IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 941 

Expressing support for the designation of February 22, 2017, as ‘‘National 

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day’’, coinciding with American Heart Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 5, 2016 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself and Ms. LOFGREN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of February 22, 

2017, as ‘‘National Heart Valve Disease Awareness 

Day’’, coinciding with American Heart Month. 

Whereas more than 5,000,000 people in the United States 

have been diagnosed with heart valve disease, which involves damage to one or more of the heart’s valves and 

can reduce blood flow, causing the heart to work harder 

and the body to get less oxygen; 

Whereas more than 22,000 people in the United States die 

from heart valve disease every year; 

Whereas more than 1 in 8 people age 75 and older are estimated to have moderate to severe valve disease; 

Whereas 1 in 10 women age 75 and older are estimated to 

have valve disease; 


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•HRES 941 IH 

Whereas if not treated, some forms of heart valve disease can 

lead to major health problems including: decreased mobility, disability, loss of independence, heart failure, stroke, 

blood clotting, or even death; 

Whereas when aortic stenosis, a common form of valve disease, becomes severe, the average survival rate without 

surgical intervention is as low as 50 percent at 2 years 

after the onset of symptoms and 20 percent at 5 years; 

Whereas symptoms of heart valve disease such as shortness 

of breath, excessive fatigue, and fainting are often dismissed as normal aspects of aging; 

Whereas people are at higher risk of developing heart valve 

disease if they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, 

insulin resistance, diabetes, coronary heart disease, a congenital heart abnormality or family history of valve disease, a history of heart problems like heart attack or 

heart failure, rheumatic fever or infective endocarditis, or 

previous valve disease; 

Whereas people are also at higher risk of developing heart 

valve disease if they are a smoker, overweight or obese, 

or older in age; 

Whereas heart valve disease, with proper education and 

awareness, can often be detected through a simple physical exam and treated with either valve repair or valve replacement; 

Whereas lifestyle changes and medication may relieve many 

symptoms and complications of valve disease; 

Whereas the survival rate for valve surgery is approximately 

97 percent, and in most cases patients are relieved of 

symptoms and enjoy a longer life; and 


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•HRES 941 IH 

Whereas the designation of February 22, 2017, as ‘‘National 

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day’’, and coinciding 

with American Heart Month, will raise public awareness 

about the specific risks of heart valve disease and ensure 

patients receive a timely diagnosis and proper treatment: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports— 

3 (A) the designation of ‘‘National Heart 

4 Valve Disease Awareness Day’’; and 

5 (B) the efforts of the Secretary of Health 

6 and Human Services, as well as the entire med7 ical community, to educate people about the 

8 risks, symptoms, and treatment of heart valve 

9 disease; and 

10 (2) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 

11 House of Representatives transmit a copy of this 

12 resolution to the Secretary of Health and Human 

13 Services. 

Æ 


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