South Carolina General Assembly

121st Session, 2015-2016

H. 4062

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution

Sponsors: Reps. Henderson, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowers, Bradley, Brannon, G.A.Brown, R.L.Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Cole, Collins, Corley, H.A.Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Hart, Hayes, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hicks, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, Kennedy, King, Kirby, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, McKnight, M.S.McLeod, W.J.McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, RobinsonSimpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, J.E.Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Tinkler, Toole, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Yow

Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24381cm15.docx

Introduced in the House on April 28, 2015

Adopted by the House on April 28, 2015

Summary: Atrial Fibrillation Day

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

4/28/2015HouseIntroduced and adopted (House Journalpage4)

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/28/2015

AHOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE RISKS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATIONFOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM IT AND ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT AND TO DECLARE MAY 27, 2015, AS “ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DAY” IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that atrial fibrillation(AFib) is the most common type of arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm; and

Whereas, when the electrical activity of theheart is disorganized, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias occur,causing an irregular heartbeat that disrupts the flow of blood throughthe heart; and

Whereas, advanced age, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure,high blood pressure, and hyperthyroidism are contributing factors for atrial fibrillation; and

Whereas, nonvalvular atrial fibrillationcausesapproximately ninetyfive percent of AFib and affects an estimated 5.8 million people across the United States; and

Whereas, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and in South Carolina, strokes result in death for one person in the United States every four minutes; and

Whereas, those with AFib have five times the risk of a stroke thanthose without it, and fifteen to twenty percent of all people who have strokes also have atrialfibrillation; and

Whereas, modifiable lifestyle behaviors that canreduce the risk of stroke include physicalactivity, avoiding tobacco use, a healthydiet, moderation in alcohol consumption, and regularly checking cholesterol levels and blood pressure; and

Whereas, stroke is a leading cause of serious, longterm disability in the United States, and stroke survivors are morelikely to become disabled and experience difficulties with daily living and activities; and

Whereas, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), African Americans are more than fortysix percent morelikely to die from stroke than Caucasians in South Carolina; and

Whereas, studies suggest that Hispanics have a higher rate of hemorrhagic strokes at a younger age thanCaucasians, and stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanics; and

Whereas, the hospitalization cost alone ofstroke in South Carolina in 2012totaled $638million, and the total cost of stroke in the United States in 2009 was estimated at $38.6 billion; and

Whereas, a serious health issue, AFib deserves the attention of state healthofficials, increased community awareness of the condition and its complications, and encouragement for people suffering fromAFibto seek lifesaving treatment. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, raise awareness about the risks of atrial fibrillationfor those who suffer from it and about the availability of treatment and declare May 27, 2015, as “Atrial Fibrillation Day” in the State of South Carolina.

XX

[4062]1