Change of Heart - by Daniel Levy & Susan Brink (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A Change of Heart is a detailed account of the revolutionary Framingham Heart study -- which, over the years, has provided conclusive evidence that cardiovascular disease is largely the result of measurable and modifiable risk factors. First begun in 1948, not long after Franklin Delano Roosevelt succumbed to a massive stroke, the study of over 5,000 citizens of Framingham, Massachusetts, changed the course of medical history. The lessons learned in Framingham allow each of us to control our risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Here is a clear-eyed and intriguing assessment of the achievements of this study and of its continuing importance to our health today.

Review Quotes

"A detailed rendition of one of the most important studies in modern medicine, reinforcing the truth that each of us can control our life to foster health and stave off illness. It is a lesson that never grows old." -Jerome Groopman, M.D., Recanati Professor, Harvard Medical School

"This book holds many lessons for the present. . . . A Change of Heart is an easy but exciting read. We owe a lot to Framingham." -Nature

"This account of the Framingham study . . . does justice to the courage and commitment of both the medical scientists and the patients who contributed so much to advancing the field of cardiology." -The Boston Globe

"The Framingham Heart Study contributed considerable evidence about the important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, effective lifestyle adjustments, and preventative steps. . . . Scattered through the book are important lessons for the prevention of heart disease. . . . An engaging account."-Science

About the Author

Daniel Levy, M.D., is the director of the Framingham Heart Study.Susan Brink is a senior writers for U.S. News & World Report.