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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1656 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1656

Raising awareness of hypertension and helping to reverse its prevalence 
in the United States through education, community programs, culturally 
 competent strategies, research, and efforts to reduce the excess salt 
                           content in foods.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 23, 2010

Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Baca, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, 
Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Clay, 
Ms. Fudge, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Meeks 
 of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr. Rangel, and Mr. Hinojosa) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Raising awareness of hypertension and helping to reverse its prevalence 
in the United States through education, community programs, culturally 
 competent strategies, research, and efforts to reduce the excess salt 
                           content in foods.

Whereas hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a cardiovascular 
        condition in which systolic blood pressure is consistently at or above 
        140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure at or 
        above 90 mmHg;
Whereas high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, 
        the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, as 
        well as congestive heart failure and kidney disease;
Whereas approximately one out of three adults in the United States (74,500,000 
        people) has hypertension and one out of four is pre-hypertensive, which 
        means that they have higher-than-normal blood pressure and are at 
        increased risk for developing hypertension;
Whereas high blood pressure is directly and indirectly responsible for tens of 
        thousands of deaths in the United States each year, and its prevalence 
        is expected to grow due to a large aging population and high rates of 
        obesity and diabetes;
Whereas despite the fact that hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed 
        chronic condition in the United States, more than one out of five 
        individuals is unaware that they have high blood pressure;
Whereas high blood pressure is known as the ``silent killer'' because there are 
        often no signs or symptoms that indicate that an individual's blood 
        pressure has reached a deadly level;
Whereas misconceptions about hypertension risks, causes, and treatments, as well 
        as poor communication between health care providers and patients and 
        inadequate access to primary care, have contributed to large numbers of 
        undiagnosed and unmanaged high blood pressure;
Whereas although hypertension is a national problem, hypertension is especially 
        prevalent in the Southeast, which also has high rates of poverty, 
        obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular and kidney disease;
Whereas African-Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension in the 
        United States and are more likely to develop hypertension at earlier 
        ages, develop cardiovascular morbidity and disability, and die from 
        hypertension or hypertension-related illnesses;
Whereas higher occurrences of salt sensitivity, cardiovascular and renal 
        disease, poverty, genetic predisposition, and social, cultural, and 
        environmental factors all contribute to disproportionately high rates of 
        hypertension among African-Americans;
Whereas this racial disparity is further pronounced by gender, with 
        approximately 44 percent of African-American women in the United States 
        having high blood pressure compared to approximately 30 percent of women 
        in the United States as a whole;
Whereas furthermore, women with high blood pressure are more likely to 
        experience certain complications during pregnancy, including kidney and 
        other organ damage, low birth weight, early delivery, stillbirth, and 
        maternal mortality;
Whereas although hypertension is lower among Hispanics than other groups, 
        Hispanics often have low levels of hypertension awareness, treatment, 
        and control, which can increase the likelihood of hypertension-related 
        mortalities;
Whereas high blood pressure often accompanies conditions that are associated 
        with aging, however, it is increasingly more common among younger people 
        due to high rates of child obesity, salt consumption, inactivity, and 
        heredity;
Whereas despite these trends, advances in medical science, research, and 
        technology have made hypertension a manageable condition that can be 
        prevented, delayed, or reversed;
Whereas weight management, healthy eating habits, exercise, decreased salt, 
        caloric, and cholesterol intake, the proper combination of 
        antihypertensive medication, and being knowledgeable of blood pressure 
        levels are all proven ways to prevent and manage hypertension;
Whereas in particular, a diet high in sodium (salt) increases one's risk for 
        developing high blood pressure and the average person in the United 
        States consumes almost 1.5 times the daily maximum value of salt 
        established by the Department of Health and Human Services;
Whereas many consumers do not know how to read food labels, which makes it 
        difficult to understand which foods have unhealthy or dangerous levels 
        of sodium and to make informed decisions;
Whereas low-income individuals and families, and those living in food deserts, 
        frequently have limited options and are forced to choose foods that have 
        high salt content and low nutritional value;
Whereas a study by the American Medical Association concluded that 150,000 lives 
        could be saved in the United States each year if the sodium content in 
        processed foods and restaurant foods, which account for approximately 77 
        percent of the salt intake for people in the Nation, were decreased by 
        50 percent; and
Whereas health care providers, patients, communities, governmental entities, the 
        food industry, and health-focused organizations must work together to 
        increase awareness of hypertension and to develop sustainable solutions 
        for hypertension prevention, treatment, and control: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) encourages individuals to be proactive about their 
        health and to become knowledgeable of their blood pressure as 
        well as their risk for hypertension;
            (2) supports community-based programs that use culturally 
        competent and evidence-based strategies to address 
        hypertension;
            (3) recognizes the importance of linking hypertension 
        awareness programs to other existing programs that address 
        health concerns such as diabetes and obesity at the community 
        health and development levels;
            (4) supports further research that provides a better 
        understanding of how hypertension affects communities that have 
        been historically underrepresented in demographic studies and 
        clinical trials for antihypertensive drugs, as well as 
        solutions to addressing these issues; and
            (5) calls for the Food and Drug Administration to set 
        mandatory national standards, including improved nutrition 
        labeling, for the sodium content in foods, especially those 
        sold in grocery stores and served in schools and restaurants.
                                 <all>
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