Change of Heart: Unraveling the Mysteries of Cardiovascular Disease. [Paperback]

Daniel Levy M.D. (Author), Susan Brink (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2006

A Change of Heart is a detailed account of the revolutionary Framingham Heart study — which, over the years, has provided conclusive evidence that cardiovascular disease is largely the result of measurable and modifiable risk factors. First begun in 1948, not long after Franklin Delano Roosevelt succumbed to a massive stroke, the study of over 5,000 citizens of Framingham, Massachusetts, changed the course of medical history. The lessons learned in Framingham allow each of us to control our risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Here is a clear-eyed and intriguing assessment of the achievements of this study and of its continuing importance to our health today.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A detailed rendition of one of the most important studies in modern medicine, reinforcing the truth that each of us can control our life to foster health and stave off illness. It is a lesson that never grows old.” –Jerome Groopman, M.D., Recanati Professor, Harvard Medical School

“This book holds many lessons for the present. . . . A Change of Heart is an easy but exciting read. We owe a lot to Framingham.” –Nature

"This account of the Framingham study . . . does justice to the courage and commitment of both the medical scientists and the patients who contributed so much to advancing the field of cardiology." –The Boston Globe

“The Framingham Heart Study contributed considerable evidence about the important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, effective lifestyle adjustments, and preventative steps. . . . Scattered through the book are important lessons for the prevention of heart disease. . . . An engaging account.”–Science

About the Author

Daniel Levy, M.D., is the director of the Framingham Heart Study.

Susan Brink is a senior writers for U.S. News & World Report.


From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (February 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375727043
• ISBN-13: 978-0375727047
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #898,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing short of revolutionary, December 30, 2010

By 

Justin Z. Smith - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Change of Heart: Unraveling the Mysteries of Cardiovascular Disease. (Paperback)

I heard of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) long ago, and I was interested enough to have studied some of the data from it as an undergraduate in Statistics many years ago, and later while in graduate school in Statistics. After that, I didn't think of FHS again until the other month, when representatives of a "boot-camp" style fitness fad (the ones doing the kipping pullups) were knocking it (along with the Harvard Nurses study) as deeply flawed, having no conclusions, only observational, etc. I've always heard FHS was top notch, but maybe I didn't look at it close enough in the past to see serious flaws.

After doing medical journal searches online and reading some interesting studies, I looked here for a more breezy read, and found this great book. This book is a well-written page turner, covering the personalities, the thoughts at certain periods in history, and the science of FHS. From it, I have concluded that FHS is an embarrassment - of riches. Conclusions from a fitness fad aren't legitimate conclusions - you need to have science to make those.

Thank you project managers, scientists, authors, and thank thank thank thank thank you to the thousands of men and women, their children, and grandchildren for donating their time and letting us take a glimpse at your lives. Making the world a better place sounds so cheesy and overdone, but words fail me here.