Heart Disease

Despite great advances in prevention and in improving outcomes, heart disease remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in the Western world and, increasingly, in developing countries. The emotional impact of a diagnosis of heart disease can be significant, often increasing cardiac symptoms such as chest pain or palpitations. This addition to The Facts series stresses the importance and feasibility of primary prevention by appropriate life-style changes, whilst helping the reader to understand and cope with existing heart disease.
The book is structured to provide information on topics ranging from basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology -- as needed to understand the various pathologies discussed -- to symptoms, clinical situations, investigations and available treatments. Beside medical information, the reader will find practical advice on how to communicate with the cardiologist, and how to prepare for certain tests. A glossary with commonly encountered medical terms is also included.
Although targeted mainly at cardiac patients with heart disease and their families, this book will also be useful for paramedics, specialist nurses, support groups, GPs and all those involved in treating heart patients in the community.

Adrian Chenzbraun was a Consultant Cardiologist in Jerusalem and a Senior Lecturer at the Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical School. He specialized in echocardiography at Stanford University Medical School. Presently, he is a Consultant cardiologist and the Clinical Lead in Echocardiography at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital and has published numerous papers in leading scientific journals, and is the author of Emergency Echocardiography.

- Section 1 - The facts about Heart Disease - 1: How does the Cardiovascular System work? - 2: What are the symptoms of Heart Disease? - 3: Cardiac tests - 4: The risk factors that can lead to Heart Disease - 5: Obstruction of the arteries (Atherosclerosis) - Section Two - Types of Heart Disease and other problems - 6: Coronary Artery Disease - 7: Rhythm Disturbances - 8: Congestive Heart Failure - 9: Congenital Heart Disease - 10: Cardiomyopathies (CMP) and arrhythmogenic syndromes - 11: Pericarditis and Myocarditis - 12: Valvular Heart Disease - 13: Sudden cardiac death - Section 3 - Treatment - 14: Cardiovascular Drugs - 15: Pacemakers and Related Devices - Appendix 1 - When to treat hypertension and hypecholesterolaemia - Appendix 2 - Some Practical Advice for the Cardiac Patient - Appendix 3 - Other sources of information - Glossary of medical terms