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(Circulation. 1995;92:2785.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Using Public Policy to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke

A 21st Century Approach

Brian Gilpin, BS; Scott Ballin, JD

From the American Heart Association, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC.

	Introduction

 
With the 21st century almost upon us, we have to think innovatively about additional ways to fight heart disease and stroke, America's number one killer. Thinking innovatively means to consider our current resources and how we can use them in new ways to bring about greater progress toward our mission: to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Part of that innovative approach will include strategically positioning the AHA's public policy priorities and advocacy activities to ensure continued progress toward our mission.

The AHA can use public policy to fight heart disease and stroke at the turn of the 21st century much as Samuel J. Crumbine, MD, did to fight disease at the turn of the 20th century. Crumbine was a physician in Dodge City, Kan, who thought that prevention was as important as treatment. He was appointed to the Kansas State Board of Health in 1899 and moved his family to Topeka.

Crumbine worked to educate the public and policy makers about how dangerous it was for cities and towns to pump their raw sewage into streams and rivers. He pushed for water and sewage laws that were eventually passed in 1907.

The "common drinking cup" was another disease carrier in those days. In schools, on trains, and in other public places, everyone used the same cup over and over. Crumbine took cups from several trains and analyzed them. He found many kinds of bacteria, including the tuberculosis bacterium. He started his campaign to abolish the public . . . [Full Text of this Article]