Op-Ed Supporting Education on Coronary Heart Disease

OP-ED SUPPORTING EDUCATION ON CORONARY HEART DISEASE -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 17, 2008)

SPEECH OF
HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008

* Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an Opinion Editorial from the Washington Afro-American News that reflects support for educating people of color on the symptoms and prevention of coronary heart disease.

* The editorial which was published on July 5, 2008 is entitled; ``Taking on the Attack: Lessons from Tim Russert's Death.'' The author of the Op-Ed, Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, recognizes the devastating reality of the disease. The fact is that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, killing more than 700,000 people a year.

* The sudden death of NBC-TV's Tim Russert brings to light the importance of heart health. In the editorial, Congressman Cummings states that ``African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease; however, we are more likely to die from it,'' emphasizing the disparities that exist among people of color. He advises to quit smoking, engage in regular exercise, reduce alcohol consumption, reduce stress and make healthy choices about the food that you eat in order to reduce the risk of heart disease.

* Congressman ELIJAH CUMMINGS encourages everyone to attack the number one killer in the U.S. by living heart-healthy lives and to acknowledge that ``everyday we wait to adopt a better lifestyle is another day we put ourselves at needless risk.''[From the Washington Afro-American News, July 5, 2008]

TAKING ON THE ATTACK: LESSONS FROM TIM RUSSERT'S DEATH
(By Elijah E. Cummings)

Shocked. Even this word fails to describe the reactions of people when they heard about the sudden end premature death of legendary NBC newsman Tim Russert.

On the day of his wake, hundreds of people lined up at St. Albans School in Washington, DC, to pay respect to a man whom they had never met, but whose death had caused a deep sense of loss in their lives. Because of Tim Russert, Sunday was not simply a day of worship and rest. As he would say, ``If it's Sunday, it's `Meet the Press.' ''

He was a top television journalist, a best-selling author, a statesman in the world of politics and, more importantly to him, a proud husband, father and son.

By all accounts, Tim was as famous as one could get and, yet, he was an everyday man--someone to whom we all could relate. So, when the news spread of his death from a heart attack at age 58, middle-aged men across the country got scared. They hit the gym and passed up dessert.

Women grabbed measuring tape to wrap around their loved-one's waists while vowing to create healthier household diet and fitness regimes to bring those waist circumferences down to below 40 inches. (According to the American Heart Association, a waistline of more than 40 inches places a man at a high risk for heart disease.)

The fact is heart disease is the country's leading cause of death for men and women, killing more than 700,000 people a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the African-American community, the outlook is even more troubling. African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease; however, we are more likely to die from it.

We also develop high blood pressure at an earlier age and, on average, our blood pressure readings are higher than those of other groups. In fact, the prevalence of hypertension in our communities is among the highest in the world.

Compared to White Americans, ages 45-65, the premature death rate from heart disease for Black men is twice as high. For Black women, it is three times as high.

The statistics are no better in Maryland, where African Americans make up less than 28 percent of the population, but we experience the highest rates of heart disease deaths in the state. According to the CDC, from 1996 to 2000, African Americans in Maryland had a heart disease death rate of 620 per 100,000, compared with 500 per 100,000 for Whites. In Baltimore City, African Americans are 15 percent more likely to die from heart disease than Whites.

There is good news. Although there are risk factors for heart disease beyond our control such as increasing age, gender and heredity, there are steps we can take to reduce the dangers of heart disease.

We must take better care of ourselves. We can quit smoking, engage in regular exercise, reduce our consumption of alcohol, reduce the stress in our lives and make healthy choices about the food that we eat.

We must educate ourselves. In the case of a heart attack, every second counts and we have done an excellent job of informing men of the signs and symptoms they may have when experiencing a heart attack (including chest pain, shortness of breath and discomfort in the arms).

We have neglected to similarly inform women of the symptoms that they are more likely to experience. Shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain are all common symptoms of heart attack in women, and far too many lives are lost because women--and, sadly, their health care providers--are unaware of these symptoms.

We must continue to challenge the disparities in health care that disproportionately threaten our communities. People of color have limited access to affordable, high-quality health care. When heart disease occurs, we are less likely to receive life-saving medical interventions like coronary angiography and coronary revascularization.

We continue to face the reality that too little research funding is being focused upon the health risks that threaten minority communities. These harsh facts of life are now publicly acknowledged by leaders in every political party. The critical test will be our willingness to allocate the public funding that is needed to eliminate race as a mortality factor in this country.

Last year, I was proud to join Mayor Sheila Dixon, Del. Shirley Nathan Pulliam and Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Sharfstein in announcing an initiative to reduce cardiovascular disease and unacceptable health disparities in the Baltimore region.

This effort relies heavily on community input to help develop strategies to prevent suffering and save lives through public health efforts. The proposed strategies include launching a task force on reducing sodium intake; expanding community health worker programs: and developing partnerships with faith-based institutions.

We already have an effective smoking cessation program in place that offers free counseling and free nicotine patches and gum while supplies last. All you need to do is call 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) to get started. You can also find more information about the initiative and how you can become involved by visiting http://www.baltimore health.org/disparities.htm.

We all have the power to attack the number one killer in the United States and live heart-healthy lives. But everyday that we wait to adopt a better lifestyle is another day we put ourselves at needless risk.

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