Current Status Bill Number:1193 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19980414 Primary Sponsor:Giese All Sponsors:Giese Drafted Document Number:kgh\15560ac.98 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19980421 Subject:Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Month, May designated as; Resolutions
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19980421 Received from House House 19980415 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence Senate 19980414 Introduced, adopted, sent to HouseView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY AS STROKE MONTH IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND URGING ALL CITIZENS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES REGARDING RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE AND HEART DISEASE AND THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THESE DISEASES.
Whereas, South Carolina suffers from the highest death rate from stroke and heart disease in the nation; and
Whereas, stroke and heart disease are major preventable killers in South Carolina; and
Whereas, the average South Carolinian lives two years less than the average American; and
Whereas, eastern South Carolina is known as the "Buckle of the Stroke Belt" because of the high occurrence of stroke in this area; and
Whereas, stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in both South Carolina and the United States; and
Whereas, stroke and heart disease are South Carolina's leading killers, accounting for approximately fifty percent of all deaths in the State; and
Whereas, stroke, heart disease, and related complications are major causes of hospitalization, disability, and health care costs; and
Whereas, during 1996, $2,500,000,000 was spent for hospitalizations in South Carolina for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases including stroke, heart failure and shock, coronary bypass, cardiac catheterization, heart transplant, and end stage renal disease; and
Whereas, stroke and heart disease cost the State of South Carolina countless millions of dollars in lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and lost economic opportunity; and
Whereas, risk factors for developing heart disease and stroke are widespread and include uncontrolled high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes, and nearly all can be reduced and/or prevented; and
Whereas, it is the public policy of this State to prevent unnecessary mortality, morbidity, cost, and needless suffering from stroke and heart disease stroke wherever possible; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly recognizes that prevention of stroke and heart disease is a matter of both state and local policy and of public concern and that involving professionals from multiple disciplines and persons from multiple sectors of society can increase the understanding of the causes of and methods for preventing the heart disease and stroke burden to the citizens of South Carolina; and
Whereas, increased awareness of the causes, signs, and symptoms of these diseases is essential to prevention and treatment; and
Whereas, a coordinated, comprehensive, planned joint public and private effort is needed to achieve the prevention and awareness of this unnecessary burden from stroke and heart disease in South Carolina; and
Whereas, a coordinated, comprehensive, long-term statewide effort to reduce risk factors in all population groups can markedly reduce the continuing toll of stroke and heart disease in South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, declares the month of May as Stroke Awareness Month in South Carolina and urges all citizens to educate themselves regarding the risk factors for stroke and heart disease and the signs and symptoms of these conditions.