"The Expert Guide to Beating Heart Disease" Provides Practical Advice

Written for people with heart disease and their families, “The Expert Guide to Beating Heart Disease: What You Absolutely Must Know” (HarperResource) by internationally recognized heart disease specialist and Yale School of Medicine professor Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D., provides the essential information about how to reduce risk for heart disease.

The book presents critical health information for people with heart disease without using overwhelming medical jargon or promoting unproven theories. It builds on the official guidelines written by top experts for practicing doctors. Until now, they have been unavailable in a way that would be easily understandable to patients.

“The key ingredient for success is knowledge about what you need to do and the courage to get involved in your care,” said Krumholz, professor of cardiology, epidemiology and public health at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. “This book is aimed at people who have just had a heart attack or been diagnosed with heart disease, but is also useful for anyone who wants to reduce their risk.”

“The information is straightforward, medically reliable, practical and accessible for those facing the next steps after a diagnosis,” Krumholz added. “I wanted to cut through the hype and give people the truth about what is available to them—and how strongly medical science supports different approaches.”

Among the many recommendations, Krumholz highlights seven strategies that have the strongest scientific support and that patients can use to prolong and enrich their lives. He encourages readers to take charge of:

• Blood pressure—The most effective ways to lower blood pressure, from lifestyle changes to medications.
• Cholesterol—The different types of cholesterol and how to lower cholesterol to appropriate levels and keep it there.
• Fitness—When it’s safe to exercise and when you should stop.
• Weight—Proven strategies to cut calories and stay motivated, plus pros and cons of medication and surgery.
• Blood sugar—Why it’s so important to regulate blood sugar when you have heart disease, and how to do it.
• Smoking—How smoking affects your heart, and the best strategies for quitting.
• Medications—The most important medications for heart disease patients and how to work with your physician to design a personalized medication routine.

Krumholz explains step by step how to implement a new, healthier lifestyle and make good decisions. He also discusses promising therapies on the horizon and how to research and evaluate the latest medical studies. A “Tools for Success” section in the book provides detailed worksheets to track cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise, weight and more—allowing a physician to track a patient’s progress at a glance.

Krumholz says that what is important is that people know their options and have the opportunity to participate substantively in their care.

Krumholz has authored over 300 journal articles and chapters on cardiovascular care. He has served in various leadership roles for national organizations focused on improving the care of patients with heart disease, including the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.