The Cardiac Recovery Handbook: The Complete Guide to Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery, Second Edition [Paperback]

Paul Kligfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

Maybe a suspicious angiogram has the doctor suggesting bypass surgery. Maybe a major heart attack has you confined to the ICU. After a heart attack or heart surgery, you have a hundred questions and your family has more. How long will I be in the hospital? What are the side effects of that medication? Why do I feel so depressed? What can I eat? Can I exercise?

One of the nation's most respected cardiologists answers all your questions in The Cardiac Recovery Handbook. In clear, everyday language, the book covers all aspects of cardiac recovery—from the initial diagnosis of heart disease to medications and surgical options, from hospitalization to rehabilitation, from diet and exercise to keeping your spirits up. No question is left unanswered.

Filled with a wealth of vital information, The Cardiac Recovery Handbook is an invaluable resource for the millions of Americans suffering from heart disease, as well as their families, healthcare providers, and friends. 25 photos.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Kligfield, M.D., is Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Director of the Cardiac Health Center in New York City. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Hatherleigh (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578262062
• ISBN-13: 978-1578262069
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, August 4, 2010

By 

Lynne - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cardiac Recovery Handbook: The Complete Guide to Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book was purchased to aid in recovery from open heart surgery. There is little practical advice for the first weeks of recovery. The rest of it was either for patients who had a heart attack or was general information for heart health.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for cardiac patients, November 4, 2008

By 

Susan C. Van Abs "forever dieter" (groton, ma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cardiac Recovery Handbook: The Complete Guide to Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book would get five stars from me if it had included something on valve replacement and repair. The author does a great job of explaining heart disease and the surgeries needed as a result of having heart disease. He covers the many drugs that are involved, the tests, the blood work and cardiac rehab. He even has a section on depression that can be associated with having a heart attack and heart surgery.

The other thing that kept me from giving this book five stars is that the author talks about the many blood pressure meds, but does not name any of them. I want to know which Beta blocker does what and why it would be prescribed over another. My husband could not tolerate Lopressor, while another Beta blocker might be better for him. And what about the increasing re-emergence of Digoxin as a drug of choice for CHF? Also - an appendix in the back incorrectly classifies some of the BP drugs as diuretics - i.e. Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker - not a diuretic.

Other than these discrepancies, this book is a good one to read for a heart patient or by someone getting ready to have a procedure related to heart disease.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Compendium of internet searches, November 12, 2011

By 

D. Partner (At large) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cardiac Recovery Handbook: The Complete Guide to Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery (Hardcover)

Wanting to be ahead of the game in preparation for my own open heart surgery one week from now I was really looking forward to some recovery guidance and advice. This book has little of either. The entirety of it's recovery advice amounts to 15-pages out of 280. The fedex truck dropped the book of 1/2 an hour ago, in that time I've gleaned what little valuable information this book offers and am actively seeking an outlet for selling this book back so that I can purchase another in hopes it gives me something I can work with.