3822

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

NO. 14
(House Joint Resolution 2)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Program to Control High Blood Pressure

FOR the purpose of recognizing that high blood pressure
is a controllable major health problem in Maryland,
urging the citizens of Maryland to have annual blood
pressure checks, and supporting the efforts of the
Statewide Steering Committee in developing programs
to control high blood pressure.

WHEREAS, An estimated 360,000 Marylanders have high
blood pressure, (many of them unknowingly); and

WHEREAS, High blood pressure is a significant
underlying cause of 15,000 Maryland deaths annually, from
heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, and is a major
cause of disability in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, Only about [[one—eighty]] one—eighth of
Marylanders having this disease are now receiving
adequate therapy, despite the fact that both the
knowledge and medications are available to effectively
detect and control high blood pressure; and

WHEREAS, A National High Blood Pressure Education
Program, cooperatively pursued by public and private
organizations, has been established to reduce the
disability and premature death resulting from high blood
pressure by stimulating and encouraging its early
detection and aggressive treatment through increased
public and professional awareness and action; and

WHEREAS, A Statewide Steering Committee consisting
of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, the
Maryland Conference of Health officers, the Maryland
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Citizen's
Advisory Council of the Maryland Comprehensive Health
Planning Agency, and the American Heart
Association—Maryland Affiliate, has been established to
develop a primary high blood pressure control program for
the State of Maryland; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That
high blood pressure be recognized as a major public
health problem which can be controlled by available
knowledge and medications. It is urged that the people