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.