Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of men and women — and has been since 1950. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Armed with the latest research and a passion for providing accessible, affordable heart health care, leading cardiology experts have worked tirelessly to put together the best books on heart health.
As someone who didn’t go to medical school, I deeply appreciate when healthcare professionals can break down textbook language into easy-to-digest narratives. Some heart health books, like Dr. Kahn’s The Whole Heart Solution, state the exact steps you should follow to prevent CVD. Others, like The Great Cholesterol Myth by Drs. Bowden and Sinatra, turn traditionally held beliefs about cardiovascular health on their head and expose the true culprits of heart disease (hint: it’s not high cholesterol.)
If you’re looking for heart health books that provide cardiologist-approved tips to prevent and reverse CVD, healthy recipes, and inspiration to turn your lifestyle around, you’ve found the right list.
1. The Haywire Heart by Christopher J. Case
How much is too much when it comes to exercise? This is the question Dr. Mandrola and his co-authors seek to explain when it comes to heart conditions in athletes. The Haywire Heart, the first heart health book to examine athlete’s heart condition, serves as a timely and compelling warning for both elite athletes and anyone who regularly engages in endurance sports.
2. Understanding the Heart by Stephen Hussey
Despite the myriad medical advances, procedures, and medications available to combat heart disease, the rate of the deadly condition continues to rise globally — the CDC estimates that deaths attributed to heart disease increased by 18.7% from 2010 to 2020.
According to Dr. Hussey — himself a survivor of a severe heart attack — this is in large part due to misunderstandings about the heart’s functions and the most optimal ways to maintain it. Hussey shares his research findings and the key lifestyle changes that helped him on his road to recovery.
3. The Heart Speaks by Mimi Guarneri
Thought-provoking and beautifully written, Dr. Guarneri weaves together compelling research and first-hand experiences of treating heart-related conditions. She posits that there is more to cardiovascular decline than blocked arteries and narrowed heart valves — grief, elevated stress levels, depression, and other negative emotions also take a toll on the heart.
As a complement to Western medicine, she believes gratitude, positivity, love, and human connection can all boost the heart’s well-being.
4. Outliving Heart Disease by Richard A. Stein
When it comes to understanding heart disease, the research isn’t always clear. In recent decades, the research on prevention and treatment have evolved dramatically. The director of Preventive Cardiology at Beth Israel Hospital cuts through the noise and offers 10 proactive recommendations to help readers outlive heart disease.
5. The Everyday Heart-Healthy Cookbook by Breeana Pooler
After Pooler’s husband received an unexpected diagnosis of heart failure, she set out on a mission to revamp their diets as part of his heart treatment plan. This cookbook is her labor of love to help her husband — and others suffering from heart conditions — take control of their lives by taking charge in the kitchen.
The cookbook includes 75 recipes for meals that are as nutritious as they are delicious.
6. The Whole Heart Solution by Joel K. Kahn
The Whole Heart Solution is the essential guide to heart health that every person, regardless of age or health status, can benefit from. Simple and informative with easy-to-follow recommendations, Dr. Khan provides a wealth of insights into holistic health solutions and 75 things you can do right now to reverse and prevent heart disease.
7. Heart Attacks Are Not Worth Dying For by Michael Ozner
Despite the fact that America is home to some of the world’s leading doctors and hospitals, nearly 700,000 people die due to cardiovascular disease every year. Fortunately, according to Dr. Ozner, it’s never too early — or too late — to start focusing on your heart health. He breaks down a multifaceted approach to understanding your health and lays out the steps you can take to improve your quality of life and safeguard your heart.
8. Open Heart by Akil Taher
From open-heart surgery to running a half-marathon less than a year later, this is the inspiring story of one doctor’s new lease on life. After a lifetime of bad habits including an abysmal diet and a serious lack of exercise, Dr. Taher was forced to undergo bypass surgery. He vowed to take advantage of his second chance at life and shares his wisdom, research, and findings with readers who also want to make positive lifestyle changes.
9. The Great Cholesterol Myth by Jonny Bowden
Lowering cholesterol is often touted as one of the key things people can do to prevent heart disease. However, there is ample research that shows that cholesterol levels are poor indicators of heart disease.
The Great Cholesterol Myth exposes the real culprits of heart disease, including inflammation and high glycemic levels, and provides an effective four-part prevention and reversal strategy.
10. Heart by Dick Cheney
You may not have expected a book on heart health to come from Dick Cheney, but given his experience with 5 heart attacks and a heart transplant recipient, the former Vice President is a staunch advocate of cardiovascular health education. He teams up with his trusted cardiologist, Dr. Reiner, to deliver a thorough guide to understanding the body’s engine.
Alternating between descriptions of Cheney’s life and heart conditions and Dr. Reiner’s explanations and subsequent treatment solutions, Heart dives into the history of heart treatments in the United States and serves as a testament to how far cardiology has come.
