Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2026 as Hypertension Awareness Month in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1254

BY: M. of A. Jensen

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 2026 as  Hypertension  Awareness  Month  in  the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  Hypertension,  also  known as high blood pressure, affects
nearly half of all adults in the United States and  is  a  leading  risk
factor for various cardiovascular diseases; and

  WHEREAS,  Hypertension  often goes undetected and untreated, leading
to severe health complications, including  heart  disease,  stroke,  and
kidney  failure,  and  contributing to nearly 500,000 deaths per year in
the United States; and

  WHEREAS, Only about one in four adults in  the  United  States  have
their hypertension under control; and

  WHEREAS,  Healthcare  costs  in  the  United  States associated with
hypertension account for about $131 billion per year, while  individuals
with  hypertension  are  estimated  to  face nearly $2,000 higher annual
healthcare expenditures compared to those without hypertension; and

  WHEREAS, Recent advancements in medical technology  have  introduced
U.S.   Food and Drug Administration-approved renal denervation therapies
as a promising treatment for resistant hypertension,  offering  hope  to
patients who do not respond adequately to conventional treatments; and

  WHEREAS,  Renal denervation therapies have demonstrated clinical and
real-world  results   in   reducing   blood   pressure   and   improving
cardiovascular outcomes; and

  WHEREAS,  Access to innovative treatments is essential for improving
public  health  and  reducing   the   burden   of   hypertension-related
complications; and

  WHEREAS,  A  recent  scientific  statement  from  the American Heart
Association suggests that "renal denervation presents a novel  treatment
strategy for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure"; and

  WHEREAS,  Healthcare  providers,  public  health  organizations, and
community  groups  are  encouraged  to  participate  in  activities  and
initiatives  highlighting  the importance of hypertension management and
prevention; and

  WHEREAS, The month of May is  recognized  as  National  Hypertension
Month  to raise awareness about the importance of preventing, detecting,
and managing hypertension; now therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2026 as Hypertension
Awareness Month in the State of New  York,  and  to  promote  awareness,
education, and prevention of hypertension; and it be further

  RESOLVED,  That  efforts  to  educate  the public about the risks of
hypertension  and  the  benefits  of  early  detection  and   treatment,
including  the  potential role of renal denervation and other innovative
therapies, be supported; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.