Heart Disease For Dummies

Manage cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight Get the facts, reduce your risk, and improve your heart health You can live well with heart disease. This plain–English guide explains the various forms of the disease and reveals how you can control and treat it – or prevent it altogether. You get up–to–the–minute coverage of the latest diagnostic tests, medications, and surgical procedures, as well as advice on eating healthy and reducing stress. Praise for Heart Disease For Dummies "Outstanding! A must–read for anyone interested in preventive medicine in general, and in heart disease prevention in particular." — Richard S. Irwin , MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care "Required reading for anyone with a history of heart disease or a family tree that has heart disease in it." — Joseph S. Alpert , MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona, Department of Medicine Discover how to: Assess your risk factors Identify the symptoms of a heart attack Ensure you receive quality medical care Change your lifestyle to manage heart disease Prepare tasty, heart–healthy meals

Introduction. Chapter 1 Confronting Heart Disease: The No. 1 Health Threat. Chapter 2 Touring the Heart and Cardiovascular System. Chapter 3 Recognizing Your Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Chapter 4 Understanding the Onset of Coronary Artery Disease, Angina, and Unstable Angina. Chapter 5 Understanding Heart Attacks. Chapter 6 Beating Out of Sync: Arrhythmias. Chapter 7 When the Pump Falters: Heart Failure. Chapter 8 Clotting and Bleeding in the Brain: Stroke. Chapter 9 Identifying Other Cardiac Conditions. Chapter 10 Taking the First Step: Going for a Checkup. Chapter 11 Using Diagnostic Tests. Chapter 12 Forming a Partnership with Your Doctor. Chapter 13 Combating High Blood Pressure. Chapter 14 Controlling Cholesterol. Chapter 15 Understanding Drug and Medical Treatments for Heart Disease. Chapter 16 Treating Heart Disease with Invasive and Surgical Procedures. Chapter 17 Evaluating Alternative Therapies: Are They for You? Chapter 18 Rehabilitating Your Heart. Chapter 19 Reversing Heart Disease: Hope or Hype? Chapter 20 Choosing Heart–Healthy Nutrition and Managing Your Weight Chapter 21 Getting It in Gear: Physical Activity and Exercise for Heart Health. Chapter 22 Reducing Stress: Tapping the Mind/Body Connection to Improve Heart Health. Chapter 23 Quitting Smoking. Chapter 24 Ten Myths about Heart Disease. Chapter 25 Ten Great Heart–Healthy Foods. Chapter 26 Ten Cardiac Signs and Symptoms You Need to Know About. Chapter 27 Ten Secrets of Long–Term Success. Appendix Great Heart–Healthy Recipes by America′s Leading Chefs. Index.

James M. Rippe , MD, is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at Tufts University Medical School and the Director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.