Heart Solution for Women

March 1, 2019

Heart disease, long considered primarily a men's problem, is the No. 1 cause of death among women. Since women on average have smaller hearts and different hormonal profiles, treatments designed for men are generally not effective. Physician Menolascino, who practices functional medicine, blends traditional and alternative therapies to help women prevent and treat heart disease. The author begins by explaining basic anatomy and physiology and how the various organ systems work together. He then discusses the role of inflammation in disease, the influence of stress on the body, and the importance of reducing risk factors for heart disease. Recommendations include eating well, getting at least eight hours of sleep each night, exercise, healthy family/social relationships, and mental/emotional stability. Menolascino recommends a combination of prescription drugs and supplements when necessary, with the goal of reducing or eliminating them if possible. He calls for physicians and patients to create a treatment plan together, that sticking with it will result in improved well-being. Although this is nothing new, the author explains the concepts very well, and his emphasis on combining different therapeutic modes is refreshing. VERDICT For all public and consumer health collections.--Barbara Bibel, formerly Oakland P.L.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
The essence of holistic, integrative, or functional medicine is to treat and heal the whole body. That's crucial when it comes to heart disease, the number-one killer of women, argues Menolascino, medical director of the Meno Clinic Center for Functional Medicine in Wyoming. Rather than just practice what he calls pill-for-the-ill medicine, physicians need to evaluate each individual. Doctors must become purveyors of health rather than purveyors of drugs, he says. Just treating symptoms can be a recipe for disaster. One woman almost had her gallbladder removed for abdominal pain when she was actually experiencing a heart attack. Menolascino asks patients to take charge of their heart health by following his seven steps, which include sleeping enough, drinking clean water, having a daily bowel movement, controlling emotions, breathing fresh air, and eating proper foods. By contrast, he explains, drugs and surgeries are not very effective at healing chronic issues, including heart disease. With a little cheerleading from Menolascino, women can feel empowered to take their health into their own hands.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)