Faye's review
This is an easy to read book considering it contains medical conditions and unfamiliar medical terms. The authors took great care to describe each medical term and included excellent pictures to show what is happening in your heart that will lead to a heart attack. The book is meant for laypersons, but health professionals would also benefit from reading it.
The authors present the 7 causes of heart attacks. The number one cause is smoking, the other causes in order of importance include: an increase in cholesterol (LDL), high blood presssure, excess body fat, metabolic syndrome (includes diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other conditions), oxidative stress (free radicals), chronic inflammation. Each cause is described in easy to follow facts accompanied by pictures. Under each cause there is a section called "Viability of Self-treatment" which describes how you can help heal your heart. and a section called "Standard Medical Care" which explains the medical care you will likely receive.
The book's main purpose is to present you with a plan to keep your heart healthy. There is a plan discussing the healthy foods you should eat, and the unhealthy foods you should avoid. The benefits of the healthy foods and the harm of each unhealthy food is carefully described. In the chapter "Super Foods to the Rescue" the importance of diet is stressed giving you a list of eighteen healthy foods to eat. Menus and recipes that include these foods are an important part of this book. A list of foods to shop for to have a healthy fridge and cupboard are also presented here.
The importance of activity is presented as well. It is also easy to follow with pictures and encouragers. The activities do not expect you to climb mountains or take up cross country skiing, but show you how every day household chores are activities. The importance of stretching exercises, strengthing exercises, and easy aerobic exercises are discussed. Yoga and other methods of meditation are included here to help with stress control as stress is a contributor to heart attacks.
I recommend this book to everyone. If you are young or old and are healthy you will learn how to prevent a heart attack. If you are struggling with obesity and don't understand why obesity leads to heart attacks this is the book for you. Reaading this book may give you the insentive to help yourself to better health. Even if you already have heart disease this book will be useful in assisting you to help yourself to healthier heart.
|