'Close the Gap' Campaign Comes to The Dell Diamond

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express and Boston Scientific will host the Close the Gap campaign this Thursday, August 5 at The Dell Diamond, to raise awareness of heart disease risk factors for Texans. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

Close the Gap, an educational initiative designed to educate, equip and empower communities and individuals to reduce disparities in cardiovascular care for women, black Americans and Latino Americans, will staff an educational booth on the topic at the Round Rock Express game, as they play host to the Fresno Grizzlies.

"Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Texas, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all deaths in the state," said Jeff Madden, strength and conditioning coach for the University of Texas football program. "We are helping people understand the risk factors for heart disease, and encouraging them to talk with a physician to develop a plan to lower their overall risk."

Heart disease claims nearly 40,000 lives each year in the state of Texas. According to recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey results, adults in Texas reported the following risk factors for heart disease: 29% have high blood pressure, 41% have high cholesterol, 18% are current smokers, 67% are overweight or obese and 27% reported no exercise in the prior 30 days.

"We're proud to assist in the Close the Gap initiative to raise awareness of heart disease risk factors," said Round Rock Express Owner and CEO Reid Ryan. "We support the effort, and urge everyone to learn more about how they can protect themselves and their loved ones from developing this condition."

A key focus of the Close the Gap campaign is to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest as a leading cause of death among young athletes. Statistics reveal that in the United States, a young competitive athlete experiences sudden cardiac arrest every three or four days. The average age of those who die is 17.5 years, ninety percent of them are male, and more than half are black.

Close the Gap is led by a steering committee of leading physicians from across the country. In addition to Minor League baseball teams, including the Round Rock Express, other organizations supporting efforts to address disparities in cardiovascular care and working actively with the Close the Gap initiative include WomenHeart, Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA), the Association of Black Cardiologists, the Athlete's Heartbeat and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association. Several National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member schools also are supporting Close the Gap efforts.

"Despite a similar prevalence, women and people of color are treated at a lesser rate for heart disease than Caucasian men," said Close the Gap steering committee member Dr. Mark Jenkins, a Dallas cardiologist. "With Close the Gap, we are helping everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender, have access to the highest quality cardiovascular care."