[.ca] Before The Heart Attacks (ISBN 0452285267)

From Amazon.com:
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

Will Save Many Lives, However.....:
Finally! Someone has debunked the "one size fits all" cholesterol fraud-based theory that high cholesterol is the culprit behind heart disease. Pay attention pharmaceutical companies! Dr. Superko's excellent book will change the way many doctors treat (and PREVENT) heart disease by testing for the "cardiac fingerprints" that help determine each person's UNIQUE risk factors for diseases of the coronary & carotid arteries (as well as peripheral vascular arteries)...if the doctors read this book. By testing for ALL of the major risk factors, doctors will now be able to devise a "battle plan" that is tailored to the individual patient. This will no doubt significantly reduce the individual's risk of suffering a coronary "event" (as well as strokes and other disorders associated with diseased arteries). However, there are TWO subjects of which the author, Dr. Superko, DIDN'T do his homework on. And for a man of his intelligence, this is inexcuseable. First of all, he states that ALL saturated fats are bad for you. He "lumps" all saturated fats together (from animal, dairy, chocolate & tropical oil sources) as promoting coronary artery disease. If Dr. Superko had actually done his homework, he would know that it is SCIENITIFIC FACT that saturated fats from COCONUT & PALM OILS (in their non-hydrogenated / trans-fat free forms) are not only NOT bad for you, they are acutually GOOD for you (see "Know Your Fats", Mary G. Enig, PhD., and "The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil", Bruce Fife, N.D.). The last issue has to do with his grudging endorsement of vitamin E. Dr. Superko mentions how several studies showed that vitamin E did not reduce the risk of heart disease. Again, had he researched the subject properly, Dr. Superko would have found the reason why many of these studies have failed to show any positive roles in using vitamin E to reduce the risk of diseases of the arteries: the researchers failed to use the CORRECT forms of vitamin E (the studies only used a single isolated / fractionated form of "natural" vitamin E). Vitamin E is actually a term used to describe no less then EIGHT "isomers" (four tocopherols & four tocotrienols). Studies have shown that using the right forms of vitamin E DOES help prevent & even reverse diseases of the arteries! Had Dr. Superko researched the book better with regards to saturated fats & vitamin E, I would gladly give "Before the Heart Attacks" five stars. I was tempted to give it only three stars. However, due to the overwhelmingly positive impact his "Cardiac Fingerprint" testing will have on the American public, it deserves at least four stars. If you or someone you love has, or may be at risk for heart disease, you need to read this book before it's too late!

Antique Thinking from 1984. Idle Banging to an Old Tune:
This book was obsolete a year ago. The current cutting-edge medical literature does not sing the same tune as the author does. The author owns a big cholesterol laboratory/clinic. New studies, to the consternation of the big anti-lipid pill sellers, are showing that we have all been "mis-informed" and that "bad cholesterol" is not our primary problem, but is just a side-nuisance and certainly not the cause of heart disease as it has been touted in the past! It is not our lipid levels that cause heart disease....it is our bodies' inflammatory-response to a lifelong infectious process. Read the book just written called: Has Heart Disease Been Cured? by Mulhall to get the real scoop. Now that book is cutting edge! You can buy the book here at Amazon.com

Newest heart disease research provides critical information:
This outstanding book brings the concerned person the most up to date heart disease research in a clear style that motivates you to reduce your risk factors. The newest blood tests give you a clearer picture of your personal heart disease risk than you could ever get from simple cholesterol (HDL and LDL) readings. He gives you concrete suggestions about diet, exercize, medications, and supplements. All of this from one of the researchers who has spent the last 20 years treating patients and studying heart disease. This book gets my highest recommendation.

Layman's Guide to Latest Heart Testing and Treatment:
I've been looking for this kind of book for years. With a family history, high cholesterol and adverse reaction to statin's I needed help in understanding what's going on in detail and what are my non-invasive treatment alternative's. This book helps you find the answers by giving you a short basic test and then providing simple instruction of how to take it to the next level for an individualized "cardiac fingerprint". Instead of just the basic cholesterol exam it explains in layman's terms the most important tests to request and their meaning. I plan to share this one with my doctor as well as the entire family.

Contains a major flaw:
The major contribution of this book is listing and describing metabolic markers for heart disease other than cholesterol. The major flaw of the book is that he recommends pretty much the standard AHA diet of 30% fat for those persons whose markers (other than cholesterol) are normal. That diet will not stop continued stenosis of the coronary arteries (plaque buildup). The only way to stop plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, as demonstrated by angiographic evidence (the gold standard that looks at flow in the arteries) is the very low fat diet, plus high fiber, low sugar, that reduces cholesterol below 150. The experimental evidence that is persuasive has been done by Dean Ornish, MD, and Caldwell Esselstyn, MD. Of course, Nathan Pritikin (a chemist) was the grandfather of this diet. His autopsy showed his arteries were clear of plaque. The author states that a very low fat diet for some people will bring about LDL Pattern B. First, that will not happen with all people. Second, the evidence of the benefits of a very low fat, low sugar, high fiber diet, is far stronger than the studies on the danger of LDL Pattern B with such a diet.