Cardiovascular Disorders and Behavior

Book excerpt: First published in 1983. This is Volume III of the Handbook of Psychology and Health. Cardiovascular diseases are arguably the largest cause of death in the United States. This statement attests to the importance of understanding these disorders, in order to be able to prevent, ameliorate, and reduce the devastation which this set of diseases can cause. Cardiovascular disorders have also been the most intensely studied of those health hazards that have come to the attention of behavioral scientists. The many ways in which these problems are influenced by environmental, social, and behavioral factors have provided a fertile ground for study by investigators of many disciplines and persuasions. For these two reasons, it is appropriate that a volume in this series be directed toward the study of cardiovascular disease.