Preface

This book in for primary care physicians and all others who participate in the general care of patient’s whit cardiovascular disease.

Internists, family physicians, physician assistants, and nurse clinicians participate in the care of millions of individuals in this and other countries. They are of prime importance in the delivery of health care because they are the professionals patients and potential contact initially. They guide the system of health care.

Primary care physicians and those who work with them do not specialize in the diseases that involve a specific body system. Rather, they focus and specialize in the care of the individual as a person. They manage the medical problems they are trained to manage and consult with and refer their patients to other more specialized physicians when the need arises. They prevent disease when it is possible to do so. They are care deeply about the person who is sick and enjoy dealing with the small and large problems they encounter. Accordingly, the primary care physicians and those who work with them have always been among the mainstays in the broad scheme of health care in this country.

This book deals exclusively with cardiovascular problems. One can properly ask why primary should care physicians who are interested in all health problems, need a book on a single organ system. The answer is because cardiovascular problems are common and preventive care is of crucial importance. For example, if you are a 40 year old male, you have one chance in tow of having a “coronary event” sometime during your life. If you are a 40 year old female you have one chance in three of having a coronary event during your life.

A potential reader might ask, “Since there are many types of cardiovascular diseases and there are several 2000 page books on the subject, how can a book be created that would met the needs of those individuals who are involved in primary care?” Another potential reader might ask, “How dose this book differ from the section on cardiovascular disease provided by a textbook of general medicine?” These questions lead to an explanation of the evolution of the creation of this book that separates it from other books. Simple stated this is why this book is unique. The subjects that are discussed were selected by primary care physicians who appreciate the type of information that primary care physicians need to “get through a day” of dealing with many types of health problems. Such a book would not, and should not, attempt to present all the information that is known about all cardiovascular subjects but should assist primary care physicians in determining which cardiovascular problems they can, and should manage and which conditions should be referred to others for consultation or more specialized care.