CVD
On January 22, 1973, Lyndon Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, died at age 65 from what was probably his fifth heart attack. 9 years prior, in Feb of 1964 (nine years after he had his first heart attack) he proclaimed February to be heart health month which has become federally designated month to raise awareness of CVD. Here are some sobering facts about the disease:
- Everyday 2300 people die of CVD making it the #1 killer of men and women.
- Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined.
- Congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects.
- 72% of Americans don’t consider themselves at risk for heart disease.
Why am I focused on CVD?
Personally, I have family members with heart disease, so I am passionate about contributing to address its impact. Professionally, I relocated to Cleveland a few years ago to lead the Quest Diagnostics Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence at Cleveland HeartLab where we’re committed to bringing innovative testing that identify individuals who are at risk of developing CVD early to help prevent the disease mortality.
I am proud to share that I am partnering with the AHA to serve on the 2023 Greater Cleveland Heart Walk's Executive Leadership Tea and that Quest Diagnostics is an event sponsor of the Cleveland Heart Walk. At this event, we will bring together Quest employees and their families to participate in the Heart Walk. I will like to invite you to join me in supporting the American Heart Association by walking at the event if you are local and/ or by donating to the fundraising efforts with a gift today. Any gift you might consider is greatly appreciated and will go toward research or raising awareness. I sincerely hope you can help me at this great cause.
The American Heart Association:
Through the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk, friends, families, coworkers and neighbors walk together to demonstrate their commitment to their health and to honor or remember loved ones with heart disease or stroke. Since 1993, the Heart Walk has involved to more than a million Heart Walk Heroes in more than 300 locations across the country, funding the kind of breakthrough science that saves lives every day. Funds raised accelerate scientific research and have contributed to $113 Million in research grants in Greater Cleveland alone, with more than $4 Billion across the country since the organization began.
