Best Books Written for Intelligent People on HEART HEALTH and DISEASE

September 12, 2018 5:33 AM

So, a cardiologist says he thinks I had a heart attack. Humoring him. I am looking for the best books written for both medical professionals and laypersons on heart healing, disease and everything in between.

And as you probably know by now, looking for alternative friendly approaches (do not judge me, thanks) and as far away from invasive procedures as possible. Read Cosmic Heart by Cowan, so we can remove that from the suggestions. Thank you.

posted by watercarrier to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, since it's not restricted to just heart health. But I was pretty impressed with the research and data provided in How Not to Die, by Michael Greger. He examines the leading causes of death and then presents the research behind how to prevent them. His conclusion is that a plant-based diet is the most effective for preventing and reversing most common diseases. What I liked about it is that it presents a TON of data, but in a very readable and understandable way. He also has concrete suggestions on simple ways to improve your diet.
posted by barnoley at 5:44 AM on September 12, 2018 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Have it - it's not worth mentioning. I need everything very scientific and thorough - as I said - written for intelligent people - medical and laypeople - rudiments of healing heart dis-ease. Not fluff. But thanks.
posted by watercarrier at 5:46 AM on September 12, 2018

i found this helpful after my diagnosis

Living Well with Heart Failure: The Misnamed, Misunderstood Condition
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:02 AM on September 12, 2018 [1 favorite]

If you don't consider Dr. Greger scientific, I'm not sure anyone can help you. He backs up everything he says with references to studies. (If you don't consider How Not to Die thorough on heart disease, that's another story.)

Dean Ornish was the first physician-scientist to show reversal of heart disease without medication in controlled studies, but his book on that is pretty old.

Caldwell Esselstynn's How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease is both scientific and thorough. However, he did not have a control group for his patients.
posted by FencingGal at 7:08 AM on September 12, 2018 [7 favorites]

I have just read a lot of stuff re heart health and psychology following my mother' most recent health issues, of the scientific ones this article by Angelos Hararis sticks out and is written for a scientific journal.
I have not yet read this article by Horst Koch.

These are all articles, as I cannot possibly afford this book and it is only in specialised libraries.
posted by 15L06 at 7:28 AM on September 12, 2018 [2 favorites]

My state has a digital library where I can access Pubmed and Medline. If you don't have access online, your library may have access if you visit. University library may have textbooks you can peruse.
posted by theora55 at 10:09 AM on September 12, 2018

Braunwalds Heart Disease is a well respected text .
posted by SyraCarol at 11:46 AM on September 12, 2018