1.1A Senate resolution
1.2designating Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day and encouraging efforts
1.3to educate people about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
1.4WHEREAS, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a chronic cardiovascular disease
1.5involving thickening of the heart muscle that can potentially lead to debilitating symptoms and
1.6serious complications, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and in rare cases sudden
1.7cardiac death; and
1.8WHEREAS, HCM is the most common inheritable heart disease and can affect anyone
1.9regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity with a reported prevalence ranging from 1 in 200 to 1 in 500
1.10in the general population; and
1.11WHEREAS, an estimated 700,000 people in the United States have HCM, yet 85 percent
1.12of them may remain undiagnosed; and
1.13WHEREAS, HCM shares symptoms with other common cardiovascular and pulmonary
1.14diseases, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, and fainting, making it difficult
1.15to distinguish HCM from these other diseases; and
1.16WHEREAS, all-cause mortality risk is three to four times higher in patients with HCM than
1.17that of the general population; and
1.18WHEREAS, knowing one's medical history and any signs and symptoms of HCM is an
1.19important first step in receiving an accurate diagnosis of HCM; and
1.20WHEREAS, a health care provider must conduct a thorough screening with cardiac health
1.21questions to help identify a risk of cardiac disorders, both genetic and congenital; and
1.22WHEREAS, a health care provider may conduct several tests, including an echocardiogram,
1.23a cardiac MRI, or genetic testing to confirm a family history of HCM, and must examine the heart
1.24to diagnose HCM; and
2.1WHEREAS, following a diagnosis of HCM, it is important for patients to work with their
2.2health care provider to learn more about their disease and understand different management options,
2.3including prescription medicines and surgical treatment options that may help; and
2.4WHEREAS, the fourth Wednesday in February is an appropriate day to observe Hypertrophic
2.5Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day; and
2.6NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
2.7it:
2.8(1) designates the fourth Wednesday in February of each year as "Hypertrophic
2.9Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day" in the state of Minnesota in order to raise public awareness about
2.10hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
2.11(2) acknowledges the critical importance of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy awareness to
2.12improve cardiovascular health in the state of Minnesota;
2.13(3) supports raising awareness of the consequences of undiagnosed and untreated hypertrophic
2.14cardiomyopathy and the need to seek appropriate care for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a serious
2.15public health issue; and
2.16(4) respectfully requests the governor to issue annually a proclamation recognizing the fourth
2.17Wednesday in February in the state of Minnesota as "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness
2.18Day" and calls upon the people in the state of Minnesota to observe the day with appropriate
2.19programs and activities.

Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate

Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Carla J. NelsonState Senator, District 24