Abstract-Patient delay in seeking treatment for acute coronary syndrome and stroke symptoms is the major factor limiting delivery of definitive treatment in these conditions. Despite decades of research and public education campaigns aimed at decreasing patient delay times, most patients still do not seek treatment in a timely manner. In this scientific statement, we summarize the evidence that (1) demonstrates the benefits of early treatment, (2) describes the extent of the problem of patient delay, (3) identifies the factors related to patient delay in seeking timely treatment, and (4) reveals the inadequacies of our current approaches to decreasing patient delay. Finally, we offer suggestions for clinical practice and future research. Key Words: AHA Scientific Statements Ⅲ acute coronary syndrome Ⅲ stroke Ⅲ delivery of health care D espite major advances in identifying effective treatments for heart attack and stroke, there are substantial difficulties in applying these treatments to care. The weak link in the chain of events leading to prompt and effective treatment is patient delay in seeking care. More than 50% of the 1.2 million people who suffer an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or coronary death each year in the United States die in an emergency department (ED) or before reaching a hospital within an hour of symptom onset. 1 About 700 000 individuals will have a stroke each year, 167 000 of those who have strokes will die, and more will suffer a major disability. 1 Of the stroke deaths that occur each year, almost half occur before the patient reaches the hospital. 2 Many of these deaths and significant disability could be prevented if patients received earlier treatment. 1,3 Although the benefits of early treatment of heart attack and stroke are clear, only a minority of eligible patients receive optimally timed treatment for their symptoms because of delay in seeking care. The development and use of appropriate interventions to decrease treatment-seeking delay by patients could produce important gains in reducing death and disability from heart attack and stroke. Unfortunately, efforts to date to develop effective interventions have met with disappointing results. 4 -6 Accordingly, the purpose of this statement is to summarize the evidence that demonstrates the benefits of early treatment, 1,2 describes the extent of the problem of patient delay, 3 identifies the factors related to patient delay in seeking timely treatment, and reveals the inadequacies of our current approaches to decreasing patient delay. 4 Finally, we offer suggestions for clinical practice and future research. Benefits of Early TreatmentThe burden of cardiovascular disease is growing worldwide. Ischemic heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the The findings and conclusions in this scientific statement are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.The American Heart Association makes every effort to av...

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Mothers of hospitalized low-birth-weight infants are vulnerable. The presence of sleep disturbances and negative physical and mental health indicators warrants further study. Intervention is needed to promote sleep for new mothers during postpartum recovery, especially mothers who are dealing with a medically ill infant.

The magnitude of nocturnal sleep disturbance and daytime sleepiness identified in this study reinforces the importance of ongoing screening and effective intervention for sleep-wake disturbances in patients with lung cancer.

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