2023 House Resolution 131

Whereas, The American Heart Association (AHA) defines cholesterol as waxy, fat-like substance circulating in the blood; and

Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies two types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C); and

Whereas, LDL-C contributes to fatty build ups in the arteries, and HDL-C carries LDL-C away from the arteries and back to the liver; and

Whereas, High cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, is the chronic presence of high levels of LDL-C in the blood that can lead to cardiovascular disease; and

Whereas, The AHA explains that cardiovascular disease can refer to a number of conditions, including heart disease, atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve problems; and

Whereas, According to the CDC, nearly 94 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol; and

Whereas, The CDC estimates that someone in the United States has a heart attack every 40 seconds, but 80% of heart attacks are preventable; and

Whereas, The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) co-leads the Michigan Million Hearts Initiative with AHA of Michigan, which is committed to the effective use of clinical and community strategies to diagnose and treat people with heart disease and its risk factors; and

Whereas, MDHHS Cardiovascular Disease Dashboard reported data from 2011-2019 found 9.4% prevalence of cardiovascular disease among Michigan adults aged eighteen and older; and

Whereas, Heart disease accounted for 76% of disease hospitalizations between 2016 and 2019, as reported by MDHHS; and

Whereas, AHA indicates cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects minority populations; and

Whereas, Researchers with the Family Heart Foundation found that despite the availability of effective treatments for high cholesterol, 71% of hypercholesterolemia patients at high risk for heart attack and stroke never achieve LDL-C levels below recommended thresholds; and

Whereas, The CDC’s Million Hearts Program is a national initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes between 2022 and 2027; and

Whereas, The CDC views high cholesterol as a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke; and

Whereas, September is recognized as National Cholesterol Education Month to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and the importance of knowing one’s LDL-C number; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 2023 as Cholesterol Education Month in the state of Michigan.