WHEREAS, heart disease is the leading cause of preventable deaths in North Carolina and in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 650,000 people each year; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, approximately 18 percent of deaths in North Carolina were caused by heart disease; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is committed to supporting all people in their efforts to achieve better heart health, closing the racial gaps in cardiovascular disease, and addressing the unequal burden of heart disease among women in high-risk communities; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages residents to discuss family medical history with a health care provider, regularly monitor their blood pressure, and promote a healthy lifestyle to decrease the risk of heart disease and improve long-term heart health; and
WHEREAS, Heart Health Month is an opportunity for organizations and health practitioners in North Carolina to promote awareness of screening, increase access to screenings, and advocate for those who are at-risk and diagnosed with heart disease;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim February, 2024, as “HEART HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.