Pramila Jayapal re-introduces legislation addressing South Asian heart disease

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on June 5 re-introduced a bipartisan legislation in US House of Representatives that aims to raise awareness about alarming rate of heart disease in South Asian community, including Indians, and invest in reversing this trend.

Co-sponsored by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina, bill kwn as "South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act" will create South Asian heart health promotion grants at Centers for Disease Control to develop a clearinghouse and web portal of information on South Asian heart health, develop culturally appropriate materials to promote heart health in community members.

"Heart disease in South Asian community has risen to an alarmingly disproportionate level. Our bill will fund research and analysis to identify solutions to se preventable circumstances and ultimately save more lives," said Congresswoman Jayapal, 53, introducting Bill.

"t only will we prevent deaths within this specific community, but we will pave way to increased awareness and a better understanding of heart health that will have impacts on health and well-being of every American," said 53-year-old Democrat from Washington DC.

Jayapal on June 4 become first South Asian American woman to preside over US House of Representatives.

re is need to take action to reverse trend of heart disease in South Asian Community, Wilson said.

According to American College of Cardiology President Richard Kovacs, South Asians living in US are more likely to die from heart disease than or Americans.

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" American College of Cardiology strongly supports pass of South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2019, which would greatly expand research and outreach efforts necessary to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health among our South Asian population," he said.

Studies have shown that South Asians in US people who immigrated from or whose families immigrated from countries including India, Pakistan, Banglesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepalare experiencing a dramatic rise in heart disease in ir communities.

y have four times risk of heart disease than general population, have a much greater chance of having a heart attack before 50 and have emerged as ethnic group with highest prevalence of 2 diabetesa leing cause of heart disease.

Among or things, bill provide grants to work with community groups involved in South Asian heart health promotion; Fund grants through National Institutes of Health to conduct research on cardiovascular disease and or heart ailments among South Asian populations living in US.

It also includes a Sense of Congress that US medical schools should include, as part of ir nutrition curriculum, a focus on cultural differences in diets and ways to achieve optimal nutrition in communities that experience substantial heart disease.

Several organisations like American Heart Association, Asia-Pacific Islander American health forum, Women Heart: National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, Mediators of Arosclerosis among South Asians Living in America (MASALA) and Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organisations (AAPCHO) support bill. 

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