Heart: A History

Sandeep Jauhar blends medical history with his own experiences as a cardiologist to examine the heart as both a biological pump and a metaphorical repository for emotions. He traces the evolution of cardiac medicine, detailing risky early experiments like Werner Forssmann’s self-catheterization and the development of the heart-lung machine. The narrative emphasizes how the organ’s physical health is inextricably linked to psychological states, citing the physiological impact of "broken heart syndrome" and chronic stress on the coronary arteries. Jauhar argues that modern medicine often treats the heart as a mechanical object while ignoring the vital connection between a patient’s social environment and their cardiovascular longevity.

This book is for medical professionals and general readers interested in how lifestyle and emotional health dictate physical survival. Readers learn about the limitations of high-tech surgical interventions when divorced from holistic care. By the end, the audience understands the historical risks taken by surgical pioneers and gains a clearer perspective on how managing grief and social isolation serves as a functional preventive measure against heart disease.