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HEART
TO HEART
By Scott Hays
When someone
close to you suffers from
heart disease, the impact
can be devastating for the
patient, family and friends.
Once the medical emergency
has passed, a wide spectrum
of emotional problems may
begin.
Today's heart disease patient
needs to address these issues.
If ignored, the patient and
other family members alike
can become hostage not only
to the physical limitations
of heart disease, but the
emotional limitations as well.
Full cardiac recovery requires
both a healthy body and a
healthy emotional state, beginning
the process of regaining a
sense of control over life.
Paperback: 140 pages
Publisher: Health Press (NM)
(January 1, 1997)
ISBN: 0-929173-07-4
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Book Review
by Bettie S. Jackson, Ed.D., MBA,
FAAN:
It is interesting experience to
go from reading the usual professional
journals and books to reading a
compact little book written for
cardiac patients, their families/significant
others and their professional care
givers. I was struck by the glaring
contrasts in two worlds of concern:
the professional and clinical, from
the cardiac specialist's point of
view, and the humanistic point of
view of the patient and those closest
to him.
In Heart to Heart,
Herbert N. Budnick, Ph.D., a licensed
psychotherapist who works almost
exclusively with patients with heart
disease and their families, has
written a neat little book that
should probably be given to every
patient upon discharge from the
hospital after a cardiac event.
The book contains
seven chapters covering, from the
patient's perspective, such themes
as "Scared and Confused,"
"the Cardiac Spouse,"
"Doctors and Nurses,"
and "of a Medical Nature."
He addresses questions that patients
and their loved ones sometime ask,
would like to ask, and surely most
often think: Why do I get lost and
confused? Can I still maintain my
quality of life? Is it ok to have
sex? What is hypertension? What
exactly does the heart do?
Dr. Budnick, in a
calming was, addresses very common
concerns, refers patients to their
physicians for guidance and answers,
and does a great deal to help the
patient and his loved ones feel
very normal for all of their concerns
throughout their crises. He puts
considerable emphasis on openness
and communication about feelings
and sharing. He really understands
that issues that emerge at the time
of a cardiac event may not be new
for the patient and his family,
but they are exacerbated and need
attention. He uses brief case studies
to illustrate how informed support
from physician and nurses and in
some cases psychotherapists can
assist patients and others with
the stressors of a cardiac event.
I liked the book a
lot. It is relatively easy to read
(from patient's point of view),
the print is large enough for anyone
over 50 years of age, and it has
useful table of contents as well
as an index. A brief bibliography
and easy to read guide to some cardiac
medications is included. I would
like to have seen a diagram of the
normal heart with chambers, valves
and major vessels, along with the
diagram of the heart with its coronary
vessels that is included. The book
costs $22.95 in hardcover. I hope
that if it isn't already, it will
be available in paperback at less
expense. Physicians and nurses should
consider making the book available
to their patients and loved ones.
