Position of the American Heart Association on research animal use

Abstract

Millions of Americans today are healthy, and other millions are alive, because of advances in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Death rates from the major forms of heart disease have declined steadily since about mid-century, and the decline is continuing. Most recently, between 1972 and 1982, the death toll from cardiovascular disease declined 28 per cent. The decline is largely related to changes in life style and development of methods of treatment, many of which are based upon animal experimentation. These events encourage medical scientists to believe that most heart attacks, strokes and hypertension can ultimately be prevented or their onset can be deferred so that they do not cripple or kill people prematurely.