People who participate in regular vigorous or strenuous physical activities undergo significant changes in cardiac structure and function. Occasionally, these changes may be confused with those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Differentiating between athletic heart syndrome and HCM requires careful examination. ECG and echocardiograms may be…

Background: About 40% of White American women over age 50 experience osteoporosis-related fracture of the hip, spine, or wrist during their lives. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of osteoporosis knowledge and beliefs among young women. Methods: University women (n=302) completed a self-administered osteoporosis risk…

The aim of this study was to summarize both practical and methodological issues in using pedometers to assess physical activity in a large epidemiologic study. As part of a population-based survey of cardiovascular disease risk factors, physical activity was assessed using pedometers and activity diaries in 775 men and women ages 25-64 years who…

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the impact of age, gender, and race on the prevalence and severity of hearing loss in elder adults, aged 72-96 years, after accounting for income, education, smoking, and clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease. Methods: Air-conduction thresholds for standard and extended high-frequency…

An ongoing exercise program for heart transplant patients in England is described. (Author/MT)

The role of fitness in preventing coronary heart disease is explored. Research on high-density lipoprotein, which has been found to be one of the most critical determinants of risk, is reviewed. The relationship between fitness, high-density lipoprotein, and coronary heart disease is assessed, and clinical implications are spelled out. (MT)

The writer, a young adult, reviews his experiences with several heart surgeries and the ways in which the staff at the children's hospital helped him cope with the trauma. (CL)

Sustained ventricular tachyarrythmias are uncommon in young people, and underlying heart disease is usually present. This article presents a case study of a 24-year-old male athlete with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and points out the value of combinations of drugs versus the use of a single agent. (MT)

Evidence and research indicate that the majority of cases of coronary artery disease represent familial disorders which are best explained by a polygenic hereditary predisposition interacting with emotional triggers such as diet and stress. Early identification is judged necessary. (Authors/JA)

Developed and field tested an innovative four-session program of self-management education for individuals with heart disease. Found the education, based on social learning theory and teaching of self-regulatory activities, seemed highly acceptable to older patients. Program has potential as a model for larger scale evaluation. (Author/ABL)

In light of concerns about potential iatrogenic effects of information about suicide, in the current study we examined the emotional impact of reading a list of warning signs for suicide in comparison to comparable lists for heart attacks and diabetes. All participants read two sets of warning signs, with the experimental group reading the suicide…

Blood cholesterol was measured in 750 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 as a screening method for hyperlipidemia, which (along with hypertension and cigarette smoking) is a major factor in the onset of coronary heart disease. (MJB)

Children with cardiac disabilities and their families need a wide variety of services, including medical and educational intervention, home care instruction, and family counseling. Parents especially need help in developing a healthy yet bonding relationship with their disabled child. (CL)

Compared the effectiveness of behavior modification, cognitive modification, and cognitive-behavior modification in increasing compliance with an exercise prescription for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients (N=96). Although all treatment groups showed improvement, the cognitive-behavior modification strategy produced the most…

Data from records of 99 patients were used to classify cardiac patients as to whether they were likely or unlikely to experience a subsequent morbid event after admission to a hospital. Both a linear discriminant function and a logistic regression equation were developed using a set of nine predictor variables that were chosen on the basis of…