Monday, February 21, 2011

Saving Women's Hearts: Book Review and Giveaway

Heart disease is probably something that many of us worry think about. When I was a kid, it wasn't something I even gave a single thought about. Now, I find myself making sure I go to my dance and pilates classes and go to my Zumba classes. I make sure my family and I healthy, well-balanced meals with lots of veggies. I won't lie. I do worry about heart disease.

I was shocked when I discovered that heart disease is the leading killer of women in North America. Did you know that? I thought it was breast cancer. I was mistaken. It's heart disease!

When asked to review the book Saving Women's Hearts: How You Can Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease With Natural and Conventional Strategies by Martha Gulati and Sherry Torkos, I jumped at the opportunity.  I was happy to discover that the book was written by two highly qualified women. Martha Gulati is a cardiologist, specializing in cardiac disease prevention in women and Sherry Torkos is a pharmacist with training in both conventional and complementary medicine. The book was written in hopes of empowering women to recognize the risks and improve their heart health.

Saving Women's Hearts discusses in great detail, the screening procedures, diagnosis, treatment options, and the prevention of heart disease. What I liked the most was that each chapter was informative and as a whole, helped me understand the illness better.

Chapters that caught my attention:
* "Affairs of a Woman's Heart" and "The Risks to a Woman's Heart": Why heart disease is different and unique for women. I was interested in reading about Non-modifiable, Modifiable, and Emerging Risk Factors for Heart Disease Development. I won't spoil this read by giving all the details, but there are lots of interesting facts about genes, ethnicity, age (among other factors), and the roles they play when it comes to heart disease.

* Nature's Pharmacy - the role of vitamins and other supplements
Again, I won't ruin this for you (as I know you are now aching to get your hands on a copy of this book so you can check it out for yourself!). All I  have to say is: Green foods, garlic, cinnamon (to name a few heart-friendly foods)!

* The impact of stress and practical tips on managing stress: This is a chapter I should be memorizing! Strategies for surviving stress and managing stress are discussed in Chapter 10. The chapter opens with the story of Leslie, a single mom with two  young children, who owns her own business, puts in at least 10 hours of work a day, plus has all the responsibilities of her kids and their activities. She goes to bed at midnight and has to get up for work at 6AM. Apart from some slight differences, Leslie's routine sounds strikingly similar to mine. The running from one commitment to another with no time to relax, feeling out of time, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed out...Ummm...Hello?! I feel that way!!!

* The role of sleep and heart health: Yikes! Were you aware that lack of sleep can increase your risk of heart disease and other health problems?

I've read the book from cover to cover and would definitely recommend it to every woman out there. This is something I'm considering getting for my female family members and friends.


Would you like your own copy of Savings Women's Hearts? You're in luck!

WIN IT! Here's how! 

MANDATORY ENTRY:  To be entered to win your own copy of the book, simply leave me a comment about why you'd like to read Saving Women's Hearts. Please remember to leave your email address so I can reach you if you win!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: 
* Follow me on Twitter @chancesmommy (2 entries)

* Tweet this contest: #win book Saving Women's Hearts @chancesmommy (Ends 3/9) #giveaway (each Tweet = one entry--you may tweet once each day, please leave link to your tweet)



*  Grab my button and leave me the link to where you posted it :) (2 entries)




*Follow Random Thought  and Musings from the Island REVIEWS on Google Friend Connect! (2 entries)

* "Like" Random Thoughts and Musings from the Island REVIEWS on Facebook. (2 entries)




This giveaway closes on Wednesday March 9th, 2011. Open to Canadian Residents only.



Disclosure - I am participating in the Saving Women’s Hearts program by Mom Central on behalf of Wiley Publishing. I received a copy of the book to review and gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

24 comments:

  1. I would like to win this book because we have a family history of heart disease in my family. I'd be interested in reading this.

    Thank you.
    Glenna

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  2. I would love to read this book to learn what I can do to reduce my risk of developing heart disease.

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  3. (#1) I follow you on Twitter @glogirl3

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. (#2) I follow you on Twitter @glogirl3

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/glogirl3/status/39870971225706496

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. (#1) I follow your blog via GFC.

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. (#2) I follow your blog via GFC.

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I "Like" you on Facebook. (Amy M)

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. (#2) I "Like" you on Facebook. (Amy M)

    ajmizen(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi there, I am particularly interested in this book because of Nature's Pharmacy vs copious amounts of pills.

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  11. I have also 'liked' you on FB (2)

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  12. ~I am a 40 yr old mother of 4 living sons, 2 predeceased--I know all about stress and what it can do to your body and health!!

    I have lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia on top of a history of heart disease on my father's side of the family.

    My father went into cardiac arrest at the age of 48 while playing hockey. Luckily the paramedics were there on the scene and whisked him away to the heart hospital located down the road. (He was in the Soo for a tournament--how lucky for us all!)

    He required a quadruple bypass surgery once he was stable enough (5 wks later), but remained on complete bedrest until that could happen as his heart was in such poor condition.

    He has since found out that his biological father passed away at the exact same age from the exact same thing--at 48! That is less than 8yrs down the road for me! Eeeeks!

    I knew that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women, and I really don't want to have to endure such a thing for myself, or put my boys through more than they've already endured thus far.

    So there you have it---I want a book! :O)

    I already follow you on fb, & have your button on my nimkee-blessings blog, but I'm grabbing your button to add to my latest blog: http://as-the-bridge-swings.blogspot.com

    I will follow you on Twitter-- http://twitter.com/#!/crazy4daizies, and will add you to my Google Friend Connect too!

    I love you C....great blog xxoo

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  13. ~I follow you on facebook
    https://www.facebook.com/crazy.4.daizies

    crazy.4.daizies@gmail.com

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  14. I have your blogbutton here:
    http://nimkee-blessings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. I also have your blog button here:
    http://as-the-bridge-swings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow you on twitter:
    http://twitter.com/#!/crazy4daizies

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow you on Google Friend Connect
    Nimkee's Mum

    ReplyDelete
  18. ~ok, I think I have this right?
    http://twitter.com/#!/crazy4daizies/status/43523615240617984

    ReplyDelete
  19. ~I retweeted again today:
    http://twitter.com/#!/chancesmommy/status/42740475857350656

    ReplyDelete
  20. ~Another retweet today!
    http://twitter.com/#!/chancesmommy/status/42740475857350656
    ~the retweets aren't showing on my page though. I'm not sure if that's your setting, or mine. I got a message saying that retweets from this user won't show up on your page?

    ReplyDelete
  21. http://twitter.com/#!/chancesmommy/status/42740475857350656

    I retweeted again today! (still not sure if I'm doing this right? I had to untweet and then retweet, but March 1 keeps showing? Bear with me, I'm learning....lol)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes, you're doing it right! Thanks! Extra entries for you!!! You really do want this book, don't you? :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. ~Yes I really want this book....lol. I retweeted again tonight!
    http://twitter.com/#!/chancesmommy/status/44622495080382464

    ReplyDelete
  24. ~another re-tweet today!!!
    http://twitter.com/#!/chancesmommy/status/44622495080382464

    ReplyDelete