DeLauro Marks American Heart Month
MIDDLETOWN, CT (February 17, 2016) — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) visited the Community Health Center in Middletown to mark American Heart Month and raise awareness of heart disease. For this year’s campaign, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has chosen the slogan “Make Control Your Goal” to encourage Americans to get their blood pressure checked.
Middletown Mayor Daniel Drew joined DeLauro for the event, along with Connecticut State Representative Matthew Lesser, Dr. Joseph Havlicek and Sal Nesci from the Middletown Department of Public Health, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter from the Community Health Center, and Leigh Pechillo of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Heart Association.
“As the leading killer of both men and women in America, heart disease has a significant impact on our communities and our families, and with more than 600,000 Americans dying of heart disease each year, I will continue to fight for increased funding for research that makes saving lives a priority,” said Rosa DeLauro. “Everyone should ‘make control your goal’ and check your blood pressure regularly to strive towards having a healthy heart. Together we can fight heart disease and raise awareness of a condition that is affecting every community, especially women and minorities.”
Every year, more than 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States and about 735,000 Americans suffer a heart attack. In 2013 alone, more than 7,000 people in Connecticut died from heart disease. The economic toll of cardiovascular diseases is also high, costing the American health system over $316 billion each year. $1 of every $6 spent on health care in the United States goes toward treatment of heart diseases.
As a member of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, and as the Senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, DeLauro fought for and secured a $2 billion increase in funding to the NIH, and a $302 million dollar increase to the CDC in the 2016 budget. Within the NIH, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute received $118 million increase over 2015 funding levels.
In Middletown, the City Health Department offers blood pressure screenings free of charge, which are conducted by a registered nurse every Tuesday from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM in the main lobby, and at the Senior Center from 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM. No residency is required. Appointments are not necessary but are encouraged. For more information or to make an appointment, call (860) 638-4970.
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