PROCLAMATION 7166—FEB. 3, 1999 113 STAT. 2051 Proclamation 7166 of February 3, 1999 American Heart Month, 1999 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Thanks to the dedicated efforts of scientists and researchers and the strong support of the American public, today we steind at the threshold of a new frontier in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. And in coming years, Americans will reap even greater benefits from our ongoing commitment to heart research. Already, research has profoundly altered scientists' understanding of heart disease, revealing that the likelihood of heart disease is increased by risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and a feimily history of early heart disease. Armed with this knowledge, millions of Americans have been able to take steps to reduce their risk of illness. Thanks to scientific discoveries, those aheady afflicted with heart disease now have access to lifesaving therapies and procedxu-es such as clot-dissolving drugs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, and balloon angioplasty. Even greater advances lie ahead. Fields on the verge of delivering major innovations include molecular genetics, gene therapy, biotechnology, immunology, and epidemiology. The next breakthroughs will include better noninvasive diagnostic tools that can help physicians examine the heart and blood vessels without surgery; an implantable mechanical device that can restore heart function to those suffering heart failure; and a drug that can promote the growth of new blood vessels to body tissues and organs with poor circulation. But technology is not a panacea. Despite the great gains we have made, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and millions of Americans have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Moreover, recent data have shown a slight rise in the death rate for stroke and a slowing in the decline of the death rate for coronary heart disease. Some cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure, as well as two key heart disease risk factors, obesity and physical inactivity, are on the increase among Americeins. We must work together to make all Americans aware of the information science has given us regarding controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is particularly important that we reach out to AM- can Americans, Hispanic Americans, other minority communities, and women, who often are at high risk for heart disease and stroke, and ensvire that they have access to the resources and information they need to guard against these afflictions. We must also encourage families to teach their children the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle practices early and maintaining them into and throughout adulthood. The Federal Government continues to play a vital role in improving the cardiovascular health of Americans by supporting research and public education through the National Heart, Limg, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The American Heart Association, through its research and education programs and its broad network of
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