Dr. Charles Highway

I LOVE Cardiology! Here are a few books, in no particular order, I use the most when tackling anything on this subject:

#1:

Pathophysiology of Heart Disease
By Leonard S Lilly

This was one of my favourite books when I started med school. It is straight to the point and highlights most of the common heart pathophysiology you will come across in med school. It may not be as easy to get into as other text books, but few can beat it on the facts.

The book covers the following and more:

• Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
• Pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes
• Mechanisms of heart failure
• Molecular mechanisms of dysrhythmias
• The genomic basis of cardiomyopathies and congenital heart disease
• Pharmacology

#2:

Clinical Cardiology Made Ridiculously Simple (2009 3rd Edition)
By Michael A Chizner

This book is great because it offers so much for so little. Firstly, the book mostly covers clinical aspects of cardiology such as:  history taking; physicals; ECGs (covered in 40 pages!), radiology, noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tests, and therapy (pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic).

Secondly, the 3rd Edition of this book comes with a CD which contains a myriad of useful information, such as:

• Heart sounds
• Sample chest x-rays
• ECG interpretation
• A few Quizzes
• Echocardiography

Well rounded book.

#3:

High-Yield Heart
By Ronald W Dudek

This is another one of the “Medicine For Dummies” type book. It pretty much summarizes your first two years of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Systems, in medical school and enables you to attain a quick grasp on on any of the following topics of the heart:

• Embryology
• Gross anatomy
• Radiology
• Histology
• Physiology
• Pathology
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

PS It is also great for USMLE revision

#4:

Rapid Interpretation of EKGs (Sixth Edition)

By Dale Dubin

There isn’t much need to talk about this book much. The equation is simple:

You + Dale Dubin * Time = EKG Master

Seriously, if you don’t get EKGs then go for this little bit of text; 90% of the time you will be pleasantly satisfied.

HEAVY HITTERS:

The following two texts are not neccessary for you to pass medicine, but they do have extensive amounts of information on anything regarding Cardiology or the Cardiovascular System.

#5:

Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine [Single Volume]

By Peter Libby , Robert O. Bonow, Douglas L. Mann, Douglas P. Zipes

This is one of the better large texts for clinical cardiology. The book contains numerous contributors and editors who ensure that the information provided is up to date in the areas of molecular biology and genetics to the latest imaging modalities, interventional procedures, and medications.

#6:

Hursts the Heart, 12th Edition

This book is one of the standard reference textbooks in cardiology. It contains practically EVERYTHING in regards to diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases. I advise to borrow this from your library because you only seriously need it if you are A) Super Keen Medical Student or B) A Cardiology Resident.

Also See:

MOST ESSENTIAL USMLE Step 1 Preparation Textbooks

Supplementary USMLE Book List

Best 5 Anatomy Books

EKG/ECG Books