Protecting the heart while treating the mind.

The article discusses the prevention and treatment of heart disease in people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients are more likely than other Americans to have one or more of the major risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension and obesity. Reducing the risk of heart disease in schizophrenic patients starts with the choice of antipsychotic. Treatment of heart disease includes a combination of medical and behavioral interventions such as controlling blood sugar and blood pressure.