Heart Fitness for Life The Essential Guide for Preventing and Reversing Heart Disease

by McGowan, Mary P.; Chopra, Jo McGowan

• ISBN13: 9780195116243
• ISBN10: 0195116240
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-11-06
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Cardiac disease is the number one cause of death among adult Americans: each year, 478,000 individuals die of coronary artery disease, 1.5 million suffer a heart attack, 407,000 undergo bypass surgery, and 300,000 receive angioplasty. Most of us have read about the risk factors--simply being a man over the age of 45 or a woman who has gone through menopause makes one more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease, as do a family history of cardiac disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, elevated levels of cholesterol, and stress. Unfortunately, in addressing this epidemic, many books and experts have made it seem that reducing heart disease risk means out-and-out deprivation, advocating stringent and unrealistic programs without answering some of the key questions patients have: Does heart disease really mean I can't eat anything that tastes good? Does taking medication mean I'm a failure at controlling my diet? How can I stick with an exercise program when it bores me? In this groundbreaking volume, Dr. Mary McGowan draws on her years of clinical experience in working with real patients to create a proven, livable program for preventing and reversing cardiac disease. Of course, we can't change our age or our family history--but there are significant positive actions that we can take to change our lives without feeling deprived. In Heart Fitness for Life , Dr. McGowan shows you how, with a comprehensive and down-to-earth life plan that includes: * A 20 percent fat diet--which gets results because it is strict enough to make a difference but lenient enough for people to stick with it * A detailed investigation into the genetic basis of high cholesterol--and what to do about it * A thorough explanation of the role of estrogen in preventing heart disease--dispelling the confusion surrounding this issue and offering clear, reassuring advice * A non-judgemental and supportive approach to cholesterol and blood pressure medications that explains when taking medication is appropriate and even necessary * Vital, up-to-date information about the risks of elevated lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine levels * An energizing section on making exercise an exciting and fulfilling part of one's life, developed in tandem with an exercise physiologist * A concrete plan for giving up smoking--that really works! * An analysis of the connection between stress and heart disease, with tested stress-reduction techniques developed by a psychiatrist * A selection of delicious and easy low-fat recipes developed by a professional chef--including pizzas, pasta, and desserts * Straightforward advice and suggestions from a registered dietitian about how you can design your own low-fat, low-cholesterol meals And, at the core of Heart Fitness for Life are the stories of nine patients, ordinary men and women, who took on the challenge of fighting heart disease with Dr. McGowan's program--and who have won extraordinary victories. At last, in one volume, you have the expert advice and information you need to truly live well, whether you are a man or a woman, looking to prevent or reverse cardiac disease. By combining good food and good health with authoritative medical information and advice, Dr. McGowan's book truly has the power to change lives.

Author Biography

About the Author:
Mary McGowan, M.D., trained in internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and in cholesterol metabolism at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is the Director of the Cholesterol Management Center at the New England Heart Institute in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Foreword	xiii
Introduction	3	(7)
Am I at Risk for Developing Heart Disease?	10	(30)
High Cholesterol and Early Heart Disease---It May Be Your Genes The Casses of Susan and Lorraine	26	(14)
A Heart-Healthy Diet: Planning the Diet You Can Live With	40	(47)
Using Diet to Increase Your Odds The Case of Jack	77	(10)
Making Exercise a Lifetime Commitment	87	(33)
Basic Stretches	106	(2)
High Triglycerides and Low HDL Cholesterol---The Impact of Exercise and Other Lifestyle Changes on Cardiac Risk The Case of Wayne	108	(12)
Quitting: A Tough Task with Great Rewards	120	(24)
When Smoking and Genes Don't Mix The Case of George	132	(12)
Estrogen Replacement Therapy and Your Heart: Sorting Out the Risks and Benefits	144	(16)
Too Little Estrogen The Case of Patricia	151	(9)
Reducing Stress in Your Life	160	(25)
Diabetes, Stress, and the Heart The Case of Bill	178	(7)
Elevated Blood Pressure: What Can You Do to Lower Your Level?	185	(15)
Sometimes Diet and Exercise Can Doi It All The Case of Jim	191	(9)
The Crucial Role of Medications in Lowering Cholesterol and Blood Pressure	200	(35)
The Importance of Knowing All Your Risk Factors The Case of Hans	227	(8)
Recipes	235	(52)
Appendix	287	(2)
Glossary	289	(6)
Suggested Reading	295	(12)
Index	307