Heart Walk: It helps people like...Tyler Gowen

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of people in Butler County, killing 1,793 residents in the past decade.

In fact, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the nation. It kills nearly 931,110 Americans each year -- more than cancer, accidents and AIDS combined. While most of those deaths are attributed to heart attacks in adults, children can also fall victim to heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, about 36,000 babies are born each year with heart defects.

Nine years ago, Tyler Gowen was one of those babies. But he is hardly just another number.

He's a boy that would rather be fishing than sitting in a classroom. He plays first base for the First Midwest Bank's Civic League team. Yesterday was his last day of third grade at O'Neal Elementary. He has two weeks vacation before summer school begins, and he is hopeful his family will go to Silver Dollar City next weekend.

More than likely, if Tyler didn't wear a medic-alert bracelet, one would probably never guess that he has a congenital heart defect. Tyler was born with an aortic biscupic valve, meaning his bicuspid valve only has two flaps. A normal aortic valve has three flaps.

While there may be no symptoms in childhood, by the time Tyler reaches adulthood, his valve may become stenotic (narrowed), making it harder for blood to pass through. The valve may also become regurgitant, meaning it allows blood to leak backward through it. Often times, those born with an aortic biscupic valve eventually require some type of surgical procedure.

His parents, Paula and Dan Gowen of Poplar Bluff, hope to see you at the Heart Walk, helping raise money for the American Heart Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the reduction of disability and death from heart diseases and stroke. The AHA funds medical research and provides support for families like the Gowens if Tyler's condition ever worsened.

"But hopefully we won't need them," Dan said, smiling at his son.

The American Heart Association of Missouri and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center are teaming up to present a Poplar Bluff Heart Walk this Saturday at McLane Park. Registration will begin at 8 a.m., with teams and individuals walking from 9 to 11 a.m. Participants may ask for donations from friends, family and co-workers. Walkers will have a choice of length to walk, tailoring the walk to their own fitness levels. Participants can earn prizes based on the amount of donations raised. For more information about the Heart Walk, log on to walk.americanheart.org.

The Heart Walk is aimed at educating the Poplar Bluff area of the risk factors of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and what we can do to prevent it. Funds raised support local medical research and educational programs of the American Heart Association. Missouri ranks among the top 10 states in the nation in American Heart Association funding.

Nationwide, heart disease has been the No. 1 killer of men and women since 1919. Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more American women than the next seven causes of death combined -- including all forms of cancer. Every 33 seconds, someone dies of cardiovascular disease.

To find out more or to make a donation, contact the American Heart Association at 1-800-579-1977. Cindy Rhodes is AHA contact person in Poplar Bluff, 573-776-1364.

Information provided by the American Heart Association.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.