Main description:

In the absence of good, trustworthy information, patients are guided mostly by their fear instincts when diagnosed with heart disease. With the misperception that more is better, they all too often end up agreeing to undergo every test and treatment recommendation of their harried healthcare provider, who could well be influenced by accepted norms, cognitive biases, medicolegal concerns, or economic considerations. All this leads to gross overuse of cardiac procedures, even when the risks of test and treatment can be worse than the disease itself. In this book, Dr. J Shah explains the various cardiac tests and treatments, including situations in which they are critical, others in which they are reasonable, and yet others in which they could be unnecessary and even harmful. Using real life stories, he helps readers cultivate a better understanding of heart disease and correct the myths that have guided and misguided patients for years. He teaches the reader to become a more informed consumer of cardiac care and to make better decisions based on their individual needs and the latest scientific evidence.

Contents:

Introduction: Why Do I Need This Book?
1. Stress Test: What's Good for the Goose Good for the Gander?
2. Cardiac Catheterization: That's Our Protocol
3. Angioplasty: It's Not Killing You!
4. Bypass Surgery: A Second Opinion
5. Supplements, the Internet, and Heart Monitors: The Customer Has the Controls
6. Pacemakers: A Surefire Spark?
7. Defibrillator: Many Get It, Some Need It
8. Ablation: Curing Your Rhythm Problems
9. The Way Forward: The Home-Care Solution to Health Care
Epilogue: Heart-to-Heart
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author