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The majority of heart disease deaths occur before a patient reaches a hospital [June 1]. Significant improvement in the heart attack victim's survival rate has been reported when electrical treatment in conjunction with cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered within eight minutes of cardiac arrest. Wide availability of a device enabling medically authorized lay people to give appropriate electrical treatment may have enormous life-saving potential.
Alfred Lars Aronson, M.D. Secaucus, N.J.
My father has had degenerative heart disease, and he was advised to eat salt-free foods. But there is practically no way to avoid salt in American processed foods so long as the food industry uses salt as a primary additive.
Patricia A. Zaruba Turnersville, N.J.
It was unfortunate that your article put its total focus on medication and surgery. One of the newest forms of treating heart disease is cardiac rehabilitation, which focuses not only on heart patients' physical well-being but also on their vocational and emotional status.
Gail Handysides, R.N. Stoneham, Mass.
I am dismayed that you displayed no cynicism for some of this costly high technology, particularly the artificial heart. This technique cannot possibly have any impact on the disease. It benefits a small minority and serves only to stroke the egos of the doctors who pursue this blind alley.
Julian M. Whitaker, M.D. Huntington Beach, Calif.
Formula Feeding
The U.S.'s one dissenting vote against the WHO'S infant-formula resolution [June 1] announces to citizens of underdeveloped countries what they must have known all along: "We care more about your money than about your lives."
Thomas P. Wharton Jr. Needham, Mass.
How ironic that Mr. Reagan would protect the embryos in women's bodies but not the babes in their arms!
Carol Corbett Burris Houston
Even in the most affluent segments of our society, breast feeding can be expected to reduce significantly serious infantile diarrhea, respiratory disease and allergy. Unfortunately, a large portion of the public still believes that proprietary formula combined with proper refrigeration, sterilization and other hygienic measures can safely replace human milk.
William P. Fleming, M.D.
U.S. Public Health Service Gallup, N. Mex.
I have seen the tragic consequences of improper formula mixing. I am outraged that the Administration has allowed the interests of the manufacturers to prevail and has refused to support the proposed restrictions on the advertising and marketing of formula.
Paul V. Catalana, M.D. Greenville, S.C.