January 24, 2003, ST. LOUIS — Heart disease can strike anyone. From vice president Dick Cheney to professional athlete Darryl Kile, heart disease knows no social or economic lines and is the number one killer in America.

Despite this, many people don''t know the signs of heart attack or the best way to prevent heart disease.

Arthur Halle, III, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Washington University and cardiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, wants to keep people out of emergency and operating rooms and has a new book designed to beat heart disease, Heart Healthy: How to Prevent a Heart Attack.

"My purpose is to help the reader prevent illness and prolong life," says Dr. Halle. "Although scientists have solved many of the mysteries of atherosclerosis, a huge gap exists between the scientific community''s awareness and the public''s knowledge of what leads to blockages in blood vessels."

With that in mind, the book is written for the layman and explains:

• what a heart attack feels like
• the major risk factors of a heart attack
• how obesity — an ever-increasing problem — contributes to heart disease
• the importance of age and genetic makeup
• the newest concepts in preventing heart disease.

The book is filled with stories and illustrations of people''s real life experiences with heart disease.

"Life is precious. We have to safeguard it," says Dr. Halle, "Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death of men and women in the world and if our work can save one life, all of our effort is worth it."

The book is available for $19.95 plus shipping and handling through the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Heart Care Institute and Washington University Cardiology Consultants by calling 314-996-3248 or on the internet at www.heart-healthy.com.

To schedule an interview with Dr. Arthur Halle or for more information about "Heart Healthy," please call Jason Merrill at 314-286-0302.