Book Description
This book helps heart attack survivors empower themselves by learning as much as they can about their hearts, heart attack treatments they might have undergone, the keys to recuperation, and what to do in the event of another heart attack. Chapters on high blood pressure, diabetes, weight control, diet and exercise address these specific issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for all women!
As a dental hygienist, this book particularly interested me because of the current research linking heart attacks and periodontal (gum) diseases. This well-written, empowering book is filled with stories of survivors. It is inspiring and informative, and the sprinklings of humor make it highly readable. Although not personally a survivor, I am motivated to make some simple personal changes towards living a healthier lifestyle. I would recommend this to all women. I enjoyed it as much as "The Women's Heart Book" which I also devoured with enthusiasm.

[...] ... Read more

Book Description
Perhaps you've read about the Heart Attack Germ in Reader's Digest. Or you may have seen the story about it on Dateline NBC. But The Heart Attack Germ is the first and only book that reveals the full story behind this astonishing and revolutionary medical breakthrough.

A germ named Chlamydia pneumoniae has been identified by medical researchers the world over as the Heart Attack Germ. People infected by this germ are at a significantly increased risk for stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular problems, including the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Several other common bacteria and viruses have also been associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. All of these germs are contagious and easily transmitted from person to person. In fact, the odds are that you've already been infected by one or more of the germs of cardiovascular disease.

The discovery of the Heart Attack Germ has produced improved treatments that, for the first time, attack the underlying cause of cardiovascular trouble. Vividly written and illustrated, The Heart Attack Germ will show you how to dramatically reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack and the symptoms of Alzheimer's: safely, painlessly, inexpensively and without surgery.

Customer Reviews (2)

I really liked the way the author
I really liked the way the author gives an overview and then discusses in detail all the different aspects of incidents.This book is not really for physicians, but I appreciated the practical aspects of the content and think families that have been affected by an incident would benefit from reading it.

Highly Informative & Helpful
"The Heart Attack Germ" packs a wealth of information into its pages. I'd read a little about the idea that infection causes (or at least may contribute to) heart disease, but I couldn't find a book on the topic until I came across this one. The authors tell you everything you need to know about this new theory and the research data that support it. There's also a detailed section on exactly what your doctor is looking for during an office visit - all those mysterious things like patting your back and telling you to cough are explained in detail. The book is well-written, in a breezy, conversational style with a sense of humor. If you want to know more about this emerging new view of heart disease and what it may mean for you, I recommend "The Heart Attack Germ." ... Read more

Book Description
A heart attack is a dramatic, defining moment for everyone who experiences it. You may have trouble coming to terms with what happened, and of course you're worried that you might have another attack. You may not understand just what lies ahead. Here, in clear, straightforward language, the American Heart Association gives you answers to the many questions you have about your own health--or that of someone you love.

This reassuring and indispensable guide covers every aspect of a heart attack and its aftermath in understandable language. First, you will learn the warning signs to watch for and find out just what happens during a heart attack. Next, the American Heart Association takes you through every stage of treatment in the hospital, including which medications and other methods of treatment your doctor is likely to use.

After addressing your most immediate concerns, this guide also helps you with the critical long-term decisions that will have the most bearing on your future health: the benefits and risks of interventional surgery, diet and lifestyle changes that can help prevent future attacks, the critical warning signs of future attacks, and ways of coping with the inevitable emotional strain a heart attack causes. You'll also find first-person accounts from heart attack survivors who have been through every aspect of treatment, recovery, and prevention. These stories will show you how others have made the difficult decisions after a heart attack, inspire you to make the important changes, and help you gain a fresh perspective on a condition that affects over 1.25 million Americans a year.

A heart attack is indeed a life-altering experience. But by no means is it the end of life as you know it. With clear plans and the will to succeed, you can change your life--for the better. The American Heart Association gives you the information, inspiration, and guidance your need to move toward a healthier, happier future. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The phrase "insulin resistance" entered the pop lexicon a few years ago. Unfortunately, few people understand what it means, and some of the prescriptions for dealing with the problem actually make it worse.

As Dr. Gerald Reaven, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, explains, insulin resistance is part of Syndrome X, a once-mysterious killer of millions. Someone with Syndrome X has very high insulin levels, along with high blood fats and unusually small and dense particles of LDL (low-density lipoprotein)--the dangerous stuff. Diets high in carbohydrates or protein--like the American Heart Association and Zone diets--actually lead to more insulin production. Reaven says this starts a chain reaction in people with Syndrome X that leads to damaged arteriesand eventually to heart attacks.

Since the late 1960s, Dr. Reaven has methodically assembled the various pieces of the Syndrome X puzzle. Almost immediately, his research was bastardized to promote the notion that insulin makes you fat. But, as Dr. Reaven emphasizes in Syndrome X, you don't have to be fat to have insulin resistance, nor are fat people necessarily insulin resistant. Although 25 to 30 percent of Americans have insulin resistance, it's probably not the people you think have it: those at greatest risk are of non-European origin.

The solutions to the problem start with a low-carbohydrate diet that's high in unsaturated fats--fish, nuts, oils, and margarine and mayonnaise made from safflower oil. Reaven also recommends the usual suspects: more exercise, no smoking, less drinking.

The payoff? A longer, healthier life. And the superiority that comes with actually knowing what "insulin resistance" means. --Lou Schuler Book Description

Millions of Americans follow the "best" medical advice every day to prevent heart attacks -- eating the standard low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet so widely recommended by doctors -- but in fact they are placing themselves at greater risk for heart disease. In Syndrome X: Overcoming the Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack, Dr. Gerald Reaven, the world-renowned physician who identified and named this silent killer, explains why the standard heart-healthy diet can be dangerous and lays out a simple six-step program to reduce the risk of heart disease for everyone.

The problem stems from a little-known cluster of metabolic abnormalities known as Syndrome X. The insulin resistance that lies at the heart of the syndrome can turn normal rules of good health upside down and dramatically increase the risk of heart disease. Fortunately, Syndrome X can be cured.

This important book explains how to identify the disorder and provides a program of diet and exercise (plus medication when necessary) that can render Syndrome X harmless. Tested in carefully controlled research settings and in practice, this remarkable new approach has the ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart disease for all of us.

Dr. Reaven shows how eating a diet relatively high in "good" fats (40 percent of calories) can dramatically lower the risk of heart disease if you have Syndrome X. The approach seems paradoxical: Everyone "knows" that fat is bad, so how can more fat possibly lead to better health? The answer lies in the type of fat and the body chemistry of the people who consume it. If you have the abnormal metabolism called Syndrome X, eating a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet to lower your LDL and blood fats won't protect you. In fact, doing so will increase the odds of heart disease.

Millions of Americans have the potentially deadly, yet easily identifiable signs of Syndrome X -- but few cases are detected in time, because most physicians don't know what to look for. This trailblazing book will change that, making doctors and patients aware of the problem -- and its easy solution, an integrated program of diet and exercise that simultaneously reduces all the risk factors for heart disease, including Syndrome X.

Dr. Reaven's discovery of Syndrome X has shown us that the standard approach to preventing heart disease is dangerous for many of us. Now, his safe, proven new approach explains how millions can drastically reduce their risk of heart disease. His program works not only for those who have Syndrome X, but also for anyone who simply wants to reduce the risk of heart disease.Download Description
The American Heart Association and other leading health organizations recommend a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet to prevent heart attacks. But now -- in an important new book sure to generate heated controversy -- a world-renowned physician at the forefront of metabolic research explains why this may be dangerous and lays out a simple six-point program to reduce the risk of heart disease for everyone.The problem stems from a little-known cluster of metabolic abnormalities known as Syndrome X. The insulin resistance that lies at the heart of the syndrome turns normal rules of good health on their head and dramatically increases the risk of heart disease for those affected. From the physician whose research originally discovered this silent killer, this book describes simple blood tests that identify the disorder and provides a program of diet and exercise (plus medication when necessary) that can render Syndrome X harmless. Tested in carefully controlled research settings and in practice, this remarkable new approach has the ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart disease for all of us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Good information, but dietary guidelines not user friendly
This was the first book that explained to me what was happening with my health. I knew that my blood sugar was subject to highs and lows, and that I needed to lose weight, but when I tried, I would always fail. I was trying to follow the standard low fat, high carbohydrate diet advice, but was subject to carbohydrate cravings. When I tried high protein, I had kidney problems. This book showed me how to get on the right track.

There are problems with it though. It's not terribly user friendly. There are menus in the back of the book, but no instruction on how the translate them to your own menus and recipes. You have to figure that out on your own. A general guideline as to how much protein, fat, and carbohydrate to eat at each meal, for each calorie level, would have been helpful. I'd also like a listing of safe fats to consume. I was able to find this information elsewhere, but it would have been helpful if it had all been listed in this book. The diet is good, once you figure out how to follow it. I give this book five stars for the information, but only two stars for the dietary section.

2 Major Booboos
While Dr.Reaven correctly challenges low-fat,high-carbo orthodoxy his book suffers from 2 major errors:

(1)In his discussion of dietary fats he fails to make a distinction between omega-6 fatty acids(doubling in use in U.S. since the 1960s)and omega-3 fatty acids(in U.S.1/10th consumed of the amount required for normal functioning;20% have O-3 levels so low as to be undetectable;World Rev.Nutr.+Diet 1991(66) 205-216).Essential fatty acids go on to form eicosanoids.These hormone-like substances are involved in every aspect of life.The current imbalance of the O-6/O-3 ratio in our fat consumption promotes "bad"eicosanoids ie.those promoting inflammation etc.

(2)He neglects to mention glucagon,one of the pancreas'other hormones besides insulin.This omission by the"inventor"of Syndrome X who has worked in endocrinology for 35 years is likely due,as another reviewer has suggested,to this book being a rush job to cash in.Glucagon is influenced by dietary protein. Its action should be understood by anyone undertaking a self-help program.The Protein Power books by the Eades thoroughly cover this.

For a better understanding of the importance of essential fattyacids and the omega-6/omega-3 ratio good sources are The Omega Plan by Artemis Simopoulis and the Zone books,principally the Anti-Aging Zone by Barry Sears.

The ommission of information about glucagon may explain why Reaven sets his protein percentage at 15% and labels the Zone's moderate recommendation of 30% as being high.

Reaven doesn't put much emphasis on the variation in carbohydrates.For a fine explanation of why grains and grain products should be de-emphasized in favor of more nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables one should check thedrsears web site and search for glycemic load.

Sour Grapes
Over the last year I have dropped from 262 to 185 following a ketogenic/calorie restricted diet. While losing this weight I have gained both muscle mass and strength through weight lifting and running (yes I know that is supposed to be impossible). I have read, I think, every "low carb" diet book on the market.

This book could be re-titled, "Sour Grapes - How I Never Cashed In On The Low Carb Diet" Dr. Reaven did the research on the health evils of high carb diets that Atkins/Eades/Sears have used to pad their books out. That said, this book ads nothing to the discussion and contains an a description of "Syndrome X" which is inferior to that offered by Eades.

If you have read any of the above authors you already know what's in this book. If health is your goal it's OK. If weight loss is your goal it's lacking, and actually has some surprising errors. The content of this book would fit in about 30 pages. Poor Dr. Reaven apparently hoped to cash in as well, but though he did the original work, this book is pretty bad..

Again, having "done it," and having spent countless hour's reading these books I can recommend two:

The Ketogenic Diet by McDonald and the Protein Power Life Plan by Eades

Amazon has both, suggest you read Eades first. The Zone books seem to be written by a staff, and are sometimes contradictory, but for the long haul the "Life Extension Zone" is probably worth reading.

Finally getting a handle on my weight has been the single best thing I have done for myself. These two books were the key.Do make sure to take mineral supplements, calcium, potassium and magnesium- not optional.

Excellent material
As a medical writer (author of EAT FAT, BE HEALTHY: When A Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You), I found Dr. Reaven's book highly informative on this specific cause of heart disease.In many cases, insulin resistance causes the symptom of small-particle LDL syndrome which dramatically increases heart attack risk.The good news is that this blood lipid anomaly can be reversed more easily for patients with Syndrome X than with other forms of heart disease.Weight reduction, exercise, and diet changes usually reverse Syndrome X.

However, it's important for readers to realize that only a fraction of lipid disorders are caused by Syndrome X.Roughly 25% of the population carries the genes that cause a more serious form of small-particle LDL syndrome that usually requires multiple-drug intervention to reverse.The normal lipid panel is highly innaccurate in diagnosing this serious condition.A more accurate form of blood test called cholesterol subclass testing is helpful in diagnosing and treating Syndrome X, but is absolutely essential in diagnosing the more dangerous forms of small-particle LDL syndrome.END

Informative, but frustrating
This book is the real thing. It's scientifically based, definitely not faddish information. I knew I had Syndrome X when I read the first few pages of it.

However the diet is hard to follow. You have to constantly eat in the percentages he recommends, even when snacking, and that's not easy to do. I would also appreciate some tips on how to plan meals using the right percentages. Also as others have said, Dr. Reaven doesn't emphasize the importance of Omega 6 fatty acids enough. The book is a terrific summation of the research, but the dietary advice is frustrating to try and follow. I hope that soon some registered dietician will write a book on how to plan menus and adapt my own recipes meeting these guidelines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Heart Attack Is Preventable
In this highly informative book, Dr Michel Magadam tells you 20 Risk factors ofHeart Attack.A person who suffered a heart attach should read this book.It is definitely going to change his life style for ever.As long as you stick to the programs of Dr Michel, you will be free from another heart attack and feel better in many ways.He has given a most suitable diet for patients with heart disease, hyper tension,diabetes and cholesterol.

There are 2 things I couldn't put down. This book and my cup of S o y f e e. It's made from organic soyabeans which you brew just like coffee. No caffeine and I don't miss it either. Look for on the web at www. S oycoffee.com

An encyclopedic reference for heart disease risk factors
Dr. Mogadam has compressed a huge quantity of information into the nearly 400 pages of this book. The unifying theme in this book is that Dr. Mogadam describes 20 risk factors for heart attack and proceeds to describe how diet,exercise, supplements, and medication impacts on each one. He includes discussions of some of the less commonly performed tests, like lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, and chronic infections.

If you're searching for a good summary of conventional thought on cholesterol and heart disease risk, this book can be a useful reference. You might find it a bit tough to read front to back, as the style is somewhat dense and didactic. I think it might suit best as a reference to refer to when specific questions come to mind on these various risk factors.

Great book on important topic
Great book because:

1) He's an M.D. that also teaches at a university hospital.
2) No hocus-pocus ancient remedies, or magic bullets.
3) Covers the results from newer longitudinal studies.
4) Discusses the new findings on causes of heart disease.
5) Discusses which foods are good/bad for you.
6) Develops a scoring system for foods that is easy to follow.
7) Points out that it is really a multi-faceted problem.
8) Describes the medical tests to get.

What I didn't like:

1) He says I have to exercise more.
2) He says I have to lose more weight.

I can now understand that: all food is bad, but without it you die; some foods are better than others; food is not the only part of this problem.

Overall, this is a great book that summarizes current understanding of heart disease.Perhaps most important is his point on the multi-faceted nature of heart disease.There are some really interesting charts and diagrams showing how its just not X (just not fat, just not cholesterol).

Great book.I highly recommend it.

John Dunbar
Sugar Land, TX

Tailored for those with heart attack risk factors
Here's a plan for a diet which is tailored for those with heart attack risk factors, from hypertension and high cholesterol to diabetes. The bulk of Every Heart Attack Is Preventable consists of ratings of foods which are proven to help heart strength: tables chart food scores and draw important links between these scores and heart health.

THIS BOOK WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE
I only wish I had seen this book before suffering a heart attack at 42. In seeking to change my life, I read six decent books on overcoming heart attacks before finding this one. Friends, this book has more great information than the six previous books I read combined. Mogadam should get an award for writing it. Every single page has great information. It even addressed one area -- lipoprotein A -- that caused my heart attack that very, very few others even note. Do yourself or a loved one a favor, buy this book now and make the changes that will save your life. It's easy to read, take notes and implement. ... Read more

Product Description
More than three out of five deaths from heart attack occur simply because people don't immediately go to the hospital, waiting instead to see if symptoms persist. Now a pioneer of modern cardiology draws on fifty years of patient care to explain that the majority of heart attacks don't just happen spontaneously but are preceded by early warning signs--including little-known signs that go unrecognized by most people. If people would get proper treatment within the first sixty minutes of symptoms (the Golden Hour), they should suffer little or no damage to heart muscle. Dr. Turner also presents the early warning signs of stroke and instructions on how to respond, as well as what people can do to help prevent the occurrence or recurrence of heart attack and stroke. ... Read more

Book Description
Dr. Neufeld explains how eating meat and animal fats can lead to liver problems and heart attacks. ... Read more

Book Description
This volume offers a solid manual on how to deal with the realities and practicalities of board-staff relations, principally but not exclusively in Jewish organizations. It contains thoughtful articles dealing with the issues of the governance of non-profit organizations and board-staff relations of those non-profits.Also included are over fifty scenarios from real life, short case studies of true situations which touch on most of the problems that volunteers and professionals confront in the course of their working together. A third section contains tools and exercises for dealing with different kinds of board and staff problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A must read for all professionals!
Bubis does it again.He's a leader in the field and his insights are welcomed for all professionals working in the non-profit field.The book mentions issues current in the field that others have failed to deal with,especially with those working with Boards and Committees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Just buy this book!
Forget the miracle pills and diets and live longer!! Dr. Neal Pinckney's book makes it easy to understand why many of us are overweight and have health problems. There are no secrets here, just the truth about living well.

Great Book
This is a fantastic book written in a very informative manner. The recipes are good too. What I thought was most interesting is how the author explains how heart disease develops... the typical American diet startsbuilding plaque on the artery walls as early as the teen years! You will besurprised when you read this book and then you will understand why heartdisease is such a big problem in America. The diet in this book is the bestdiet I have come accross, not being able to easily loose weight myself. Butthis diet does it without hunger. I can't say enough about this advice. Ithas changed my life and the way I look at my health. I no longer feel likeI am a ticking time bomb that will eventually need a coronary bypassoperation ... an operation that has become very routine in America.

heart disease?Read this book to reverse it
Pinckney's book is easy to read and full of information and recipes. I teach aerobic exercise, and this is the ONLY book I recommend to my clients. A good book for those who want to learn to eat well but don't have much time for reading. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Women's Health Letter, published by Thomson Gale on October 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1686 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Another hidden cause of heart attacks and chronic diseases (and the only therapy known to stop it).(treating calcification by killing nanobacteria)
Publication: Women's Health Letter (Newsletter)
Date: October 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 11Issue: 10Page: 1(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
The nightmare of cardiologists performing PCI (stent implantation) is the eventual blockage of the stent, a process known as restenosis. Restenosis can and does result in sudden death.My MI (heart attack) was in 2001. I discontinued taking statin medication in 2003, following 2 years of statin induced side effects, and the realization that the lipid hypothesis (cholesterol is the cause of heart disease) is totally unfounded. Routine testing (2006/2007) showed that the stent in my critical LAD artery (widow maker artery) is 100% blocked - full restenosis - however I lead a very full and active life.My changing lifestyle over the last several years has promoted the generation and development of alternative blood vessels circumventing my blocked artery. Further invasive intervention (bypass) is presently not in the works. I explain the life style changes that I have adapted, and substantiate my reasons for doing so. This is the sequel to "Surviving a Successful Heart Attack." ... Read more

Book Description
Mr. NewHeart is David Hollar's inspiring account of his battle with heart disease and his life-saving transplant. It is a story of faith, courage, endurance, miracles, and God's rich blessings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Mr. NewHeart
This is an inspiring story of how one man and his family walked down a long road of devastating medical challenges. David's story contains candid details of discouraging, frightening moments. But it is a story of hope, ending with the triumph of the successful transplant. His faith in God and his courage are evident across every page.

A Change of Heart
"An inspiring first hand account of the emotional roller coaster Dave's family rode, during his long and emphatic struggle to sustain life. A point of faith and hope for all who read this book."

Author of "A Step of Faith" and soon to be released "From Darkness to Light".

Inspiring "NewHeart" story
As a fellow heart transplant recipient "only" 13 years out now, it is always inspiring to read the life story of another fellow recipient who has led the way, being my "senior" in those 16 years post transplant.David tells his story with passion and insight, offering testimony to the human spirit that seemingly can overcome all odds (well, not ALL, but certainly able to climb lofty mountains of life challenge as his typifies)- serving as an inspiration to anyone facing their own unique life challenges, and isn't that what we need today, more inspirations like this?

David writes in easy to understand language of medical professional and family support along with a strong faith in God (imagine getting the call for a new heaert on Easter as a sign that God answers our prayers!).He endures more than many of us have had to with his transplant and life, but then that's what makes for good reading, right?Just don't fear transplant based on his many issues, that while each may be typical, most patients do not face all of them, but even if you did, isn't it great to hear they can be overcome as David's life story shows us?

Another important lesson learned from his story is the ever growing need (due to the success of the transplant process)for organ donors as (here in 2007...) over 100,000 patients await their own life saving organ transplant in the US alone.Inspired by David's story, give some thought to your own ability to save someone's life after your death through the gift of organ donation, then tell your family about your decision!

Strength For The Task
The main character of this book should never have had a heart attack in the beginning, but he did!The struggles which came later, dealing with a very sick heart and then a younger heart gives us some idea of the difficulties involved in the process of transplanting organs.Not knowing from one day to the next whether he would be alive or not, Mr. Hollar exhibits great faith in God as he navigates the inside world of organ transplants, doctors, nurses and hospitals.Having received a mystical assurance that he was not going to die, he set about to get well.The excellent medical care from all the hospital staff; the love and support of his family and his deep abiding faith all helped in overcoming this tragic catastrophic illness.A faithful testimony, indeed. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Presidential Studies Quarterly, published by Center for the Study of the Presidency on March 22, 1998. The length of the article is 918 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Eisenhower's Heart Attack: How Ike Beat Heart Disease and Held on to the Presidency.
Author: Theodore P. Kovaleff
Publication: Presidential Studies Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1998
Publisher: Center for the Study of the Presidency
Volume: v28Issue: n2Page: p440(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
"As I walked away with my refreshments, I felt something peculiar. It was so strange it stopped me mid-step. I was forty-five years old, and I had felt many things, but never before this particular feeling: I felt a click deep inside. The image the sensation produced in my mind was of a BB, a small round piece of copper-colored lead, falling into a socket. It was a very clear image. A BB is tiny, but the one I imagined felt infinitesimal, microscopic. Yet I felt it, a click, metal on metal—like an expensive, microscopic gear had slipped, some exquisite piece of machinery falling out of alignment. Some medieval example of craftsmanship, a gyroscope, something intricate, needing fine balance. The feeling, the event, was located in my chest, below my left breast. It was thoroughly interior, as if a signal had been sent and registered, what those giant satellite dishes are poised waiting for, a transmission from deep space." —from chapter 1

That was October 26, 1991, in what became a singularly awful day in the life of William O'Rourke. Minutes later, at the beginning of a Notre Dame football game, he began to suffer his heart attack. O'Rourke's account of that day, and everything that followed, is personal, informative, humorous, and highly literate. With its extended description of what an MI feels like and how people around the patient react, his memoir provides a bedside view of his experience and all of the emotions—both extraordinary and quotidian—that accompanied it.

What is startling is how that momentous event, the heart attack, divides life irretrievably into a "before" and "after." Gone are the assumptions of what is safe and healthy; replacing them is a newly-forged relation of mind and body, a treacherous one which breeds a physical paranoia that only lessens after months. O'Rourke vividly describes the extreme pain of the attack, the forced inactivity of recuperation, and the melancholy of embracing life anew while accepting a heightened awareness of mortality. He knows his luck in having supportive family and friends, and uses his time away from normal routine to examine his family history for likely genetic proclivities for heart disease.

Through his description of his experience—from MI, to angioplasty, to cardiac catheterization to, fourteen years later, a quintuple bypass and a second round of cardio-rehabilitation—he asks us to change behaviors we can affect and pay attention to our health.

Enriched with a medical glossary and selected bibliography, this is a helpful compendium for other recuperating patients and their families, or anyone concerned about heart disease, or interested in memoir.

"O'Rourke' s book and its long description of having a heart attack may scare the bejesus out of you, but it certainly sheds a lot of light on the subject. He's writing about what he knows and he knows a lot. His book is full of life—full of heart—and necessary reading for anyone who's ever thought twice about the tough organ that keeps us alive." —Malachy McCourt, author of A Monk Swimming and Bush Lies in State

"The story of William O'Rourkes's heart attack is as compelling as a thriller because it is a thriller. As always, O'Rourke's prose is crisp, witty, and wholly original. The chronicle of his recovery demystifies a frightening illness, leaving a reader enlightened and, unexpectedly, cheered." —Valerie Sayers, author of Brain Fever and Due East

"In the first few pages of William O'Rourke's gripping book I learned what it feels like to have a heart attack and how the press or pleasure of daily events can keep us postponing the visit to the Emergency Room. Now, I tell myself, I'll be prepared even in the middle of the night or at a sports event. Thanks to my husband's many years of MS, I did have an idea of how important a good doctor, a ready wife or husband, an eagle eye for proceedings, and even chance can be in determining one's future—but the uninitiated in such mysteries will find On Having a Heart Attack to be full of first person insights." —Maggie Strong, author of Mainstay: For the Well Spouse of the Chronically Ill

"For anyone who has ever had a serious medical crisis, or been close to someone who has, William O'Rourke's book is essential reading. O'Rourke takes us on a fascinating, compelling journey into the literal and figurative heart of a gloriously full and fragile life. He illuminates much about our vitality and our mortality, and the ways in which fortune and modern medicine can collaborate in our individual and collective fates. This is a rich tale by a splendid storyteller—a most unforgettable, informative, and deeply moving memoir of one man's struggles and triumphs." —Jay Neugeboren, author of Open Heart: A Patient's Story of Life-Saving Medicine and Life-Giving Friendship ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Read this book!
This book could save your life or the life of someone you care about. It's lively and intelligent, and it's actually an entertaining narrative (if you can imagine a book about having a heart attack being entertaining.) This is a book that's witty and anecdotal, a book you won't be able to put down. It's a short book, but it tells you everything you need to know. It has an excellent glossary and a brief, smart list of things to do in order to avoid having a heart attack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Worth Reading
This is definitely worth reading. The research approach is unique - identifying the soft side of things, less of a plumber approach to medicine.

Where is further research in this direction. I give the book a 3 star rating only because the research is dated. Would like to see a funded effort in this direction to identify stress managing techniques because that is truly what is unique about the Western Life.

Changing that, we can change our social ills. ... Read more