Florida Senate - 2024                             (NP)    SR 816
       
       
        
       By Senator Yarborough
       
       
       
       
       
       4-01722-24                                             2024816__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the fourth Wednesday in
    3         February as “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness
    4         Day” in Florida and encouraging efforts to educate
    5         people about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a chronic
    8  cardiac disease involving the thickening of the heart muscle
    9  which can potentially lead to debilitating symptoms and serious
   10  complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation,
   11  stroke, and, in rare cases, sudden cardiac death, and
   12         WHEREAS, HCM is the most common inheritable heart disease
   13  and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity,
   14  with a reported prevalence ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 200 in
   15  the general population, and
   16         WHEREAS, an estimated 700,000 to 1,650,000 people in the
   17  United States have HCM, yet 85 percent of them are projected to
   18  remain undiagnosed, and
   19         WHEREAS, HCM shares symptoms with other common
   20  cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, such as shortness of
   21  breath, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, and fainting, making
   22  it difficult to distinguish HCM from these other diseases, and
   23         WHEREAS, left untreated, all-cause mortality risk is three
   24  to four times higher in patients with HCM than that of the
   25  general population, and
   26         WHEREAS, an important first step in receiving an accurate
   27  diagnosis of HCM is knowing one’s medical history and any signs
   28  and symptoms of HCM, and
   29         WHEREAS, to help identify a risk of cardiac disorders, both
   30  genetic and congenital, a health care provider must first
   31  conduct a thorough screening with cardiac health questions, and
   32         WHEREAS, after such screening, the health care provider may
   33  also conduct several tests, including an echocardiogram, a
   34  cardiac MRI, or genetic testing, to confirm a family history of
   35  HCM, but must examine the heart to diagnose HCM in a patient,
   36  and
   37         WHEREAS, following a diagnosis of HCM, it is important for
   38  patients to work with their health care provider to learn more
   39  about their disease and understand different management options,
   40  including prescription medicines and surgical treatment options
   41  that may help, and
   42         WHEREAS, HCM awareness is critically important in improving
   43  Floridians’ cardiovascular health, NOW, THEREFORE,
   44  
   45  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   46  
   47         That the fourth Wednesday in February of each year is
   48  recognized as “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day” in
   49  Florida.
   50         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate supports
   51  raising awareness of the consequences of undiagnosed and
   52  untreated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as a serious public
   53  health issue and of the need for individuals to seek appropriate
   54  care for HCM.
   55         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate shall
   56  annually issue a proclamation recognizing the fourth Wednesday
   57  in February as “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day” in
   58  Florida and calls upon the people of Florida to observe the day
   59  with appropriate programs and activities.