The first health guide for the era of managed care is also the only one that will never go out of date. www.health.harvard.edu/fhg offers page and index searches for updated information on every entry. Today we all have a better chance of living a longer, healthier life than ever before -- but only if we know how to utilize the advances in medicine science has given us. Whether you depend on traditional fee-for-service health care or some form of managed care, you must make health decisions in partnership with doctors...doctors with whom you may only spend a few minutes. How can you sort out the confusing, often contradictory health information that is bombarding you daily and communicate clearly and effectively with your doctor? How can you gain access to the best care and evaluate the care you are getting? The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide answers these essential questions and many more. The first health guide written specifically to empower readers in the era of managed care, it is the culmination of 200 years of clinical care, health education, and medical research -- bringing you the expertise of more than 7,000 health professionals from some of the nation's most esteemed hospitals and research centers. In this book, they have gathered the most authoritative, comprehensive, easy-to-understand, up-to-the-minute information about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in every stage of life to help you: Make the most of the time you spend with your doctor. Decide when and if you need to see a doctor. Avoid dangerous drug interactions. Explore alternative treatments safely. Choose wisely among treatment options. Access emergency and other important information easily. Learn the most effective ways to prevent disease. Consult with the most renowned doctors in America, including Herbert Benson, T. Berry Brazelton, Robert Coles, and Richard Ferber. Receive the most current information from our Web site, which gives you free online updates. Harvard Medical School consists of world-renowned affiliated hospitals, clinics, and research foundations, which include: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center • Brigham and Women's Hospital* • Cambridge Hospital • Center for Blood Research • Children's Hospital* • Dana Farber Cancer Institute • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care • Joslin Diabetes Center* • Judge Baker Children's Center • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary • Massachusetts General Hospital* • Massachusetts Mental Health Center • McLean Hospital • Mount Auburn Hospital • Schepens Eye Research Institute • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital • VA Boston Healthcare System (*CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE 10 BEST HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES) Throughout its history, Harvard's doctors have made important medical breakthroughs, including: the discovery of anesthesia • the birth of brain surgery • the first human organ transplantation (Nobel Prize) • the discovery of the polio virus (Nobel Prize) • the discovery of vitamin B12 as the cure for pernicious anemia (Nobel Prize) • the discovery of how the human eye sees (Nobel Prize) • the discovery of the aspirin-a-day prevention strategy for heart disease

Grinin

Still one of the best and most reliable family health references available, with high quality color anatomic and other illustrations, plus the popular 'symptom checker', just included in a new study by the BMJ. 1,200 pages of fundamentals on common diseases and conditions with solutions and explanations at a very readable level. Perfect for families and individuals who need quick answers to questions at all hours of the day and night when a physician may not be available. Indispensable home reference - better than the internet and from one of the leading medical schools in the world: credible and authoritative. Recommend without reservation.

Kagalkree

Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide is an excellent source of information on medical topics for the common people. Written in plain, simple English, the book gives information on diseases, their prevention and treatment, when to call the doctor and when to try home remedies, and how best to deal with certain ailments for which there is no cure available. The book has many easy to understand flow-charts and numerous illustrations of body parts and their locations, many of which are in color. From expert advice to home remedies, from pregnancy and childbirth to living will and how to deal with death, from drug interaction to important telephone numbers, the book has it all.
I found the book so useful that I bought a second copy and gave it as a gift to my daughter who has her own family. One important advantage of the book is that it will never go out of date as a supplementary online version is available which always includes the latest medical theories and developments.
The only negative point is the book's quality of binding. For a book that thick (1288 pages), the binding is not strong. Both the copies I bought broke at the spine in a few days! The contents of the book deserves a 5 stars rating. But because of its poor binding, I am giving it 4 stars.

Fordrellador

I am an herbalist who was in great need of a top notch medical reference book until I found this one - for me, this one purely does the job! This medical guide is straightforward with illustrations and any info needed is easy to find!

Original

Did not feel book was written as well as books written by Mayo Clinic. Not enough information.

terostr

This is a 1312 page reference book and I do not claim to have read it cover-to-cover. One refers to it as the needs arise.

It is packed with information and has many line illustrations as well as a number of photographs and color plates. In most cases it seems to delve into subjects with more than enough detail in a clear and concise way although there have been instances when I could have used more information. The 'Symtom Charts' are helpful, although every one ends with 'see your doctor', but they do also give other reference pages to consult. It is definately the type of book every household should have on hand.

Another book of this type which I would recommend is Merck Manual of Medical Information.

blodrayne

Good reference before seek doctor

Androrim

Just as described. Gift for a friend who had lost her old copy she was thrilled

This is a good and helpful book, which can teach people, about many healthy things, and how to take good care of their bodies. Everyone should learn how to keep their bodies healthy, and also know how to treat, simple ailments, or how to get professional help.