HCR 10-AMERICAN HEART MONTH  1:33:15 PM CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10 Proclaiming February 2022 as American Heart Month. 1:33:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE RON GILLHAM, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HCR 10, stated that he became interested in promoting American Heart Month because he had a heart attack on January 26, 2022. He recalled his medical providers lamenting that the public lacked information about cardiovascular disease and preventative measures despite 690,000 deaths per year being attributed to heart-related issues. He said most heart issues are due to lifestyle choices, but 33 percent are due to genetics. He explained that calcium scoring is a diagnostic test that can prevent a heart attack. 1:36:40 PM SENATOR BEGICH said he was glad Mr. Gillham survived. 1:36:56 PM SENATOR HUGHES pointed out that the calcium scoring test doesn't prevent a heart attack because it is a diagnostic test. She asked whether doctors could prescribe medication if they identified a problem. 1:37:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE GILHAM stated that calcium scoring is similar to an ultrasound. He explained that a routine exam could have shown that he had a blocked artery, but it may not have indicated he was prone to a heart attack. However, it would have been a better indicator if he had undergone calcium scoring. He related that the higher the score, the more likely the person was to have a heart attack. He said the calcium scoring diagnosis could help prevent a heart attack. He stated his goal was to help prevent others from having heart attacks. 1:38:38 PM SENATOR HUGHES asked if this was the first year this resolution was introduced. 1:38:57 PM EDRA MORLEDGE, Staff, Representative Ronald Gillham, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, related that the legislature passed a similar resolution in 2012. 1:39:16 PM CHAIR WILSON turned to invited testimony. 1:40:45 PM JAMIE MORGAN, Government Relations Director, Western States Region, American Heart Association (AHA), Sacramento, California, began invited testimony on HCR 10. She stated that cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of preventable death. She said cardiovascular disease affects men, women, and children of every age and race in the United States. MS. MORGAN reported that deaths from heart disease increased by 4.8 percent from 2019-2020, which was the largest increase in heart disease deaths since 2012. She related that stroke deaths increased by 50 percent during that same timeframe. Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the US, exacting a financial toll. Direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease was $378 billion from 2017-2018. 1:40:53 PM MS. MORGAN related that the US had made great progress in reducing the death rate, but it has been more modest concerning cardiovascular disease in women and minorities. Furthermore, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women in the US, killing more than all forms of cancer combined, and the leading cause of maternal death in the US. She said heart disease is the number one killer of new moms. MS. MORGAN stated that AHA believes that the research is clear that community-based and preventative-based strategies can increase survival rates from cardiovascular disease. AHA feels that thousands of lives could be saved by raising awareness, speaking out about heart disease, and empowering others to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. She urged members to support HCR 10. 1:42:02 PM At ease 1:43:00 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and opened public testimony. 1:43:27 PM ED MARTIN, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, stated he has resided in Alaska for 56 years and had his first heart attack in his late 40s and a second one years later. He said he has six stents in his heart, and he currently has a blocked carotid artery. The remainder of his testimony was off-topic. CHAIR WILSON noted that written testimony could be submitted to the committee at shss@akleg.gov. 1:45:52 PM CHAIR WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HCR 10. 1:46:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE GILHAM said he had considered introducing a bill but decided to introduce a resolution each year to raise awareness. 1:46:40 PM CHAIR WILSON held HCR 10 in committee.