Author Description

Cardiac disease is the number one cause of death among adult Americans: each year, 478,000 individuals die of coronary artery disease, 1.5 million suffer a heart attack, 407,000 undergo bypass surgery, and 300,000 receive angioplasty. Most of us have read about the risk factors--simply being a man over the age of 45 or a woman who has gone through menopause makes one more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease, as do a family history of cardiac disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, elevated levels of cholesterol, and stress. Unfortunately, in addressing this epidemic, many books and experts have made it seem that reducing heart disease risk means out-and-out deprivation, advocating stringent and unrealistic programs without answering some of the key questions patients have: Does heart disease really mean I can't eat anything that tastes good? Does taking medication mean I'm a failure at controlling my diet? How can I stick with an exercise program when it bores me?In this groundbreaking volume, Dr. Mary McGowan draws on her years of clinical experience in working with real patients to create a proven, livable program for preventing and reversing cardiac disease. Of course, we can't change our age or our family history--but there are significant positive actions that we can take to change our lives without feeling deprived. In Heart Fitness for Life, Dr. McGowan shows you how, with a comprehensive and down-to-earth life plan that includes:* A 20 percent fat diet--which gets results because it is strict enough to make a difference but lenient enough for people to stick with it* A detailed investigation into the genetic basis of high cholesterol--and what to do about it* A thorough explanation of the role of estrogen in preventing heart disease--dispelling the confusion surrounding this issue and offering clear, reassuring advice* A non-judgemental and supportive approach to cholesterol and blood pressure medi