Tension and Coronary Attacks

To the Editor:  —Reference is made to the digest of an article which appeared under the heading "Tensions of Modern Living Not Responsible for Physician Coronaries, Cardiologists Claim" (JAMA182:Adv p 30 [Dec 15] 1962.) This title does not accurately reflect the content of the various statements made by the eight prominent cardiologists interviewed. Morever, the comments of some of these authorities either had little or nothing to do with the question of the etiological significance of emotional stress in coronary disease or left the reader in doubt as to the personal views held on the subject.If the stress of modern living is considered unimportant in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and its complications, one may reasonably question the respective recommendations of these cardiologists: (1) "to regulate our lives in defiance of the demands placed upon us"; (2) "to take a nap after lunch"; (3) to apply "the