Heart disease needs plenty of research

A big thank-you to The Dispatch for not only covering the 2017 American Heart Walk in Columbus, but explaining how donations are used to fight heart disease (Sunday article). Unfortunately, heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of both men and women and stroke is the No. 5 killer. Research has come a long way in providing new surgery options, devices and medicines to save lives, but we have a long way to go.

As a heart-disease survivor, I’m one of the 9 percent lucky enough to survive a cardiac arrest event. The credit goes to five of my former co-workers who administered CPR to save my life. According to statistics from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, the number of people who die each year from cardiac arrest is roughly equivalent to the number who die from Alzheimer’s disease, assault with firearms, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, diabetes, HIV, house fires, motor vehicle accidents, prostate cancer and suicides combined. And that’s just the number of people who die from cardiac arrest.

I applaud all those who participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk. The funds raised at the walk will continue the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Gail Hogan Columbus commercials over the loudspeaker on the bus is very annoying. And people I’ve spoken to about it say the same thing.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority said it’s under review. If every rider would call COTA and complain about the commercials, maybe COTA would stop using them.

Laura Weber Columbus