When You Have Chest Pains: A Guide to Cardiac and Noncardiac Causes and What You Can to about Them

Readers seeking first-aid advice will not find it in this disappointing book. Rather, the title serves as a deceptive peg on which to hang a series of superficial pieces, in labored Q & A format, on over a dozen possible causes of chest discomfort, from syphilis to tumors. Lesser, a cardiologist and a medical journalist for National Public Radio, and medical writer Strauss seem on fairly solid ground in describing myocardial infarction, although they erroneously use this term interchangeably with ``thrombosis'' (clot formation); but their suggestion that a victim meditate, play Mozart and/or ``think of funny things'' while awaiting the paramedics is startling. Elsewhere, dubious assertions are made (citrus fruits should be avoided by sufferers of ``virtually all types of arthritis''), as well as outright misstatements (nutritional deficiencies are said to be a ``common cause'' of panic disorder). A 40-page final section offers nothing new in guidance on the prevention of coronary artery disease, along with a questionable mega-vitamin and -mineral regimen and further advocacy of the medical powers of Mozart. (May)