State Of The Heart

In State of the Heart, Dr. Haider Warraich takes readers inside the ER, inside patients' rooms, and inside the history and science of cardiac disease. State of the Heart traces the entire arc of the heart, from the very first time it was depicted on stone tablets, to a future in which it may very well become redundant. While heart disease has been around for a while, the type of heart disease people have, why they have it, and how it’s treated is changing. Yet, the golden age of heart science is only just beginning. And with treatments of heart disease altering the very definitions of human life and death, there is no better time to look at the present and future of heart disease, the doctors and nurses who treat it, the patients and caregivers who live with it, and the stories they hold close to their chests. More people die of heart disease than any other disease in the world and when any form of heart disease progresses, it can result in the development of heart failure. Heart failure affects millions and can affect anyone at anytime, a child recovering from a viral infection, a woman who has just given birth or a cancer patient receiving chemotherapy. Yet new technology to treat heart failure is fundamentally changing just what it means to be human. Mechanical pumps can be surgically sown into patients’ hearts and when patients with these pumps get really sick, sometimes they don’t need a doctor or a surgeon—they need a mechanic. In State of the Heart, the journey to rid the world of heart disease is shown to be reflective of the journey of medical science at large. We are learning not only that women have as much heart disease as men, but that the type of heart disease women experience is diametrically different from that in men. We are learning that heart disease and cancer may have more in common than we could have imagined. And we are learning how human evolution itself may have led to the epidemic of heart disease. In understanding how our knowledge of the heart evolved, State of the Heart traces the twisting and turning road that science has taken—filled with potholes and blind turns—all the way back to its very origin.

A heartfelt collection of personal stories that connect a common past and offer hope for a promising future For many, South Carolina is a sunny vacation destination. For those who have been lucky enough to call it home, it is a source of rich memories and cultural heritage. In this final volume of State of the Heart, thirty-eight nationally and regionally known writers share their personal stories about places in South Carolina that hold special meaning for them. While this is a book about place, it is ultimately about people's connections to one another, to a complex, common past, and to ongoing efforts to build a future of promise and possibility in the Palmetto state. Editor Aïda Rogers groups the essays thematically, with poetry, vintage photographs, and even recipes introducing each section. She unites pieces by New York Times best-selling novelists Patti Callahan Henry, CJ Lyons, and John Jakes; USA Today best-selling mystery writer Susan Boyer; historians Walter Edgar, Orville Vernon Burton, and Bernard Powers; artist and author Mary Whyte; and cookbook authors Sallie Ann Robinson and the Lee Brothers—just to name a few. Nikky Finney, a South Carolina native and winner of the 2011 National Book Award for poetry, provides the foreword. The afterword is written by Cassandra King, author of six novels, including the New York Times best seller The Sunday Wife.

In 2004, at the age of fifty-three, self-employed contractor Howard Stabb learns that a leaking mitral valve in his heart needs to be repaired. Left untreated, his doctors tell Stabb, his condition may kill him at any moment. The procedure to repair the heart valve costs at least $200,000 at the Durham Regional Hospital near Stabb's North Carolina home-if there are no complications. Before the hospital will even admit Stabb, they demand a $50,000 deposit, money that Stabb and his partner, author Maggi Grace, do not have. Seeking some alternative that might allow him to undergo the life-saving treatment, Stabb implores the hospital to charge him the discounted rate available to insurance companies. The hospital refuses. Because his condition is already diagnosed, Stabb is ineligible for private medical insurance, and he earns too much money to qualify for state medical assistance. And he certainly can't scrape together $200,000 in his condition. As Stabb and Grace frantically search for solutions, Grace's son, a medical student who has spent time working in hospitals in India, recommends that they contact the Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi. When they do, they learn that the institute can perform the procedure. And the cost for the surgery and aftercare? Only $10,000. This gripping memoir describes Stabb and Grace's experiences from the initial diagnosis through their trek to India, the operation Stabb undergoes, and the chilling dangers he faces after the surgery. In an afterword, the book offers resources for readers considering overseas health care, including hospital recommendations, visa and inoculation information, and things to look for when choosing an overseas health care provider.

The latest developments in the field of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy are featured in this issue of Heart Failure Clinics. Edited by Drs. Luigi Padeletti, Martina Nesti, and Giuseppe Boriani, the issue includes more than 20 articles in the following areas: heart failure; cost of heart failure; ventricular dissynchrony and resynchronization; assessment of dissynchrony; indication for CRT implantation; implantation technique; measures to improve CRT benefit on AF patients; and many more.

Indiana Revealed: A Journey to the Heart of the Hoosier State A trip to the heart of the Hoosier State is an invitation to an exciting journey of discovery through an often overlooked treasure in the heart of the United States. This book takes you deep into the fabric of Indiana, the so-called "Hoosier State", and reveals the many facets of this fascinating state. Your journey begins by exploring Indiana's roots, from the original Native Americans to the early European settlers. You'll understand the history and culture of this region and how they made Indiana what it is today. Indiana boasts stunning scenery that ranges from vast fields and forested hills to picturesque lakes and rivers. This book takes you on a journey through Indiana's natural beauty, including the awe-inspiring Lake Michigan, the Hoosier National Forest, and many state parks ideal for hiking and exploring. Likewise, you'll get to know Indiana's cities and towns, from the bustling cityscapes of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to the charming small towns that characterize the Hoosier State. Indiana's diversity is also evident in its eclectic cultural scene, where you can experience art, music, festivals, and culinary delights. A trip to the heart of Hoosier State will take you to a deeper level as you immerse yourself in the state's stories and storytellers. You will understand the heritage of the Hoosiers and learn what makes these people stand out. Finally, this book offers an aerial perspective as you can see Indiana from above and enjoy the scenic beauty from a bird's eye view.