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Mary LaskerMary Lasker
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Part:         Session:         Page of 999

for 1974 it shows that stroke deaths -- this is nationally -- have declined 5%. That means the saving of 10,000 lives. And hypertension, with or without renal disease, has declined 12%. So in spite of everything, the general publicity that we got set off and instigated and helped the Heart Institute to begin, has really made some dent on the death rate.

Q:

This is in the awareness of people.

Lasker:

The awareness of people and keeping them on drugs or getting doctors to prescribe them, which many many weren't.

Q:

But the drugs are available.

Lasker:

Good drugs are available, and not just one but many drugs are available that do lower pressure and keep pressure under control.

Q:

And this has been true for a number of years.

Lasker:

This has been true for a number of years, but doctors didn't prescribe them. They thought: “Oh, well, it doesn't matter. It's only if their blood pressure is very high that it's very dangerous.” Well, Dr. Frei showed that if you had blood pressure elevated at all over 150/80 -- that if it go to, let's say, 180/100, that you were in danger. And by treating people for minimal pressure or





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