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Heart Disease and Stroke Survivors Seek Support on Capitol Hill

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 April 2005, 06:00 CDT

WASHINGTON, April 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- More than 550 heart disease and stroke advocates from across the nation head to Capitol Hill today to ask Congress to help reduce disability and death from the nation's No. 1 cause of death -- cardiovascular disease.

The "citizen advocates" are here as part of the American Heart Association's annual Congressional Heart and Stroke Lobby Day. The participants include nearly 150 heart disease and stroke survivors, and they are being joined by SUBWAY Restaurants spokesperson Jared Fogle who will also visit with members of Congress.

"Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases kill more Americans than the next five leading causes of death combined," said Alice Jacobs, MD, president for the American Heart Association. "They are also costlier to our nation than any other disease -- an estimated $394 billion this year alone. Our volunteers have come to Washington, D.C. to ask their officials to take action and turn the tide on these diseases, by investing in heart disease and stroke research and prevention, and supporting legislation that addresses tobacco use and obesity -- major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. "

The association's advocates are urging Congress to increase funding for heart disease and stroke research and prevention, help improve stroke treatment and awareness, and support initiatives to curb obesity. Specific asks include:

-- An appropriation for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of $30 billion and $55.6 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An improved investment is required for our nation to capitalize on potential heart and stroke research, as well as eventually provide all states with critical heart disease and stroke prevention programs.

-- Co-sponsorship of the Stroke Treatment and Ongoing Prevention Act (STOP Stroke Act) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and support for the bill's introduction in the Senate.

-- Support for policies that will help reduce obesity, including the Safe Routes to School provision in the transportation reauthorization legislation, sound nutrition policy in the reauthorization of the Childhood Nutrition Program legislation.

-- Support for legislation granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture, sale and distribution of tobacco products, including marketing aimed at youth.

"Our volunteers are offering their legislators some common sense ways to join us in the fight against heart disease and stroke," said William Colledge, Chairman of the Board for the American Heart Association. "We want to capitalize on promising medical research, and find cures for our deadliest diseases. We also want to prevent these diseases in the first place, to save lives, avoid disability and reduce medical costs.

"Our advocates are spreading a new message to members of Congress today," said Colledge. "We are reminding them that for heart disease and stroke, they are the cure." Our elected officials can save lives just like a heart surgeon, by supporting policies that promote the search for cures for, and the prevention of, heart diseases and stroke. They can also encourage children to be more physically active and fight obesity through programs like Safe Routes to School, and reduce the number of senseless deaths that result from tobacco use by enacting FDA legislation."

"We can all be part of the cure for heart disease and stroke," said Jacobs. "These are our nation's leading killers. We hope Congress makes them a leading concern."

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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