Cardiology: Two New Ways to Help a Patient Survive a Heart Attack

The first few hours and days after a heart attack are the hardest. Even among patients admitted promptly to some of the world's best hospitals, the first-week death rate runs to 20% or 30%. To improve this depressing record, British doctors are testing two innovations in patient care.

Long, Light Sleep. At London's Charing Cross Hospital, a team led by Dr. Peter Nixon relies on sleep to ease the coronary occlusion victim through the first dangerous days. Their reasoning: pain and fear may be important factors in throwing a weakened, damaged heart into...

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