Before the Heart Attacks : A Revolutionary Approach to Detecting, Preventing and Even Reversing Heart Disease

by H. Robert Superko, Laura Tucker

In this lucid and revolutionary book, cardiologist Robert Superko counsels readers about how to outwit their genes by identifying "metabolic markers" that predict future heart attacks. "To make a preemptive strike, you have to know which factors are putting you in harm's way," he explains. So rather than focusing on cholesterol count, Superko outlines a patient-doctor partnership to create a personal risk profile he calls a "cardiac fingerprint." Here's the drill: Through a detailed self-assessment, patients identify a series of risk factors (family history, age, physical traits, medical conditions). If the risk profile is high, the next step is a physician- ordered blood test to identify metabolic markers (for example, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and lipoprotein) that indicate high risk for heart attack. Depending on the results, tests such as a carotid or intra-vascular ultrasound can pinpoint heart disease. With this data in hand, Dr. Superko is convinced that patients have the power to change their cardiac destiny. For each significant risk, he suggests prescriptive keys in diet, activity level, nutrition and medication. With writer Laura Tucker, Dr. Superko demystifies complex issues about heart health. His ideas are compelling and optimistic—he believes in a future when every heart attack will be an anomaly. The only challenge may be persuading your cholesterol counting doctor. --Barbara Mackoff

Genres: Health

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2003

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the book, Before the Heart Attacks, we are introduced to new tests and methods pioneered by the author to assess your risk of a cardiac event. In the book, H. Robert Superko M.D. goes and talks about the pertinent numbers and how to find them out. This came about because he was finding that even people with good blood lipids and only 50% blockage was having massive heart attacks.

Included alongside all of this information is advice on how to reverse those readings and help you live into your 80s. The book is packed with relevant information on diet and exercise. So in these pages, you can find out that losing weight is probably the best thing you can do to improve your Cardiac Profile.

The book doesn’t really have much unexplained technical jargon and is really easy to understand. The difficult part is actually doing all of the advice that this book dispenses. Personally, I couldn’t see myself going on a vegetarian diet or anything like that. It did give out a bit of information on how to equate exercise to calories which were always an abstract thing to me. Walking a mile at a brisk pace will burn about 100 calories, so I am glad that a number was put to that.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Out of print, but recommended by my cardiologist.