Dr. Jeremiah Stamler was a doctor whose research proved that cardiovascular disease was linked to our diet and lifestyle.
- Died: January 26, 2022 (Who else died on January 26?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Sag Harbor, New York at the age of 102.
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Groundbreaking research
Stamler began studying cardiovascular disease in the 1940s, after serving in the U.S. Army. His early research included studying the arteries of chickens fed a high-cholesterol diet. What he found over the course of decades of research was that there is a strong link between cardiovascular disease – including stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure – and what we eat and do. Stamler identified risk factors including high salt and cholesterol intake, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. His research was highly influential in the decrease of cardiovascular disease over the years; though these conditions are still common, they were more prevalent before his research began. A longtime professor at Northwestern University, Stamler continued his work even after turning 100, earning the description “the father of preventative cardiology.”
Battle with HUAC
Stamler made news for an entirely unrelated incident; in 1965, he was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) because of his alleged membership in the Communist Party. He refused to testify and sued HUAC. His suit made it to the U.S. Supreme Court as he was indicted for contempt of Congress. Ultimately, in 1973, HUAC agreed to drop the charges against him, and he cancelled the lawsuit. Stamler’s challenge to HUAC is considered a major factor in the disbanding of the committee in 1975.
Notable quote
“I always exercised, and I still do, a minimum of an hour every day. I love to eat and I believe in the pleasure of eating. The idea is not to go on a diet, but to improve your eating style by emphasizing and de-emphasizing, gradually creating a modified pattern that is an enjoyable part of your life.” —from a 2005 interview for the New York Times
Tributes to Jeremiah Stamler
Full obituary: The New York Times
