Customer Reviews

From the Heart: A Woman's Guide to Living Well With Heart Disease

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"From The Heart" by Kathy Kastan, arrived today. This book brought tears of what the author and so many women have had to endure, battling heart disease.

The author focuses on the steps of dealing with heart disease. From, the diagnosis (often delayed) to the shock, to denial, to healing both physically and emotionally and learning to live well with heart disease. This book is a must for all women suffering with heart problems, those who love them and for physicians who treat these women.

Thank You, Ms. Kastan for "From the Heart, A Woman's Guide to Living Well with Heart Disease". HD stalks all ages, races and creeds. It shows no mercy but we will prevail and win the war on heart disease in women.

God Bless You.

Mary Rose

Sugar Land,Texas

Kathy Kastan's book is exactly what it says it is, "A Woman's Guide to Living Well with Heart Disease". As a woman living with heart disease myself I love this book, it's exactly what I've been looking for and believe me I've read every book on heart disease I can get my hands on. This one is special because the author herself is "living well with heart disease". One of the great things about this book is the way the author has organized it in sections starting with what happens after you have a heart event to living in the real world as a woman with heart disease. The mark of a book someone really values is one they keep close by, like on their coffee table which is where you'll find my copy of "From The Heart", so they can come back and read whatever section they need whenever they need it.

Thank you Kathy, you've given everyone who's been touched by women's heart disease a very special gift.

When I had my heart event 11 years ago there was no information for women. Reading this book brought me to tears, how I wish I had this book years ago.As a survivor Kathy gets to the "heart" of the matter. Not only has she shared her story she has included other women's stories. This book should be in every cardiologist office and in hospitals and medical schools. Thank you so much Kathy, everyone should read this book!!!!

From my heart to yours,

Debbie from New York

Since all my heart events I have read scores of books on women and heart disease. (Fortunately there ARE such books now as opposed to sev. yrs. ago when NO information could be found). But this book by Kathy Kastan absolutely says it ALL!

One of the worst parts of heart disease is the aftermath--coming home from the hospital feeling totally isolated, without information, and wondering if you'll ever be normal again...And what IS normal? "No clue", if you're like most women after heart problems. Kathy's book addresses all those issues that you need IMMEDIATELY! (Hospitals might just skip all those discharge papers and 'pats on the head'...just issue this book when folks go home.)

If I had to use one word to sum up the value of this book, I'd have to say PRACTICAL....imminently practical!!! I did not get 1/3 of the way through before I started over with yellow highlighter in hand. I'd thought after nearly 3 yrs and lots of study, that I had a handle on my new normal. But I got no farther than that "wunnerful" practical list on page 7 before I adopted even more 'new' practices--things that will help me thrive with this disease that afflicts 8 million of us U.S. women.

Even if you don't have heart disease, get this book for someone you know and love whose heart will be helped because of it.

Thanks Kathy..

Tina Bradford...Mississippi

Okay, so the From the Heart, by Kathy Kastan, was written by a woman for women. Got it. I bought this book for the public library that I manage. When it arrived I started to give it the once over that I give many of the books that arrive here. This one I ended up taking to my office and I haven't given it to the staff to process yet. I will, but not before I jot this note about this wonderful book.

Yes, many of the topics in the book are written with women in mind. However, the common sense advice that is contained in From the Heart would benefit most men.

I found the shadowed areas to be really helpful. Like text books that use graphics and illustrations to condense a lot of information in as small a space as possible, From the Heart uses the same approach. It allows the reader to be exposed to a lot of information quickly. But read the text; there's great information there also.

Well written, and very well researched I can highly recommend From the Heart. And men with heart disease should check this one out also.

As a heart patient myself, I run a support group for women with heart disease. Most of my group members describe feeling fearful, confused, depressed and alone after their heart events. Kathy's book provides answers to their many questions, as well as reassurance that they are not alone on the journey of healing.

If you are a woman with heart disease, get this book!

If you know a woman with heart disease, get this book for her!

FROM THE HEART: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO LIVING WELL WITH HEART DISEASE comes from an author who underwent emergency bypass surgery at age 42 - and who had to not only physically recover, but had to find new ways to recover emotionally. It's the first written for women to focus on the emotional repercussions of heart disease rather than just physical symptoms and recovery alone, and surveys topics ranging from regaining a strong self-image and handling fears to telling others about illness and learning to rely upon one's body once more. From gaining support to learning how to exercise without fear, FROM THE HEART is an essential reference any women facing heart disease will need, and should be a popular public library lend.

This book is written by a woman, for a female audience. And that's just fine. But in reading it I find that only a small part of the book could be restricted to women only. Things like risk factors are just about the same.

The first risk factor is 'Age fifty-five or older, and postmenopausal.' For men this might read age fifty, and of course postmenopausal doesn't enter into it. But then the rest of the risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, family history, weight, exercise, diet -- are identical.

Accepting the few differences in men and women, this is an excellent book on both the technical aspects (i.e. risk factors) and the emotional aspects (i.e. relationships with friends and family) - we men are not that different.

At last a guidebook for women with heart disease by someone who's 'been there'! As a Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse and heart attack survivor, I can attest to the validity of Kathy Kastan's experiences, information, and advice. Patients will find this an invaluable guide to understanding their fears, emotions, conflicts and struggles. While writing from a first person viewpoint, Kathy brings home the impact of heart disease in an understandable and empathetic voice with which readers will instantly identify. I had many "oh, yes, that's so true" moments; the knowledge that another woman walked this path and is such an example of survival is a powerful and motivating message. From the Heart is a must read for medical caregivers of women with heart disease as it provides unique insight and understanding of the hurdles and experiences women endure from event to recovery. I will encourage all my patients and thier families to begin reading this upon diagnosis and throughout their rehabilitation. It is an identifiable,informative,and empowering source of affirmation that recovery and renewal is within our grasp. Ann de Velasco, R.N.

Heart disease is the number one health threat that women face and yet, many women are still unaware of their risks and most don't think it will strike them. And once it does strike, it is often misunderstood since women's symptoms and experiences are often different than men.

Kathy Kastan is to be commended for putting her story, and the stories of other women, into a resource that is motivating, realistic, comprehensive and consistent with current health care recommendations for women with heart disease. It is a book that can help everyone (including health professionals) understand the life changing experience of being diagnosed with heart disease and learn how to re-invent themselves during their healing process.

Many thanks to Kathy for putting her story, and the stories of others, in print! It truly is a guide to not only surviving with heart disease but living life again.