1Designating February 8, 2013, as "Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
2Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and urging the National
3Institutes of Health to recognize "Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
4Awareness Day" and to advance research relating to peripartum
5cardiomyopathy.

6WHEREAS, Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder in
7which a weakened heart is diagnosed within the final month of
8pregnancy or within five months after delivery; and

9WHEREAS, In the United States peripartum cardiomyopathy
10complicates one in every 1,300 to 4,000 deliveries; and

11WHEREAS, Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs in childbearing
12women of any age but most commonly occurs after 30 years of age;
13and

14WHEREAS, Peripartum cardiomyopathy is most likely to develop
15in African-American women living in the South but can occur in a
16pregnant or postpartum woman of any age or geographic location;

1and

2WHEREAS, Death rates associated with peripartum
3cardiomyopathy have ranged between 18% and 56%; and

4WHEREAS, Recent effective treatment of peripartum
5cardiomyopathy has progressively improved survival and recovery
6to rates of 95% or more, without the need for heart transplant;
7and

8WHEREAS, With treatment, women affected by this disorder can
9have improved heart function and live full and active lives; and

10WHEREAS, Compliance with prescription instructions, medical
11guidelines and physician directives is important to
12cardiovascular health, particularly for women with peripartum
13cardiomyopathy; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
15Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designate February 8, 2013, as
16"Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania and
17urge all residents to recognize that peripartum cardiomyopathy
18is a serious women's health threat; and be it further

19RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the National
20Institutes of Health to recognize "Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
21Awareness Day" and continue research aimed at obtaining a better
22understanding of this high-risk condition of pregnancy; and be
23it further

24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives challenge all
25women to take charge of their cardiovascular health and take the
26necessary preventive steps to healthy lives and pregnancies; and
27be it further

28RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
29the National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike,
30Bethesda, MD 20892.