Preventing & Reversing Heart Disease For Dummies

Written in plain English and packed with tons of authoritative advice, Preventing & Reversing Heart Disease For Dummies includes the most up-to-date information on coronary heart disease and its treatment. This resource covers new ways to diagnose and treat both short- and long-term complications of heart disease, the latest medications, updated diet and exercise plans, the lowdown on recognizing the risk factors and warning signs of a heart attack, determining if you have heart disease, distinguishing between angina, heart attack, and stroke, and much more.

It is projected that by the year 2020, heart disease will be the leading cause of death throughout the world. As the magnitude of cardiovascular diseases continue to accelerate globally, the pressing need for increased awareness and a stronger, more focused national and international response has become more important than ever. Preventing & Reversing Heart Disease For Dummies tackles this vital subject with compassion and authority, outlining the steps you can take to help ensure you don't become just another statistic.

• Helps you find the right doctor and handle a managed care plan
• Covers all thirteen types of heart disease and discusses the key differences that may determine their progression and treatment
• Illustrates how simple changes in diet may be enough to prevent heart disease
• Shows how you can reverse some of the effects of heart disease through exercise

If you're suffering from or are at risk of heart disease—or love someone who is—Preventing & Reversing Heart Disease For Dummies empowers you to take control of heart health and get on a path to a longer, healthier life.

Part I: Getting Started with Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease 5

Chapter 1: Taking Charge of Your Heart Health 7

Chapter 2: Understanding the Onset and Outcomes of Heart Disease 15

Chapter 3: Are You at Risk of Heart Disease? How to Turn That Risk Around 39

Part II: Taking Basic Steps to Heart Health 51

Chapter 4: Forming a Partnership with Your Doctor for the Best Heart Care 53

Chapter 5: Embracing a Healthy Diet and Active Lifestyle 65

Chapter 6: Tapping the Power of the Mind/Body Connection 89

Chapter 7: Taking a Family Approach to Preventing Heart Disease 101

Part III: Tackling Key Health Risks for Heart Disease 111

Chapter 8: Combating High Blood Pressure 113

Chapter 9: Managing Bad (and Good) Cholesterol 129

Chapter 10: Managing Your Weight to Lower Your Risk 143

Chapter 11: Quitting Smoking 157

Part IV: Treating Heart Disease 169

Chapter 12: Modern Medical Arsenal: Rx Weapons for Heart Disease 171

Chapter 13: The 411 on Invasive and Surgical Procedures 189

Chapter 14: Exploring Complementary Therapies 201

Chapter 15: Taking Back Your Life after a Heart Event 213

Part V: Heart-Healthy Recipes 225

Chapter 16: Heart-Healthy Breakfasts 227

Chapter 17: Heart-Healthy Lunches 243

Chapter 18: Heart-Healthy Dinners 263

Chapter 19: Snacks, Starters, and Desserts 287

Part VI: The Part of Tens 299

Chapter 20: Ten Differences in Heart Disease between Women and Men 301

Chapter 21: Ten Cardiac Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore 307

Chapter 22: Ten Heart Tests to Consider or Avoid 311

Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Involving Your Family in a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle 317

Appendix: Metric Conversion Guide 323

Index 325

James M. Rippe, MD, is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School with post graduate training at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is currently the Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute and Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida.

Learn to:

• Prevent and reverse the effects of heart disease
• Take control of your heart health
• Lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol with recipes and exercise tips
• Control stress, depression, and more

The safe and trusted way to prevent and reverse heart disease

This hands-on guide tackles the vital subject of coronary heart disease with compassion and authority, outlining the steps you can take to ensure you don’t become another statistic. From making sense of a diagnosis to finding the right treatment plan, it empowers you to take control of your heart health and get on a path to a longer, healthier life.

• Are you at risk? — get to know the risk factors associated with heart disease, tackle the ones you can control, and take action immediately to prevent a possible heart attack
• An apple a day — partner with your doctor for the best heart care, embrace a healthy diet and lifestyle, tap into the power of the mind/body connection, and take a family approach to preventing heart disease
• Take matters into your own hands — combat high blood pressure, manage bad (and good) cholesterol, control your weight to prevent exploding your risk, and quit smoking
• Rx weapons for heart disease — discover surgical options, explore complementary therapies, and find out how to take your life back after experiencing a heart event

Open the book and find:

• Sensitive guidance on facing the bad news about heart disease
• Steps you can take to prevent heart disease
• Tips on how diet and exercise can prevent and reverse effects
• Lots of heart-healthy recipes for every meal of the day
• Differences in heart disease between women and men
• Ten cardiac signs you shouldn’t ignore
• Medical tests you should consider (or avoid)