The Johns Hopkins Family Health Book: The Essential Home ... (ISBN 0062701495)

Amazon.com Review:
In this age of managed care, it's likely that you have more questions when you leave the doctor's office than when you walk in the door. Who better to turn to for a remedy for that than the folks from Johns Hopkins, the hospital ranked at the top of U.S. News & World Report's list for eight years running. A joint effort of the university's schools of Medicine, Hygiene & Public Health, and Nursing, the Family Health Book includes more than 1,600 pages of medical guidance, from basic first aid and emergency care to the intricate (but clearly explained) workings of the body's systems and organs, to--possibly most importantly--ways to prevent illness in the first place. While many of the 500 illustrations are not for the squeamish, this reference is incredibly useful, especially for the elderly or couples who are expecting or have small children. For each disorder and illness, the editors have included information on typical and rare symptoms, tests a doctor may request for diagnosis, what you can do for home treatment, when to call the doctor, and prognoses. The "Preparing for Surgery" section should calm the worries of anyone about to go under anesthesia. The only gripe? A pronunciation guide would have been nice (leishmaniasis and paronychia don't exactly roll off the tongue), especially given that one of the best chapters is called "Becoming a Partner in Your Health Care" and focuses on doctor-patient communication.

An excellent reference guide to medical illnesses:
There I was able to compare it with several others in its class, anddetermined that it was the most complete and best organized for myneeds. This book contains 17 chapters dedicated to understanding different parts of the body, and the symptoms, treatment, and prognosis for any illness I have checked for so far. A 48 page insert of color pictures helps you diagnosis certain kinds of rashes, sore throats, etc. The book also has recommendations on what can be treated at home and when you should consult a doctor. There are also sections on staying healthy, first aid and emergency care. END

The best of its genre:
I have used this book for about five years to do introductory and background research. I own or have examined the leading competitors (Harvard, Cornell, Mayo guides). The Johns Hopkins guide is consistently the best. It provides concise and precise information and is clearly written. It is written for the intelligent and literate reader, and is less illustrated than some of the competitors, but the information content is consistently superior.

The Most Authoritative Health Book- An indispensable Reference to Keep your Loved Ones Healthy:
The "Jhons Hopkins Family Health Book" is the ultimate home reference tool to help you become an active partner in your family's health. Written and designed to be clear and readable, stands out for its accessibility, usefulness, and detailed coverage of health issues. This home medical guide covers almost everything you can need at home; from staying healthy and providing first aid and home care, to diagnosing symptoms and treating different diseases and disorders. Truly a most have for every family. The book is organized in 7 parts: PART 1: Staying healthy. - Eating well. - Staying active, staying fit. - Everyday safety. - Smoking and how to stop. - Alcohol and substance abuse. PART 2: Health over the life course. - Family history. - Genetics, and your health. - Pregnancy and childbirth. - Infancy. - The Preschool to preteen years. - The teen years. - Adulthood. - The senior years. PART 3: First aid and emergency care. PART 4: Body systems and disorders. - Brain and nervous systems. - Eyes. - Ear, nose and throat. - Musculoskeletal system. - The Breast. - Cardiovascular system. - Infectious diseases. - Blood and inmune systems. - Digestive systems. - Urinary tract. - Reproductive system. - Endocrine system. - Mental health. - Skin, hair, and nails. - Allergies. - Cancer. PART 5: Becoming a partner in your health care. - Taking charge of your health care. Preparing for surgery. - How to use medications. - Home care and long term care. - Death and dying. PART 6: Appendices. - Medication directory. - Glossary. - Growth charts. - Living wills and advanced directives. - Measurement convertions. Laboratory tests. PART 7: Color Atlas of Anatomy, Disorders, and Diseases. A must have reference about self-prevention that shows how to diagnose your own health. This way, as an informed patient, and if the potential need for a physician's intervention arises, you can help him get the best and definitive diagnose.

A comprehensive reference.:
"The Johns Hopkins Family Health Book" is well-written, clearly organized, and very informative. I am finding it to be a valuable addition to my home library. It gets four stars instead of five for being a bit dry, and not terribly reassuring; but on the other hand, I suppose that would be a different kind of book. Don't hesitate to choose this work as a staple in your reference pantry!

Excellent book to consult on health issues!:
I ran into this book by chance. I got it by mail from those book clubs that sent out stuff, and you can either pay it or return it. When I got it, I thought it was weird to receive such a big medicine book on such promotional campaigns and I was almost positive to return it, but I didn't because the book was so big I decided to keep it. This Book is one of my favorites!! It has all the information of all illnesses, so you can read and consult any health related issue. It is very clear and encourages you to read more about how your body works and keep a healthy lifestyle.