Recommendations on how biology teachers can incorporate information into their lessons on cardiovascular disease and the importance of students understanding this disease are discussed. The result of a cardiovascular knowledge test given to college students shows the lack of knowledge students have about this subject. (KR)

Presents group counseling strategies for working with clients who have sustained myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks. MI victims can be assisted with transition from hospital, readjustment to daily life, coping with fears and frustrations of life and the illness. Advantages of counseling, primary goals, and common topics are discussed.…

Individual men (N=21) were studied as they related to health information over time to uncover motives for changing health habits relevant to prevention of coronary heart disease. Examples are presented, and cues to action are distinguished. Mediating factors and strategies for initiating changes in health behavior are discussed. (EMK)

A study investigated the incidence of autism in 20 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The prevalence of autistic disorder was conservatively estimated at 20%. Data suggest a possible association between both hypsarrythmia and TSC-related cardiac abnormalities with autism in this subgroup of individuals with TSC. (Author/CR)

The effect of a precoronary angioplasty education and counseling program on knowledge and psychological status of patients and on knowledge and quality of life/coping status of their spouses was evaluated. Knowledge, psychological status, and coping status of patients (N=40), their spouses, and controls were assessed. Results show that education…

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) can occur at any age in apparently healthy people. Early identification and intervention are essential. This article examines SCD in children and adolescents, explaining: who is at risk; the importance of training school personnel for SCD emergencies and having automated external defibrillators (AED) within the schools;…

Examines factors that influence the prompt seeking of care for symptoms of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Survey of adults in 20 communities in 10 states confirmed the importance of attrition and perceived self-confidence in symptom recognition in care seeking. Concludes that the lack of a significant role of health history and clinician…

Examined parent-child play in 30 4-year-old children with early corrective heart surgery (ECHS) and 30 typically-developing children. Children were compared on basic language measures and proportions of symbolic and nonsymbolic talk. Children with ECHS focused on concrete "here and now" talk and produced less symbolic talk; only one third of the…

Purpose: In our study, we sought to improve the accuracy of predicting the risk of hospitalization and to identify older, inner-city patients who could be targeted for preventive interventions. Design and Methods: Participants (56% were African American) in a randomized trial were from a primary care practice and included 1,041 patients living in…

Psychological science has new opportunities to have major input into the understanding of the development of coronary heart disease. This article provides an overview of advances in understanding the etiology of heart disease, recently applied technologies for measuring early stages of heart disease, and an accumulating base of evidence on the…

Improving performance in the medical industry is an area that is ideally suited for the tools advocated by the International Society of Performance Improvement (ISPI). This paper describes an application of the tools that have been developed by Dale Brethower and Geary Rummler, two pillars of the performance improvement industry. It allows the…

The article discusses counseling sessions designed to a) help the coronary patient adjust to cardiovascular disease, b) diminish patient anxieties and fears, and c) educate the patient and family members on controlling risk factors to deter another coronary attack. (JS)

Laboratory tests including blood count serum electrolyte measures, and electroencephalograms were performed on seven children ages 1 day to 18 years with recurrent attacks of rapid heart action known as idiopathic paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. (CL)

To explore the impact of communication styles on physiological health, coronary-prone Type A and low-stress Type B subjects were administered two surveys testing reactions to hypothetical, stressful situations. While not revealing a correlation between Type A behavior and specific perceptions of, or strategies for, dealing with compliance-gaining…