Cardiovascular Diseases Genetics, Epidemiology and Prevention

Knowledge of what causes cardiovascular diseases has progressed at a pace that challenges not only the student, but the physician and the research scientist. And while there is scientific merit in discovering the etiology of any disease, the ultimate goal is to apply what we learn to the treatment and possibly to the prevention of the diseases being studied. In this volume, the authors propose to bring together what is understood about the causes and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in individuals, families and societies. Their first theme, variations of which occur throughout the work, is that cardiovascular diseases are familial. The volume also recognizes that genetic factors for most cardiovascular diseases interact in important, if not critical, ways with the environment. Epidemiology and the genetic-environmental interaction are of major consequence. The authors' goal is as much to inspire stimulating questions as to provide a concise resource of current information.