[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1503-E1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          OP-ED SUPPORTING EDUCATION ON CORONARY HEART DISEASE

                                 ______
                                 

                         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.

[[Page E1504]]

       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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