The Great American Heart Hoax: Lifesaving Advice Your Doctor Should Tell You abou Paperback – 5 January 2010

It's a rare book that can be both horrifying and empowering at the same time. "The Great American Heart Hoax," by renowned cardiologist Dr. Michael Ozner, is one of those books."Heart Hoax" is horrifying because it reveals many troubling facts about America's cardiac surgery industry. As a longtime medical advocate and critic of our healthcare system, I've known that too many heart surgeries are being performed in America; I just didn't know how many too many! In his book, Dr. Ozner reveals that, of the more than 1.5 million angioplasties and coronary bypass surgeries performed annually in the U.S., fully 70-90% are not only unnecessary, but are also detrimental -- and in some cases, even cause death. I knew that many diagnostic tests expose patients to radiation, but I didn't know that the 64-slice CT scan -- so often used to detect clogged arteries -- gives a patient the equivalent of the radiation from FIVE HUNDRED X-RAYS. And while I had known that the simple cholesterol test, which doctors routinely use as a predictor of cardiac risk, does NOT give the full picture, I did not know that it correctly predicts risk IN ONLY 40% of cases -- AND that there is another blood test (which doctors normally do NOT use), which can correctly predict cardiac risk in 90% of patients. All of these facts -- and more -- add up to what Dr. Ozner refers to as the "Great American Heart Hoax." The truth, writes Dr. Ozner, is that invasive cardiologists HAVE KNOWN many of these "dirty secrets" for years, but have chosen to ignore them, in the unholy goal of "following the money."So, why do I say that this book is also empowering? Because, the exposé takes up only one part of the book. In the second half, Dr. Ozner gives us the "good news," by laying out his solution: a 10-step prevention program he has used successfully with his patients for nearly 30 years. It combines the Mediterranean Diet -- with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy fats -- with nutritional supplements, exercise, stress reduction, and lots more. After reading this book, you will know how to prevent a heart attack and, if you have already had one, how to greatly reduce your chances of ever having another.This is a very important book. I cannot recommend it more highly. I have been recommending it to every one of my friends and relatives who are at risk, as well as those who are already (perhaps wrongly) taking statin drugs preventatively. "The Great American Heart Hoax" shows us all a better way.Julia Schopick[...]

An outstanding Cardiologist shares knowledge patients are never told about their treatments and tests that may not be needed or are actually detrimental to their health. A must read.

Since my blood pressure has been up I've been concerned about what "natural" things I could start using instead of prescription drugs. Several items were mentioned that I am now using. My blood pressure isn't normal (according to WHO?) yet but it is down 25 points in about 6 weeks! I call that good news and the book does help.

Read and heed the excellent information in this book and you willnot end up being "sold" unnecessary surgery and procedures, or exposedto dangerous radiation. This is a comprehensive manual on how to live a heart healthy life.

My doctor recommended this book to me and even told me to buy from amazon.com. I was certainly pleased with the price.