Resolution 160078

..Title Recognizing and declaring February 9, 2016 as Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM Awareness Day, encouraging citizens to promote cardiovascular health. ..Body WHEREAS, Cardiovascular Disease is a class of diseases that involve the heart and blood vessels, such as a heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, arrhythmia and heart valve problems; and WHEREAS, Cardiovascular Disease is the leading causes of death in the United States. Heart disease alone is responsible for one out of every three deaths in the country; and WHEREAS, Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death among Philadelphians. According to the Department of Public Health, in the last five years, approximately 23,000 Philadelphians have died of these diseases; and WHEREAS, Studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of Cardiovascular Disease; and WHEREAS, Drexel University's Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is establishing the "R*Health: Building Resilience for Life-Long Health" program, which aims to reduce Cardiovascular Disease risk among adolescents through resilience-building, nutrition and Cardiovascular Disease education, exercise and a service-learning project to decrease the impact of adverse childhood experiences on heart health; and WHEREAS, The establishment of Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM Awareness Day provides an opportunity for residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to join together in their communities to improve cardiovascular health and raise awareness about the programs and support services that play a critical role in heart health; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and declare February 9, 2016, as Connections for Cardiovascular HealthSM Awareness Day, encouraging all citizens to connect within their community to promote cardiovascular health. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Drexel University and Astra Zeneca, for their work to combat this disease, as a representation of the sincere sentiment of this legislative body. ..End