312 Pages
    by Psychology Press

    The issue of women's health has long been neglected. This applies to many medical areas, but it has become most evident in the field of cardiology. For a long time, cardiology has been a medical specialty which seemed to be created for men, by men--particularly in research, but also in intensive clinical care units where male patients have been most visible and dominating. Furthermore, the clinical cardiologists--their doctors--have been predominantly male. It is easy to understand that most women think they will die from cancer rather than from heart disease, but this is not true. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women as it is for men. Female patients are frequently encountered in the cardiology department, but they are older and seem to get less visibility and attention than the male patients. Research on risk factors for heart disease has also been almost entirely focused on men. This is true for psychosocial/behavioral aspects of cardiovascular risk.

    Aiming to fill this gap, this volume contains contributions from outstanding international and national researchers from different fields such as sociology, psychology, epidemiology, cardiology, clinical medicine, and physiology. These professionals gathered together for an interdisciplinary seminar on women, stress, and heart disease held at the Swedish Society of Medicine. Based on the seminar, this book provides a solid foundation for empirically based scientific conclusions on this important subject.

    Contents: N.K. Wenger, Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Evolution of Our Knowledge. Part I:Clinical Findings and Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Women. M. Dellborg, Less Prominent Electrocardiographic Changes During Myocardial Ischemia in Women May Explain Differences in Treatment as Compared to Men. K. Orth-Gomér, Psychosocial Risk Factor in Women With Coronary Heart Disease. Part II:Work, Stress, and Social Change in Women. U. Lundberg, Work and Stress in Women. O. Lundberg, L. Gonäs, Recent Trends in Women's Psychosocial Work Environment and Health and Structural Changes on the Labor Market. D. Vågerö, E. Lahelma, Women, Work, and Mortality in Sweden and in Other European Countries. K. Hunt, C. Emslie, Men's Work, Women's Work? Occupational Sex Ratios and Health? Part III:Multiple Roles, Social Support, and Coping in Women. P. Moen, Women's Roles and Health: A Life Course Approach. U. Björnberg, Well-Being Among Swedish Employed Mothers With Preschool Children. S.M. Czajkowski, Psychosocial Aspects of Women's Recovery From Heart Disease. M. Chesney, L. Darbes, Social Support and Heart Disease in Women: Implications for Intervention. Part IV:Psychophysiology of Coronary Heart Disease in Women. K. Schenck-Gustafsson, F. Al-Khalili, Reproductive Hormone Effects on the Cardiovascular System in Women. C.A. Shively, S.L. Watson, J.K. Williams, M.R. Adams, Stress-Menstrual Cycle and Cardiovascular Disease. G. Weidner, C.R. Messina, Cardiovascular Reactivity to Mental Stress in Women With Coronary Heart Disease. K.C. Light, S.S. Girdler, S. West, K.A. Brownley, Blood Pressure Response to Laboratory Challenges and Occupational Stress in Women. Part V:Conclusions and Recommendations. G. Tibblin, K. Orth-Gomér, Women, Stress, and Heart Disease: Concluding Remarks.

    Biography

    Kristina Orth-Gom'R (Edited by) ,  Margaret A. Chesney (Edited by) ,  Nanette Kass Wenger (Edited by) ,  Kristina Orth-Gomer (Edited by)

    "This long-awaited, much-needed addition to the literature on coronary heart disease (CHD) comprehensively reviews the published proceedings of the 1994 Stockholm international conference 'Women, Stress, and Heart Disease.'"
    CHOICE

    "The strength of this book lies in the comprehensive and scholarly coverage of the mechanisms that can lead to heart disease in women....Throughout the book, the importance of 'coronary-prone' situations for women is constantly reinforced with excellent examples drawn from research findings."
    Journal of Health Psychology

    "Health professionals in [England] have so far not paid due attention to psychosocial factors in the causation of heart disease, but with most hospitals now providing cardiac rehabilitation programmes it is clear that more people will become interested in cardiac psychology. They will certainly find [this] book essential reading."
    British Journal of Medical Psychology