The clot thickens : the enduring mystery of heart disease

“Malcolm Kendrick's masterly survey of the enduring mystery of heart disease reads like a detective story. With great verve he marshals the evidence for the two main contending theories, exonerates the presumed suspect and makes a formidable case for thrombogenesis (blood clotting) as the perpetrator. Witty, provocative and entertaining, 'The Clot Thickens' packs a powerful scientific punch. Highly recommended.” Dr James Le Fanu Doctor, journalist, author of ‘ The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine .’ “Malcolm Kendrick's new book brings to mind the quote from Thomas Huxley when he first learned of Darwin's theory of evolution: ‘how extremely stupid (of me) not to have thought of that’. What Kendrick presents is nothing less than a unifying theory of heart disease, that explains why everything from sickle cell disease to diabetes to a stressful lifestyle increases cardiovascular risk (and he does it with a large dollop of humour). After decades stuck in the blind alley that is the LDL hypothesis, this book is a revelation. It should be read by anyone with even a slight interest in understanding heart disease and what they can do to protect themselves from it.” Dr Sebastian Rushworth M.D. Sweden This is a 150-year detective story with a cast of unrecognised heroes who may, finally, become known for their work on the true causes of heart disease. Exploring the truth about cholesterol - the apparently tried, and convicted, cause of millions of deaths from heart disease - with billions spent each year on lowering cholesterol with diet and drugs. Is it possible that our villain was simply left holding the gun whilst the true culprits ran and hid? Have they escaped our clutches? Dr Kendrick also introduces us to a range of other lesser known characters in this tale of selective reporting, data manipulation and intrigue. The true story of heart disease is out there, and the evidence has been brought together here - a scientific mystery for our time that is ready to unfold. The Dual Aim Of This Book Is To Review The Well-established Risk Factors In Chd And To Look Forward To Disease Prevention, Equipped With Lessons From The Past. The Book Covers Etiology To Public Health, Including Studies Within A Single Population And International Studies, Important Areas Of Methodological Development, Trials To Test Preventive Strategies, And The Application Of Epidemiological And Other Knowledge To The Development Of Public Health Policy For The Prevention Of Widespread Disease. Contains Contributions From The World Authorities In The Field. Coronary Heart Disease Epidemiology : From Aetiology To Public Health / M. Marmot And P. Elliott -- Contribution Of Epidemiology To Understanding Coronary Heart Disease / F.h. Epstein -- Established Major Coronary Risk Factors : Historical Overview / J. Stamler -- Current Status : Six Established Major Risk Factors And Low Risk / J. Stamler ... [et Al.] -- Us Trends / R.v. Luepker -- Coronary Heart Disease In Central And Eastern Europe And The Former Soviet Union / M. Bobak And M. Marmot -- Trends In Asia / H. Ueshima -- Developing Countries / K.s. Reddy -- Coronary Heart Disease Burden Among Persons Of African Origin / R.s. Cooper -- Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Attributable To Smoking : Global And Regional Estimates For 2000 / M. Ezzati And A.d. Lopez -- Blood Pressure And The Burden Of Coronary Heart Disease / C.m.m. Lawes ... [et Al.] -- Lipids And Cholesterol / M. Law And A. Rodgers -- Trends In All-cause And Cardiovascular Mortality : A Comparison Between Belgium, The Netherlands, And Denmark, 1950-99 / J.v. Joossens And H. Kesteloot -- Dietary Patterns And Coronary Heart Disease Risk / T.p. Erlinger And L.j. Appel -- Antioxidants And Cardiovascular Disease / E. R. Miller And L. J. Appel -- Serum Homocysteine And Coronary Heart Disease / D. S. Wald ... [et Al.] -- Alcohol And Coronary Heart Disease / M. Bobak And M. Marmot -- Fish Consumption, N-3 Fatty Acids, And Coronary Heart Disease / D. Kromhout -- Exercise Versus Heart Attack: History Of A Hypothesis / J. N. Morris -- Obesity / A. R. Dyer, J. Stamler, And P. Greenland -- Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes And Coronary Heart Disease / G. Hu, Q. Qiao, And J. Tuomilehto -- Women And Cardiovascular Heart Disease / L. H. Kuller -- Use Of Oral Contraceptives / N. R. Poulter -- Systematic Review Of Prospective Cohort Studies Of Psychosocial Factors In The Aetiology And Prognosis Of Coronary Heart Disease / H. Kuper, M. Marmot, H. Hemingway -- Mental Illness And Coronary Heart Disease / S. Stansfeld And F. Rasul -- Psychophysiology / A. Steptoe -- Chronic Infection And Systemic Inflammation / P. Whincup And J. Danesh -- Coagulation, Thrombosis, And Coronary Heart Disease / T.w. Meade And P.k. Maccallum -- Air Pollution / C.a. Pope Iii -- Seasonal Variations In All-cause And Cardiovascular Mortality And The Role Of Temperature / M.b. Toledano, G. Shaddick, And P. Elliott -- Gene-environment Interaction In Coronary Artery Disease : Apolipoprotein E And Smoking And The Interleukin-6 Gene And Inflammation As Examples / S.e. Humphries -- The Developmental Origins Of Coronary Heart Disease / D.j.p. Barker -- Life Course Influences On Coronary Heart Disease / G. Davey Smith And J. Lynch -- Emergence Of Risk Factors In Children / D.r. Labarthe -- Risk Factors In The Elderly / J.g. Van Der Bom And D.e. Grobbee -- Strategies Of Prevention : The Individual And The Population / G. Rose -- Contributions To Change : Major Risk Factors And The Potential For Prevention / R. Beaglehole And A. Dobson -- Prevention Of Coronary Heart Disease : Findings From The Nurses' Health Study And Health Professionals' Follow-up Study / F.b. Hu And W.c. Willett -- Risk Scores For Management And Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease / D. Wood And K. Kotseva -- Non-invasive Measures Of Preclinical Coronary Heart Disease / P. Greenland -- Screening For Future Coronary Heart Disease / N.j. Wald And M.r. Law -- Screening For Type 2 Diabetes / D.g. Johnston ... [et Al.] -- Primary Prevention Of High Blood Pressure / P. Elliott And J. Stamler -- The Secondary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease / S.s. Anand, E. Lonn, And S. Yusuf -- Smoke-free Policies Are An Effective Way To Reduce Heart Disease Rapidly / C. M. Fichtenberg And S.a. Glantz -- Nutrition Policy : National Strategies For Dietary Change / W.p.t. James And N.j. Rigby -- Lessening Inequalities And Effect On Coronary Heart Disease / M. Whitehead And M. Marmot -- Behaviour Change / L.j. Cooke, J. Wardle, And M. Jarvis -- Contributions To Change : Treatment / H. Tunstall-pedoe -- Intervention In High Risk Groups : Hypertension / P.s. Sever And N.r. Poulter -- Community Change And The Role Of Public Health / P. Puska. Edited By Michael Marmot And Paul Elliott. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The breakup of the Soviet Union led to the creation of new states and territorial conflicts of different levels of intensity. Scrutinising the post‐Soviet period, this volume offers explanations for both the frequency and the intensity of crises in the region.This book argues that the societies which emerged in the post-Soviet space share characteristic features, and that the instability and conflict-prone nature of the Soviet Union's successor states can be explained by analysing the post-independence history of the region and linking it to the emergence of overlapping economic, political and violent crises (called'Intersecting Crises Phenomena'). Transformation itself is shown to be a decisive process and, while acknowledging specific national and regional characteristics and differences, the authors demonstrate its shared impact. This comparison across countries and over time presents patterns of crisis and crisis management common to all the successor states. It disentangles the process, highlighting the multifaceted features of post-Soviet crises and draws upon the concept of crisis to determine the tipping points of post-Soviet development. Especially useful for scholars and students dealing with the Soviet successor states, this book should also prove interesting to those researching in the fields of communist and post‐communist Studies, Eurasian politics, international relations and peace and conflict studies. "This is a 150-year detective story with a cast of unrecognised heroes who may, finally, become known for their work on the true causes of heart disease. Exploring the truth about cholesterol - the apparently tried, and convicted, cause of millions of deaths from heart disease - with billions spent each year on lowering cholesterol with diet and drugs. Is it possible that our villain was simply left holding the gun whilst the true culprits ran and hid? Have they escaped our clutches? Dr Kendrick also introduces us to a range of other lesser known characters in this tale of selective reporting, data manipulation and intrigue. The true story of heart disease is out there, and the evidence has been brought together here - a scientific mystery for our time that is ready to unfold."--Back cover This second edition provides authoritative and readable insight into the wide field of coronary heart disease epidemiology. It reviews major risk factors from various perpectives and is an important textbook on the epidemiology and prevention of heart attacks This book explains the instability and conflict-prone nature of the Soviet Union’s successor states by scrutinizing their post-independence history and linking it to the emergence of overlapping economic, political and military crises.