Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, introduced a resolution Friday that identifies women’s cardiovascular health as a critical health care priority.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., calls for gender-specific cardiovascular research, prevention, treatment and policy.
“One-third of all women in our country die from heart disease or stroke. To tackle a health crisis of this magnitude, it’s vital we draw attention to the importance of medical research, education and policy action to prioritize women’s cardiovascular health,” Herrera Beutler said in a written statement. “Too often, women’s heart attack symptoms — which are different from men’s — go undetected and often prove fatal.”
Herrera Beutler and Roybal-Allard co-founded the Congressional Maternity Care Caucus, on which they both serve as chairs.
Cardiovascular health is a maternity issue, Herrera Beutler wrote, “because we know there is a link between cardiovascular disease and preeclampsia among expectant mothers, contributing to a tragic number of pregnancy-related deaths every year.”
