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Few aspects are more central to a well-run workplace wellness program than implementing ways to improve heart health. Indeed, we have reported often on the topic, including here, here, and here.
And you may be aware that February is American Heart Month, sponsored by the American Heart Association. As the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion reports: “Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.”
Given the importance of helping stop heart disease, we found it interesting to revisit the U.S. Proclamation 3566 by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Dec. 30, 1963 (President Donald J. Trump continued the tradition this year with his own proclamation last week).
The LBJ proclamation established the first American Heart Month in 1964, and it still makes for excellent, important reading:
“Whereas diseases of the heart and the circulatory system are responsible for over one-half the deaths occurring annually; and
“Whereas over one-half of the ten million Americans afflicted by the cardiovascular diseases are stricken during their most productive years, thereby causing a staggering physical and economic loss to the nation; and
“Whereas expanded research has contributed unproved methods of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the cardiovascular diseases; and
“Whereas substantial progress in combating those diseases is being made by comprehensive educational and community programs which have brought about swift and wide dissemination and use of such improved methods; and
“Whereas these programs of research and education have resulted largely from the teamwork between the American Heart Association, its chapters and affiliates, and the Federal Government, particularly the Public Health Service through the National Heart Institute and the Heart Disease Control Program; and
“Whereas the results thus far achieved in combating the cardiovascular diseases give hope that the continuation and expansion of these programs may eventually eliminate these diseases as important causes of death; and
“Whereas it is essential to the health and well-being of our nation that our citizens be made aware of the medical, social, and economic aspects of the problem of cardiovascular diseases, and the measures being taken to combat them; and
“Whereas the Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30, 1963, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating February as American Heart Month:
“Now, Therefore, I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America do hereby proclaim the month of February 1964 as American Heart Month; and I invite the governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to issue similar proclamations.
“I urge the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.
“In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
“DONE at the City of Washington this 30th day of December in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and eighty-eighth.”