Washington, DC (September 30, 2010) — Important legislation to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the leading killers of American women — heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases passed the House of Representatives late last night, Septemeber 29, marking a huge victory for women’s health advocates everywhere.
The Heart Disease Education, Analysis and Research and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act raises awareness among women and their health care providers about their risk for heart disease and stroke. The bill provides greater oversight of Food and Drug Administration requirements for reporting sex and race-based data about new medicines and devices and authorizes the expansion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISEWOMAN screening program for low-income, uninsured women to additional states.
“Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women and the HEART for Women Act will raise awareness, improve treatment options and educate women on prevention and care. SWHR is pleased with the House’s vote today,” said Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research.
Every minute in this country, someone's mother, sister, wife or friend will die from heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. These diseases claim the lives of more than 432,000 American women each year — more than the next four causes of death combined. Nearly half of all African-American women have some form of cardiovascular disease, compared to 35 percent of Caucasian women. More than 90 percent of primary care physicians do not know that more women die each year from cardiovascular disease than men, according to an American Heart Association survey.
The legislation was introduced by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) and Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
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For more information on the Society for Women’s Health Research please contact Rachel Griffith at 202-496-5001 or Rachel@swhr.org.
The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), a national non-profit organization based in Washington D.C., is widely recognized as the thought leader in women’s health research, particularly how sex differences impact health. SWHR’s mission is to improve the health of all women through advocacy, education and research. Visit SWHR’s website at swhr.org for more information.
