A possible explanation for the pattern of herbal medicine use associated with certain chronic diseases is the four conditions associated with increased herbal medicine use; three (arthritis, urinary incontinence, and asthma) are highly bothersome chronic conditions for which less than optimal treatments exist. In contrast, subjects who had experienced heart attacks were significantly less likely to use herbal medications. Heart attack is an acute life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization and normally leads to lifestylechanges and close medical supervision of blood pressure and serum lipid levels.