Jimmy Carter

“ Two organizations have been in the forefront of the national effort against the cardiovascular diseases: the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-a Federal agency-and the American Heart Association, supported by private contributions. But it has been a cooperative effort involving a great many agencies and groups-Federal and private, national and local. Our continued success must rest, as always, on the support and participation of the American people. ”

“ More than 40 million Americans suffer from some form of heart or blood vessel disease. During 1979, these diseases and their complications will claim more than 980,000 lives and partially or completely disable several million other Americans. The total economic cost in disability payments, medical expenses and lost wages and productivity will exceed $50 billion.
The picture would be darker had not the Nation launched a concerted effort against cardiovascular diseases more than thirty years ago. ”

“ Since 1948, this effort has resulted in greatly increased support for cardiovascular research; for training thousands of new research workers and clinicians; for health education and information programs ”