Reviews of 3 good books on Heart Health

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Dear Friends,

 

Sai Ram. In view of the importance of heart health, I thought it appropriate

to share with you reviews of 3 good books which came my way recently. Since

February is observed as National Heart Health Month in USA, these books are very

relevant to those of you (or your relatives and friends) in USA.

 

With best wishes,

 

Swamy

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Title: A Woman’s Guide to Saving Her Own Life

Author: Mellanie True Hills

Publisher: Healthy Ideas Press

ISBN: 0-9766008-0- 3

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Health/Self- Help

Key Words: Heart, Health, Women, HEART, Plan

 

A Woman’s Guide to Saving Her Own Life by Mellanie True Hills is a book written

as a self-help guide to educate women in general and women of USA in particular

, about the risks of heart disease and the steps that they can take to prevent

such diseases or having come through, how to prevent recurrence and worsening of

their health. The author was a high pressure executive and almost suffered heart

attack and came out with an angioplasty (which was difficult because of the

location) and is thus a survivor. She made a fairly intensive research of the

various risk factors including heredity, life style, stress etc., and has

developed a plan, which she has aptly named as HEART :

 

H : Healthy eating

E: Exercise daily

A: Attitude

R: Rest, Relaxation and Rejuvenation

T: Take Proactive Control of your health

 

The book is informative and well written with lots of charts and other inputs to

help the reader chalk out her own action plan and see how it goes. Since she

herself went through these problems, she comes out as a sincere person and her

writing carries conviction. She is active as a speaker for the American Heart

Association.

 

Since it is so informative, the book could have been hard bound to withstand

repeated use. A few editorial slips were noticed but they don’t detract from the

value of the book.

 

All in all, this will be a good read for women (and their men), especially this

month (February is observed as a heart health month in USA).

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Title: Hidden Causes of Heart Attack and Stroke

Author: Christian Wilde

Publisher: Abigon Press

ISBN: 0-9724959-0- 8

Genre: Medicine/Heart Health/Fitness

Key words: Heart, Health, Cholesterol, CRP, Homocysteine, Inflammation, Stroke,

Fibrinogen

 

I received this book along with another book written by the same author and

which attracted my attention and resulted in my making a review request. And I

am so glad that the Publisher sent this book too, which I read first. The other

book takes off where this book ends and is titled, " Miracle Stem Cell Heart

Repair " . But first things first. About this book.

 

This book is a little dated in the sense that it was published in 2002 and

obviously the demand must have been good to require a second printing in 2003.

So, it is nearly 3 years old, but rest assured that the information is quite

uptodate and it is worth spending the few hours to go through the book.

 

The author, Christian Wilde is not a medical doctor but is well qualified to

write on the subject since he is a sort of investigative journalist and when he

had a problem with his own health, he did not just go by the doctor's

prescriptions but investigated all the literature thoroughly and more

importantly discussed with the leading researchers and cardiologists to ensure

that his understanding is correct. The result is an outstanding and up-to-date

book on the various risk factors that go to make up the problems in the field of

heart health, resulting in Angina, Heart Attacks and Strokes. That the author

and the editorial team did an exemplary job has been endorsed by the leading

members of the medical fraternity. Thus you can safely use the information

provided in this book to discuss with your own doctor (who is the final

authority to help you with your health problems) in an intelligent and

meaningful manner.

 

Christian covers all the important risk factors that may compromise the heart

health including Cholesterol, Hypertension, Diabetes, Smoking, Obesity,

Fibrinogen, CRP, Homocysteine etc. You may be aware of some of them and may not

be aware about some of them. This book is a handy reference guide.

 

I enjoyed reading the book and as some one deeply interested in holistic health,

I was impressed by the information provided. I found the editing to be less than

perfect at some places but fortunately, that doesn't impinge on the accuracy of

information presented. The book has a good Glossary of Medical Terms to help us,

References to the various research articles cited in the book and an Index.

 

I found the larger type font and the non-glare paper easy on the eyes. I would

have preferred to see the book hardbound to withstand repeated use since I

expect this book to be referred to often.

 

I strongly recommend that if you have any interest in heart health (either of

your own, your spouse, parents or friends), you should buy this book and the

companion book mentioned above by the same author.

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Title: Miracle Stem Cell Heart Repair

Author: Christian Wilde

Publisher: Abigon Press

ISBN: 1-59975-054- 6

Genre: Health/Medical/ Heart Health

Key Words: Heart, Attack, CHF, Stem Cells, Stroke, Angina

 

This book, published in October 2006 is the companion book for the author's

earlier book, " Hidden Causes of Heart Attack and Stroke " published in 2002. In

case you have not read that book, I strongly recommend that you read that book

and that too read that book first before taking up this one. I assure you that

both are easy on the eyes (they use a bigger type face and are printed on

off-white paper to avoid glare).

 

While Christian's earlier book focusses on the preventive aspect of health care,

this book focusses on the repair of the damage already done. Stem Cell Research

has shown good results in repair of scar tissue in heart attacks, reduced heart

enlargements and helped patients of Congestive Heart Failure, helped patients

with Angina, Stroke and so on. Thus this book offers hope to the so-called " No

Option Patients " .

 

Stem cell research has been in the news for the last few years and many debates

are going on about the several issues, ethical and scientific about the use of

stem cells in therapy. Christian has brought his journalistic skills (he is the

host of a very popular radio talk show) and his deep and accurate understanding

of the complicated subject and has presented the same in an easy to read and

understand manner.

 

The author has taken the opportunity to update some of the information presented

in the earlier book and thus has added value. The caution about the too low

cholesterol and the associated risks of depression, stroke etc., is very timely.

 

The book is enriched by a number of References, Glossary of Medical Terms and an

Index. I only wish it was hard bound to withstand repeated references.

 

I strongly recommend this book along with the other book for any one interested

in heart health issues for themselves or for their family and friends.

 

 

 

 

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