Ken Wilkinson had no fears about his routine heart checkup. The levels of fatty acid lipids in his blood were normal, and his cholesterol readings were textbook perfect. Not surprising, really, for a man who ate tofu instead of beef and who always went for the healthiest options. He even ran the 15 miles to the clinic.
But when he got there, the cardiologist urged him to have emergency surgery. His arteries were badly blocked, and he was in imminent danger of a life-threatening heart attack.
It didn't make sense, at least not according to the prevailing theory that heart disease is caused by eating fatty foods. Although Ken's diet was exemplary, his cardiologist didn't know he was grieving the death of his young son—and it seems his grief was damaging his arteries and heart.
Ken's experience isn't unique. Parents’ risk of a sudden heart attack is three times
