How to Protect Your Heart from Your Doctor [Paperback]

Howard H. Wayne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1995

How To Protect Your Heart From Your Doctor was written to educate heart patients who have been told they must undergo angiograms followed by angioplasty or bypass surgery that there are other options for both the diagnosis and treatment of their heart conditions. Noninvasive tests can provide all the information that is needed about a patient's coronary artery disease while modern medications have revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease. All too often angioplasty and bypass surgery are recommended as the first and only treatment option because these procedures are so profitable. Typically patients are threatened that unless they undergo surgery, they will have a heart attack or die. These are tactics of medical terrorism. There are now a large number of studies on over 20,000 patients comparing surgery or angioplasty with conservative medical treatment. Not a single study shows any benefit of these interventions. Neither angioplasty or bypass surgery prevent heart attacks or premature death. In fact, patients undergoing these procedures are more likely to die, have heart attacks, or go into heart failure. Thus, this book was written to inform the public of the dangers of these interventions and that conservative treatment with modern medications is highly effective, safe, and will prevent heart attacks and premature death.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Cardiologist Wayne lashes out at the medical community with a scathing diatribe about the misuse of proper diagnostic techniques, over-dependence on medical technology, and the eagerness of physicians to perform invasive procedures. By labeling Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and other managed-care organizations "discount medi-cine," he implies that they are substandard in quality. He also claims that there is only a weak link between cholesterol and heart disease and that the data have been "deliberatly manipulated" to distort the importance of monitoring cholesterol levels. Coronary artery bypass surgery is branded as a profitable fund-raiser for physicians and hospitals rarely beneficial to the patient. While Wayne makes some valid points, he offers very little constructive advice; his presentation does little but frighten the reader while giving minimal information. A far superior choice is Harvey Simon's Conquering Heart Disease (LJ 9/1/94).
Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Keep arteries, other options open. Cardiologist advocates medical treatment as an alternative to bypass surgery. -- The Fresno Bee, August 1, 1995

Surgical Overkill: Chest pain shouldn't mean an automatic trip to the operating table. -- Chicago Tribune, Oct. 26, 1995

The book acts as an early warning system for heart patients and as a second opinion for those facing surgery. -- San Jose Mercury News, March 3, 1995

Years ago, Wayne wrote the first book on non-invasive cardiology: his research uncovered a number of ways to treat heart disease with medication rather than surgery, and his tips are included in a practical manual which explores common fallacies, problems in heart disease manage-ment and treatment procedures, and keys to exploring alternatives after a heart attack. -- Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Capra Pr; 1 edition (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884963837
• ISBN-13: 978-0884963837
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written, informative and unique book., February 28, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Protect Your Heart from Your Doctor (Paperback)

I thought this is a wonderful book. You won't find this material in other heart books. Dr Wayne's persuasively argues that bypass surgery and angioplasties are overused and abused in the US. Dr Wayne writes well and with evident authority. We need more doctors like Dr Wayne who are willing to speak out and be critical of contemporary medical practice !

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Protecting Your Heart, August 17, 2004

By 

J. Berkman "Randy Berkman" (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Protect Your Heart from Your Doctor (Paperback)

Dr. Howard Wayne, a cardiologist practicing in San Diego, has written a remarkably candid description of the horrors of heart care in the U.S. in his books How To Protect Your Heart From Your Doctor and Living Longer with Heart Disease. These books are required reading for anyone who cares about their health.

Dr. Wayne asserts that bypass heart surgery needed and angioplasty (inserting a balloon into a clogged artery to open it)are almost never necessary. In the past 23 years, only 11 of his patients have had bypass. Dr. Wayne treats patients with drugs that have been shown to be as effective as the more invasive procedures--with fewer side effects.

Each year 400,000 bypass surgeries are performed in the U.S. The cost is over $40,000/operation. This is obviously a lucrative medical industry for hospitals and surgeons. It also helps explain why the information in his books is not more widely known or publicized.

Wayne notes that in England, only 174 angioplasties per million persons are done yearly, in contrast to 1300 per million in the U.S. The frightening conclusion is that in the U.S., angioplasties are being done primarily for dollars rather than "sense."

In Living Longer Wayne describes more recent studies which substantiate his points that the aforementioned invasive procedures are rarely necessary. For example, in a published study of 170 patients with major coronary artery disease treated with angioplasty, bypass surgery or medical treatment (medications, diet, exercise), there were no differences in heart attacks or death rates after three years.

Supporting Dr. wayne's position is a letter in the December 7, 1998 edition of U.S. News and World Reports from Dr. Thomas Graboys, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School:

"In fact, the large marjority of patients with cornary artery disease (CAD) can be treated successfully without such invasive procedures. A growing body of research, including our own, strongly suggests CAD patients who are managed medically (that is, with medications) fare just as well as , if not better than, whose who undedrgo costly invasive procedures...Regrettably, the rush to invasive procedures is fueled by nonclinical factors, profit among them."

For those unable to follow the rigourous diet of Dr. Dean Ornish (10% of calories from fat), this approach is something all considrering bypass should assess.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Jaw-Dropper!, July 12, 2004

By 

Friendly Shopper (Glenmont, OH United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Protect Your Heart from Your Doctor (Paperback)

This book is a life-saver. I'm an enthusiastic lay researcher of health-related issues and when my husband was dramatically and suddenly hustled in for coronary bypass surgery I began reading everything I could get my hands on for his condition. Nothing I have read has been as helpful or eye-opening as this book. I am surprised at the hostility of the Library Journal review - see above - so I thought I'd add my two cents worth in support of this book.

The review says the book is frightening. Absolutely! But I also found it helpful and full of hope (for recovery and a normal life for heart patients) I don't see how Dr. Wayne could have been any more helpful or specific without actually seeing a patient - every heart patient is unique.

I have worked in the medical insurance industry and also in medical offices for many years and can personally vouch for many of the things Dr. Wayne has to say. Regarding his comments about cholesterol, I think he is very brave and from everything I have read about the subject I think he is correct in his analysis of the situation.

This book serves two functions:

1) It is medically educational. Dr. Wayne is a great teacher. He is able to explain all about the heart and what causes heart disease better than anyone I've ever read.

2) It is politically educational. The days of Marcus Welby never existed! Our health care system is marvelous in many ways but there are huge problems and it is helpful to understand the politics and big business aspects of your heart condition in order to understand why certain types of procedures are recommended over others. I also now have a better understanding of how cardiologists train and that's been helpful too.

Here's what I really like about Dr. Wayne: he's a genuine "scientist". By that I mean that he is one of those rare doctors who apparently actually bothers to read research and analyze the studies first-hand. He is not content to have these studies spoon fed through the media or medical journals but goes right to the source and studies them. I have done this myself and can attest to being surprised numerous times. I have also learned (from his web site) that he has a very impressive research background which supports my comments about him being a scientist.

What are the weak points of this book? I would say that while most of the time he supports his comments with copious studies and facts I noted there were times that he seemed to let his emotions run away from him just a bit. Some comments seemed as if they might be exaggerated. I do not necessarily think this is a negative point (who can blame him for feeling passionate about his vocation?) but just keep it in mind when reading.

As for my husband, just as Dr. Wayne predicted, he finds that his bypass surgery was probaly a waste of time and did a lot of unnecessary damage to his heart. He still has angina and I suppose we'll never know if he really needed to go through that horrific surgery. Please read this book BEFORE you have the surgery!

As a final comment, my husband fired off an e-mail to Dr.
Wayne after reading his book (because he was pretty upset after reading it)and he received a personal and compassionate reply from the doctor. I found that impressive.