Heart Disease For Dummies [Paperback]

Rippe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2004

The startling truth is, one American dies of heart disease every 33 seconds—almost one million deaths each year—and almost one in four Americans has one or more types of heart disease. However, it’s also true that it is possible to prevent, treat, and even reverse heart disease—and this plain English guide shows you how!

Heart Disease For Dummies is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a form of cardiovascular disease, knows someone who has, or who wants to learn more about staying heart healthy and preventing the disease. Leading cardiologist Dr. James Rippe delivers the scoop on the many different forms of heart disease (including angina, heart attacks, arrhythmias, strokes, heart failure, and other cardiac conditions) as well as the latest research, diagnostic techniques, treatment procedures, and medications. You’ll discover how to:

• Recognize the risk factors and warning signs of a heart attack
• Determine if you h ave heart disease
• Distinguish between angina, heart attack, and stroke
• Maximize your cardiac function
• Find a good doctor and handle a managed care plan
• Reverse heart disease through diet, lifestyle changes, and medications

Like the millions of others living with heart disease, you want to take an active part in managing your health and feeling better fast. This easy-to-follow guide explains how heart disease affects the body and shows you the steps you can take—along with your doctor—to improve your quality of life. With the expert advice, simple diagrams, and valuable tips in this book, you’ll:

• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight under control
• Understand the common drug and medical treatments available for treating heart disease
• Draw on the mind/body connection to reduce stress
• Interpret the risk factors you can control (physical inactivity, hypertension, tobacco use) and the ones you can’t (heredity, age, gender)
• Form a true partnership with your doctor
• Explore cardiac rehabilitation programs
• Decide if alternative therapies are right for you

Featuring heart-healthy recipes and a list of resources to help smokers quit the habit, Heart Disease For Dummies is an indispensable resource for living well with this manageable condition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Manage cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight

Get the facts, reduce your risk, and improve your heart health

You can live well with heart disease. This plain-English guide explains the various forms of the disease and reveals how you can control and treat it – or prevent it altogether. You get up-to-the-minute coverage of the latest diagnostic tests, medications, and surgical procedures, as well as advice on eating healthy and reducing stress.

Praise for Heart Disease For Dummies

"Outstanding! A must-read for anyone interested in preventive medicine in general, and in heart disease prevention in particular."
—Richard S. Irwin, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care

"Required reading for anyone with a history of heart disease or a family tree that has heart disease in it."
—Joseph S. Alpert, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona, Department of Medicine

Discover how to:

• Assess your risk factors
• Identify the symptoms of a heart attack
• Ensure you receive quality medical care
• Change your lifestyle to manage heart disease
• Prepare tasty, heart-healthy meals

About the Author

James M. Rippe, MD, is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at Tufts University Medical School and the Director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (February 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764541552
• ISBN-13: 978-0764541551
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James M. Rippe, M.D., is regarded as one of the leading authorities on preventive cardiology, health and fitness and healthy weight loss in the United States. He is the founder and director of the Rippe Health Assessment, a series of comprehensive health evaluations for high performance individuals conducted at the state-of-the-art medical and fitness facility at Celebration Health in Orlando, Fla. He is also the founder and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, the largest research organization in the world exploring how daily habits and actions impact short- and long-term health and quality of life. He currently serves as the chairman for the Florida Hospital Institute for Lifestyle Medicine.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, with post graduate training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Rippe is an associate professor of medicine (cardiology) at Tufts University School of Medicine; an adjunct professor of exercise science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; an affiliate associate professor of medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine; and a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida's Center for Lifestyle Medicine, where he also serves as chairman.
Dr. Rippe has written more than 200 publications on issues related to medicine, health and fitness and weight management. He is also the author of 36 books, including 21 medical texts and 15 books on health and fitness for the general public. His book Healthy Heart for Dummies was the flagship book in the health division for the popular ' for Dummies' series. In 2004, Dr. Rippe collaborated with Weight Watchers when he wrote Weight Loss that Lasts. His most recent book, High Performance Health: 10 Real Life Solutions to Redefine Your Health and Revolutionize Your Life, reveals his distinctive 10-step mind, body and spirit program used by top executives and star athletes, including Joe Montana and Nolan Ryan, to supercharge their health and feel their best.
Dr. Rippe also edits a major textbook, Lifestyle Medicine, which teaches physicians about diverse aspects of cardiovascular medicine and the impact of lifestyle decisions on good health. His intensive care textbook, Irwin and Rippe's Intensive Care Medicine, is the world's leading textbook on intensive and coronary care.
Dr. Rippe's work has been featured on Fox News, The Golf Channel, NBC's 'The Today Show,' ABC's 'Good Morning America,' PBS' "BodyWatch," CBS Morning and Evening News and CNN, as well as in a variety of publications, including: The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal. He comments regularly on health and fitness for USA Today, American Health, The Boston Globe and Prevention. He served for three years as medical editor for the Television Food Network (TVFN). Dr. Rippe also regularly participates in health forums, chat room interviews and other educational efforts over the internet for various websites, and is on the advisory board at WebMD.com and the editorial board at Time magazine.
A lifelong and avid athlete Dr. Rippe maintains his personal fitness with a regular walk, jog and weight training program. He holds a black belt in karate and is an avid wind surfer, skier and tennis player. He lives outside of Boston with his wife, television news anchor Stephanie Hart, and their four children: Hart, Jaelin, Devon and Jamie. For more information, visit www.RippeHealth.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taking Arrhythmia, October 30, 2009

By 

Dorraine M. Rooney (Wesley Chapel, FL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart Disease For Dummies (Paperback)

This was a great read for anyone who needs to know more about the heart.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to undertand, March 26, 2008

By 

Teresa (San Diego,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Disease For Dummies (Paperback)

This book makes it so easy to understand everything a lay person might want to know about heart disease, how to prevent it and how to understand a diagnosis. It answers questions in a very easy to understand, yet thorough manner. Great book!