Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely the best layman's guide to self diagnosis.
Review: Although no one should forego getting a doctor's opinion, this book is absolutely the best layman's guide to self-diagnosis. I have used it to accuratley diagnose problems within my own family may times and even before I've had to see the doctor. No library should be without this one.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous starting point and resource
Review: I am a nurse practitioner and find this book to be very useful as a resource for my patients. When a patient or family member comes down with a new diagnosis, most people want more information to learn more about it. I use this book as a teaching tool so that they can start to learn about their health and personal illnesses. It lays a good foundation for initial health information. I personally like its emphasis on preventive care. It can also help you decide whether an ache or pain you have is serious enough to seek medical attention or not. This book is especially useful to anyone who is not in the medical field and needs immediate information about health or is just interested about health and disease. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Missing elements
Review: I appreciate this type of book for presents for family members. However, there are two glaring omissions in this as well as the AAFP guide, the Mayo guide and most men's health books: the topics of abortion and homosexuality. If 40% of women have abortions --and many more women, plus their partners, think about having one at some time in their lives -- and if l0% or more of the population are homosexual or bisexual at least for some time period of their lives, then these topics should be included in family medical guides, just like the other aspects of birth control, pregnancy, erectile function and so forth.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible of refrence for your health
Review: I received this book for a wedding present 9 years ago and thought "what a silly gift". I was so wrong! This has been such a HUGE source of information for myself and entire family. I was able to diagnose my little brother with a life threating illness before anyone else...including the emergency staff in the hospital. Every house should have this book!
Rating:
Summary: Missing elements
Review: I think this book is very beneficial if they use more common English, than some medical terminology, which is hard for average people to understand.
Rating:
Summary: American Medical Association, Family Medical Guide
Review: I think this book is very beneficial if they use more common English, than some medical terminology, which is hard for average people to understand.
Rating:
Summary: A great resource guide!
Review: I turn to this book whenever I have any question about symptoms, medications, anatomy, or medical concerns. It has, more than once, put my mind at ease. The book is easy to understand, written in a question/answer format, with lots of flow charts, illustrations, and photographs. This book should be in every home!
Rating:
Summary: A hypochondriac's dream!
Review: Okay, I'm not a hypochondriac, sorry. My mother purchased an earlier edition of this book, published in 1982. I had that edition until I recently ordered this one to replace it. I should preface the rest of my review by saying that I have a definite interest in medicine, and planned to become a paramedic. I did take my EMT-B certification (Emergency Medical Techinician-Basic) a few years ago, and this book was one of my resources for studying for tests and answering homework questions. So, I have a clear INTEREST in all things medical, and really enjoy just browsing through this book. I find that I look things up in this book at least once a week. Sometimes I'll hear the name of a disease or illness on TV and out of curiousity to know more, I'll look it up. If I have a strange symptom, I'll look that up. I am single with no children, but this book would be an invaluable first-aid resource for a family with children or for anyone taking care of a sick or elderly friend or family member. My favorite aspects of this book are the glossary of medical terms, the very complete and easy-to-use index, and the medication section. Several times I have looked up a medication to determine if it is safe to take with other medications, or to see if side effects are normal. I think every household should have a copy of this book. Most of the information is timeless and very informative.
Rating:
Summary: A hypochondriac's dream!
Review: Okay, I'm not a hypochondriac, sorry. My mother purchased an earlier edition of this book, published in 1982. I had that edition until I recently ordered this one to replace it. I should preface the rest of my review by saying that I have a definite interest in medicine, and planned to become a paramedic. I did take my EMT-B certification (Emergency Medical Techinician-Basic) a few years ago, and this book was one of my resources for studying for tests and answering homework questions. So, I have a clear INTEREST in all things medical, and really enjoy just browsing through this book. I find that I look things up in this book at least once a week. Sometimes I'll hear the name of a disease or illness on TV and out of curiousity to know more, I'll look it up. If I have a strange symptom, I'll look that up. I am single with no children, but this book would be an invaluable first-aid resource for a family with children or for anyone taking care of a sick or elderly friend or family member. My favorite aspects of this book are the glossary of medical terms, the very complete and easy-to-use index, and the medication section. Several times I have looked up a medication to determine if it is safe to take with other medications, or to see if side effects are normal. I think every household should have a copy of this book. Most of the information is timeless and very informative.
Rating:
Summary: Review from a Librarian
Review: This book is excellent for reading about health issues
in layman's terms. Many of our customers have gotten
important information from this source. The charts and
diagrams are very useful. I hope they publish an
update soon!
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