As an advocate for the American Heart Association’s You’re the Cure network, I urge you to make funding for National Institutes of Health heart and stroke research a top priority in your budget for 2008. Despite remarkable advances in the battle against heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, these disorders remain the No. 1 killer in the United States and cost our Nation more than any other disease. Every 35 seconds an American dies from cardiovascular diseases. And, an estimated 71 million adults now suffer from the consequences of these afflictions.

In spite of these staggering statistics, NIH continues to invest only 7 percent of its budget on heart research and mere 1 percent on stroke research. This meager funding level comes at a time when the costs and prevalence of heart disease and stroke are expected to escalate significantly as the baby boom generation ages.

Now is the time to capitalize on progress in the fight against heart disease and stroke when breakthroughs are on the horizon that could lead to new treatment and prevention strategies, and even cures. But, promising studies will be stalled or postponed without an enhanced investment in research. Investment in research produces advances that will save lives and reduce health care costs now and for future generations.

Please help stave off a looming cardiovascular disease crisis that threatens the health and economic well-being of our country and the world by dramatically increasing resources for NIH heart and stroke research to ensure continued progress against these diseases that kill and disable too many of our friends, family members and loved ones. Thank you.

Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure.

Respectfully,
[#FirstName#] [#LastName#]
[#State#]