How Serious is CVD?

I just finished watching the movie Amazing Grace and was blown away with the severity of the slave trade. I always knew it was a horrible time in the world, but I never understood how bad it was. The bad thing is that I know it is just a glimpse of the big picture of it all. I was amazed that more slaves died during the slave trade than actually made it to their destination. In fact it is estimated that during the peak of the slave trade (the 18th century) the death toll was probably around 8.1 million people. That's 80,000 per year, or 219 humans per day that died, needlessly. I started thinking about this and ran home to look up all of these statisticis. I love numbers, but the numbers I am sharing with you are just scary. I am so wrapped up in Cardiovascular Disease prevention at this time in my life, that I couldn't help but compare the severity of the slave trade to CVD. The slave trade was a horrible time in mankind, that forever leaves a stain, but what is today like for us? In recent years, approximately 105,560 African Americans will die from Cardiovascular Disease each year. That's 289 African Americans per day that died, needlessly. Most of the deaths of Cardiovascular Disease are preventable. PREVENTABLE! An average of 70 more African Americans die here in the United States each day from CVD, than from the disgusting slave trade that was rampant all over the world years ago. Does that make you think about it at all?

For me, all of this started with this post. More people are overweight in this world than starving. How is that possible? I sat down and and wrote a mission statement for myself and my surroundings. I couldn't let that continue to happen around me. Shortly thereafter I ended up being connected to Lois Grant from the Texas Dept. of Health who explained to me about various programs the department has. I decided I wanted to fight cardiovascualr disease in Katy. If you don't know much about Cardiovascular Disease, take a look at this video on PBS.org entitled Take One Step. It's such an important thing to focus on, and it is something that is so often overlooked. So my goal is to gather up various health and medical professionals and do something about it. I can't sit around and let people die when we know how to save their lives. Join me in this fight. Changing the world would be great, but let's start with our neighbors and loved ones. Let's make Katy a healthier place.