Taking on Heart Disease: Peggy Fleming, Brian Littrell et al Reveal How They Triumphed Over the Nation's #1 Killer--And How You Can, Too! (Hardcover)

~ Larry King (Author), Spotlight Health (Author) "I had never spent much time thinking about my heart..." (more)
Key Phrases: cardiac rehabilitation classes, having bypass surgery, quintuple bypass, Larry King, New York City, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

CNN's Larry King has written a celebrity show and tell about discovering and overcoming heart disease. Eighteen first-person accounts, including King's triple-bypass surgery, are paired with advice from expert cardiologists. Each story is used to illustrate key aspects of how to spot, diagnose and survive heart disease. "When your body and mind heal," promises the resilient King, "get ready for a hell of a ride." Journalist Mike Wallace report of his two heart surgeries while his cardiologist details the effects of slow heartbeats and how to live with a pacemaker. Actress Kate Jackson's description of her surgery to repair a hole in her heart is linked with a discussion of women and heart disease. Walter Cronkite's tale of grilling his physician before his bypass surgery is followed by five questions to ask your cardiologist. The account of Regis Philbin's reluctant angioplasty is enlarged by a description of revolutionary tests to detect heart disease. Through his careful choice of narratives and expert commentary, King describes the many faces of heart disease (from runaway rapid heartbeat to blocked arteries) as well as the heart smart strategies for survival. Even the name-dropping tidbits, (Cher calls Kate Jackson; Arnold calls Regis Philbin) and the occasional live-for-today cliches do not detract from the sensible and wide ranging advise King has collected. In our celebrity-driven culture, he is wise to tap the rich and famous to teach these life-saving truths about heart disease. --Barbara Mackoff

From Publishers Weekly

Since King underwent quintuple bypass surgery in 1987, he has worked hard to convey the message that people can fight heart disease if they are willing to change their lifestyle. That's the lesson from this collection of stories from more than a dozen celebrities in the entertainment, sports and political world. Readers will enjoy learning how Arnold Schwarzenegger, Peggy Fleming, Regis Philbin, Walter Cronkite, Joyce Carol Oates and others have waged their own battles with heart disease. Their candid contributions, segmented into such sections as Early Warning Signs, The Diagnosis, and Surviving and Thriving, reveal their rarely seen human sides. One common factor that bonds them all together is the wake-up call that heart disease has played in their lives. For example, after former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had a heart attack, he decided to "face facts" and retire from his beloved post. "I said, 'Uh-uh. I want to live and see my granddaughter graduate from college.... All great things have to come to an end.' " In addition to the firsthand accounts, there are contributions from the celebrities' physicians (who are among the top cardiologists in the country), in which they spell out, in layman's terms, the medical implications of each celebrity's heart condition. The stories will provide advice, comfort and hope to readers facing their own heart problems. King deserves credit for being a catalyst in encouraging the public to come to terms with heart disease. 22 b&w photos not seen by PW.
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; 1 edition (May 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579548202
• ISBN-13: 978-1579548209
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,240,050 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable for Heart Patients and their families, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

Larry has done more in this book for heart patients and thir friends and families than any professional counselor could do. You read and feel the fears of well known people and you understand, through the words of their cardiologists, what has taken place. This book should be handed to every heart patient who walks into a cardiologist's office for a test or exam.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Larry King on Heart Disease, December 30, 2004

By	Stephanie George (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

I am sure your must have heard about this author. Yes, he is THE Larry King of Larry King Live on CNN. In this book the author tells us how a couple of famous people who were suffering from heart diseases were able to conquer their conditions. It is reviewed by one of the doctors who operated Mr King. This book is just like his show and has a lot of inspirational stories.

Overall, it's a great feel-good type of book. Just like my new beverage of choice called s o y f e e. It's made from soybeans that you brew just like coffee. Caffeine-free, you'll find it at www. S oycoffe e.com.

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with inspirational healing stories, December 12, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Walter Cronkite, Peggy Fleming, and others are all sufferers from heart disease who have triumphed over their conditions: Larry King tackles the nation's number 1 killer in Taking On Heart Disease, reflecting both his own heart attack and bypass experiences and a survey of how heart disease may be confronted and avoided. Packed with inspirational healing stories, Taking On Heart Disease provides plenty of case histories of triumph and offers inspiration for recovery.