The Heart Disease Breakthrough: The 10-Step Program That Can Save Your Life [Paperback]

Thomas Yannios M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 1999

What even your doctor may not know about the real heart attack risk factors and what you can do to prevent heart disease now.

You count your cholesterol, monitor your fat and sodium consumption, and get regular exercise. But consider these facts: Many people who have heart attacks have cholesterol counts below 200. Low-fat diets can actually raise the heart attack risk in some people. And the wrong kind of exercise can do your heart more harm than good. Now for the good news: You can do something about it, and this book shows you how.

Recent research has revealed that the real risks are a combination of factors that you-and your doctor-may never have heard of, including the crucial differences between cholesterol types and much, much more. In The Heart Disease Breakthrough, Thomas Yannios, M.D., explains the state-of-the-art medical research and the science behind the latest breakthroughs in testing, diagnosis, nutrition, and exercise. And he presents a clear, easy-to-follow 10-step program for counteracting your individual risk factors and attaining optimum heart health.

"For those seriously concerned a with preventing heart disease, this is your guide: detailed, current, strongly worded guidelines. Yannios. . . isn't interested in cushioning the facts or the remedies in a feel-good framework. . . . Guidelines are set out here involving diet, weight control, exercise, and medication. Yannios doesn't let readers off easily, but that doesn't mean he can't offer realistic help: for instance, practically every cardiac risk factor can be countered by exercise; it just has to be the right type of exercise. Heart disease prevention is among the fastest-advancing medical research areas, with new, often conflicting recommendations being published daily. For those at serious risk, this is an understandable, serious, and worthwhile approach." - Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Yannios, associate director of critical care and nutritional support at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY, here describes the smallest components of cholesterol, which can do more damage to the heart than the overall LDL levels that concern so many of us. He details the various particles that make up cholesterol, explains how these particles can help or hurt the body, and lists ten precautionary steps, including blood tests for LDL subclasses and HDL profiles, diet and exercise changes, and medications to lower cholesterol. Yannios warns that a low-fat diet may harm rather than help and advocates a strenuous exercise program, warning only that people in certain health categories should check with a physician first. No attention is given to the patient/ physician relationship or consultation, how to request tests, or how to discuss health plans and information with ones doctor. Thought-provoking but possibly hazardous for the unsophisticated; a dubious purchase.Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

For those seriously concerned with preventing heart disease, this is your guide: detailed, current, strongly worded guidelines. Yannios, associate director of critical care and nutritional support at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., isn't interested in cushioning the facts or the remedies in a feel-good frameworkhis horrifying case stories are successfully designed to propel readers into action, and he backs them up with the grim facts: most Americans already have well-advanced atherosclerosis by their 20s; low-fat diets ``can actually raise cholesterol and increase risk in certain groups of people''; more than half the people who have heart attacks have total cholesterol levels under 200. So the remedy for those in peril, according to Yannios, takes some real work: assess your own risk; then, with the help of a physician, take advantage of the newest blood tests and make a stringent action planguidelines are set out hereinvolving diet, weight control, exercise, and medication. Yannios doesn't let readers off easily, but that doesn't mean he can't offer realistic help: for instance, ``practically every cardiac risk factor can be countered by exerciseit just has to be the right type of exercise. Heart disease prevention is among the fastest-advancing medical research areas, with new, often conflicting recommendations being published daily. For those at serious risk, this is an understandable, serious, and worthwhile approach. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 243 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471353094
• ISBN-13: 978-0471353096
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superp presentation of vanguard preventitive cardiology, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Heart Disease Breakthrough: What Even Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Preventing a Heart Attack (Hardcover)

As a physician who limits his practice to hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis prevention and as one who has given hundreds of talks on atherosclerosis thoughout the country, I was blown away by the most succinct, accurate and down to earth discussion of moderm lipidology that I have ever seen. Dr Yannios has taken a very complex topic and made it eminently understandable. It is exactly the way I have been approaching my patients over the last year or two. Unfortunately very few practicing primary care physicians or even cardiologists are aware of the basics he discusses. That means the overwhelming majority of patients in high risk categories or those with existing atherosclerosis are either not treated or inadequately treated. Since I accidently discovered this book while speaking in West Virginia I have made it a point to recommend it to all of my patients and to every physician and physician group that I speak to. It should be must reading for all medical professionals advising patients about atherosclerosis. It is not overkill for me to say this is by far the best the best source of information available on this topic. A physician would have to read dozens of journal articles to gather all of the vital information which is covered so beautifully by Dr Yannios. For those patients and physicians out there who still think that statin drugs are all one needs to useto prevent atheroscleosis, this book will be a mind boggling relevation.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's Not Just One Form Of Heart Disease, December 26, 2000

By 

Matthew J. Bayan (Reno, NV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Heart Disease Breakthrough: The 10-Step Program That Can Save Your Life (Paperback)

As a medical writer (author of EAT FAT, BE HEALTHY: When A Low-Fat Diet Can Kill You), I found Dr. Yannios's book highly informative. For decades, the medical profession has treated heart disease as one disease, when in fact it is caused by many different factors. Recently, the huge role that inheritance plays in heart disease has begun to change both diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Yannios's book offers specific steps for diagnosis and treatment of these various flavors of heart disease.

I have found his book to be very helpful in working with my cardiologist to treat my own genetically-caused heart disease. I often give Dr. Yannios's book to doctors as a companion to my own book in order to present both the viewpoint of a patient/survivor and of a cutting edge clinician.

Dr. Yannios delves into many of the genetically-caused forms of heart disease and offers a compendium of information that doctors not familiar with this area should read.

Dr. Yannios deals comprehensively with the roughly 25% of the population that carries genes that cause a tripling of heart attack risk. The normal lipid panel is highly innaccurate in diagnosing these serious conditions. A more accurate form of blood test called cholesterol subclass testing is absolutely essential in diagnosing these lipid anomalies.

For information on laboratories that provide advanced cholesterol testing, visit www.matthewbayan.com

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart Disease Breakthrough, February 27, 2001

By 

Mary Clifton (Lincroft, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heart Disease Breakthrough: The 10-Step Program That Can Save Your Life (Paperback)

Finally, a comprehensive, well researched explanation of a multifactorial and very complicated disease process. This is, in every way, a life saver for those who are serious about their health and willing to do the work necessary to achieve it. Dr. Yannios' book is not just another superficial "feel good" bestseller. As a dietitian, I am very aware that one pill or one fad diet is not the answer to good health. Not only is this book filled with comprehensive guidelines for assessing risk and taking appropriate action, it is also beautifully written. I was absolutely riveted by the heartwrenching case studies which so eloquently put a human face on a very insidious disease process. I heartily recommend Dr. Yannios' book to all who are serious about preventing or reversing heart disease.