Heart Disease Control Program in the United States

Abstract

1) According to expert estimates, about 9,200,000 people, or one in every 17 persons in the United States, has one or more of the cardiovascular-renal diseases. As death rates for the infectious diseases decline, those for the cardiovascular-renal diseases become more significant. In 1949, these diseases accounted for almost one-half of deaths in the United States, as opposed to one-fifth in 1900. 2) A number of agencies in the United States are especially concerned with heart disease. The American Heart Association, formed in 1922, encourages research, gives professional leadership and, recently, has organized lay volunteers in the campaign. The Children's Bureau has programs in rheumatic fever and heart surgery for children. The National Heart Institute of the Public Health Service supports and carries on research in basic physiology and chemistry, and in clinical, laboratory and biometric problems of heart disease, and the Division of Chronic Disease and Tuberculosis of the Public Health Service explores, demonstrates and evaluates public health methods of heart disease control. 3) Preventive measures have long been taken against diphtheria, malnutrition, and venereal disease, which sometimes result in heart disease. Now programs to prevent rheumatic heart disease through prevention of and early treatment of streptococcal infections are being launched. 4) Where we cannot prevent heart disease, public health programs can help prevent disability and premature death: early case-finding; support to private physicians in nutrition education in the use of low-sodium diets; training of technicians in prothrombin time determinations in use of anticoagulants; measurement of work capacity and re-training, and professional education are important facets of control.