A breakthrough mind-body program to build a strong, healthy, and happy heart, for women at risk for or diagnosed with heart disease, from the Harvard-trained cardiologist behind the Women’s Heart Health Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Heart disease is the number-one killer of American women, and prevention and healing require integrative approaches to address the whole heart—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Smart at Heart’s holistic program includes strategies to improve heart health by addressing ten bridges that link the physical and emotional hearts, including the mental health, relationship, and communication bridges. This book guides readers through evaluating their current state of physical and emotional health and then empowers them with solutions to strengthen each bridge to create a healthy, whole heart.

A significant medical event is expected in 1992: the first human use of a fully implantable, long-term cardiac assist device. This timely volume reviews the artificial heart program-and in particular, the National Institutes of Health's major investment-raising important questions. The volume includes: Consideration of the artificial heart versus heart transplantation and other approaches to treating end-stage heart disease, keeping in mind the different outcomes and costs of these treatments. A look at human issues, including the number of people who may require the artificial heart, patient quality of life, and other ethical and societal questions. Examination of how this technology's use can be targeted most appropriately. Attention to achieving access to this technology for all those who can benefit from it. The committee also offers three mechanisms to aid in allocating research and development funds.

This pioneering book by the founder of the nationally renowned McDougall Program, addresses ways to combat the number one killer of Americans today--heart disease. Combining step-by-step diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations, it is designed to bring about dramatic health improvements in less than two weeks.