Heart Science: A Leap Forward

This: in the 1950s, heart attacks were a scary reality with no clear solutions. People often died suddenly, with little anyone could do. But some visionaries, like Mary Lasker and Senator Lister Hill, saw potential in medical science. They convinced the government to invest heavily in heart disease, cancer, and stroke research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Fast forward to today. My neighbor, a 71-year-old law professor, felt some discomfort and visited his doctor. The doctor suspected a heart issue and sent him for stress testing. The results were abnormal, so they scheduled an angiogram. This procedure would have seemed like science fiction to my parents' generation.The cardiology team made a tiny puncture in his arm and threaded a catheter into his heart. They found a major blockage in one of his arteries. With stents, they opened it up completely in just minutes. My neighbor was awake and chatting with the team during the 90-minute procedure. A few hours later, he was home, avoiding a heart attack that could have happened. This story repeats every day, thanks to the investments and research. It's amazing how far we've come. But it's not just about the money. It's about the value of lives saved and improved. We should keep investing in science, even if it seems expensive. The alternative—disease—is worse. A new administration is in power. Let's hope they continue to invest in science. It's not just about saving money now, but about creating a healthier future for all of us.