Assembly Resolution No. 912
BY: M. of A. Rules (Ortiz)
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 17, 2020, as Hypertension Day in the State of
New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health
issues that affect the lives of residents of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 17, 2020, as
Hypertension Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of World Hypertension Day; and
WHEREAS, Organized by the World Hypertension League (WHL) in 2005,
World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year on the 17th of May to
raise public awareness about hypertension, its preventive measures and
its complications; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme, "Know Your Numbers with Accurate Blood
Pressure Devices", will increase high blood pressure awareness in all
populations around the world; and
WHEREAS, Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the
walls of your arteries as the heart pumps blood; hypertension, or
abnormally high blood pressure, is a common disease in which blood flows
through blood vessels, or arteries, at higher than normal pressures; and
WHEREAS, Risk factors for hypertension include: unhealthy lifestyle
habits, age, family history and genetics, race and ethnicity and sex;
heathy lifestyle changes can decrease your risk for developing high
blood pressure, however cannot reverse most genetic causes; and
WHEREAS, High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms until
serious complications occur, making regular blood pressure readings
extremely important; undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure can
cause aneurysms, chronic kidney disease, eye damage, heart attack, heart
failure, stroke, dementia and disease of the arteries; and
WHEREAS, The high prevalence of hypertension exacts a tremendous
public health burden; as a primary contributor to heart disease and
stroke, the first and third leading causes of death worldwide, high
blood pressure was the top modifiable risk factor for disability
adjusted life-years lost worldwide in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Globally, hypertension is estimated to cause 7.5 million
deaths, about 12.8% of the total of all deaths; this accounts for 57
million disability adjusted life years (DALYS) or 3.7% of total DALYS;
and
WHEREAS, An estimated 26% of the world's population (972 million
people) has hypertension, and the prevalence is expected to increase to
29% by 2025, driven largely by increases in economically developing
nations; furthermore, high blood pressure affects nearly a third of the
adult population and is the most common cause of cardiovascular
disease-related deaths; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated over 103 million American adults (1 in 3
adults) or 46% of the total population is diagnosed with hypertension;
the death rate from high blood pressure increased by nearly 11% in the
United States between 2005 and 2015, and the actual number of deaths
rose by almost 38%, up to nearly 79,000 by 2015; and
WHEREAS, In New York State, an estimated 4.9 million people, or
31.7% of the adult population, have been diagnosed with hypertension;
additionally, an estimated 1.8 million New York City residents, or one
in four adults, are self-reported with hypertension, a city-wide
increase of 11% over the past decade; and
WHEREAS, Through public awareness, this Legislative Body seeks to
minimize the devastating effects of hypertension among the citizens of
the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 17, 2020, as
Hypertension Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and the American Heart Association.