled the survival rate from cardiac arrest by teaching |
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bystanders how to become lifesavers; and |
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WHEREAS, American Heart Month represents a valuable |
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opportunity for all Americans to take an active role in their |
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personal well-being and to make a meaningful contribution to their |
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own health, the health of their loved ones, and the health and |
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prosperity of our nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 2025 as American Heart Month |
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in Texas and encourage the public to learn more about heart health |
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and how to respond in a cardiac emergency. |