cover image SEVEN STEPS TO A HEALTHY HEART

SEVEN STEPS TO A HEALTHY HEART

Bob Arnot, Robert Burns Arnot, Dr Bob Arnot, . . Simon & Schuster, $25 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-7432-2557-1

Not only is heart disease the number one cause of death in America, it's also a problem that can frequently be prevented. Tragically, however, one of its first symptoms is often sudden, unexpected death from a heart attack. In his ninth book (after The Breast Health Cookbook ; The Prostate Cancer Protection Plan ; etc.), Arnot aims to give readers the tools to ensure they're not among the patients who "fall through the cracks." He outlines his seven steps in straightforward chapters on detecting warning signs, determining risk, taking medication and more. Incorporating the sometimes contradictory opinions of various medical experts, he puts the responsibility of making an informed decision into readers' hands, explaining that physicians may miss telltale signs and hospitals may not be ready to deal with a particular problem (some, for example, aren't equipped for life-saving balloon therapy, so it pays to research local health care options before a crisis arises). There's no universal plan to treat heart disease, Arnot stresses, but he urges readers to become educated regarding their options and aggressive in the lifestyle changes that could save their lives. Agent, Dan Green at Pom. (Jan.)

Forecast: Arnot is well-known not just for his books but for his media appearances on CBS This Morning, the Today Show and DatelineNBC, so readers wanting to bone up on heart health should trust his expertise.