418 



11 



HEART PI gBBt£ . Nov. let's take a look at the cUim that ciga- 



rette smoking caus«f^;^art disease. You have heard this claim on TV. It 



is usually the implicatiorv'tp statements issued by the American Heart Asso- 



-6, 

 ciation. Yet consider the foKoyirg statements from outspoken cigarette 



.critics: ^'j- . 



Dr. Lewis E. January appelr4»d before Congress in 1969 on 



behalf of the American Heart Association, ^which be is a former preside:- 



Asked whetlrer smoking had been established as4.cau8e of heart disease, he 



replied, "We gynot think- -we knov that an absolute-Vausal efleet has not 



been established. ^Ojl ^O 



^r M? O ^>. 



Answers in t«f:.3ame vem were given by former Si«ceon Geoerai 

 of ihe United States. Dr. Wfo^m H. Stewart, when questioned in another 

 Congressional hearing. Bsr« ar^/^is replies: 



". . .we have never said ca^^ and effect to the initiation of 



cardiovascular disease. neveTi55>"ce since 1955 when the 

 reports started. . . I do not ttoinR^jne can make the statement 

 that the scientific evidence support- it. We never have. " 



One of the problems that Congress enAijntered in considering 



< 



claims about smoking and heart disease was the sugg^fi^ed influence of factors 



other than smoking. Such factors include occupation, exrfeise. high blooi 



pressure, above normal blood levels of cholesterol, uric acioand sugar, 



<^ = w 



"excessive" use of coffee, personality, race, age, sex. weight, diet^ stress. C 



e.^vironment. and genetic make-up. 2 



o 



