Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States [Paperback]

Carol Mattson Porth (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0781746450 | ISBN-13: 978-0781746458 | Publication Date: July 25, 2003 | Edition: Bk&CD-Rom

Designed to provide students with essential concepts of disease processes and altered health states, Essentials of Pathophysiology is ideal for both discrete and integrated pathophysiology courses. This abundantly illustrated text is extremely readable and filled with learning tools to highlight important ideas for the reader. Key concept boxes draw attention to important facts, color-coded summaries clarify complex processes discussed throughout the chapters, and icons appear throughout the text highlighting appropriate considerations for children, the elderly, and pregnant women. The free CD-ROM contains 3-D animations, and also contains more than 500 multiple-choice questions to test the reader's knowledge of difficult concepts.

In keeping with the author's philosophy, Essentials of Pathophysiology relates normal body functioning to the physiologic changes that participate in disease production and occur as a result of the disease. Content is arranged so that concepts build upon one another, thus promoting conceptual understanding as opposed to memorization.

Additional resources are available at the Connection Website, connection.LWW.com/go/porthessentials.

Product Details

• Paperback: 944 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Bk&CD-Rom edition (July 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781746450
• ISBN-13: 978-0781746458
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very clear book :), January 13, 2004

By 

greatgm (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (Paperback)

This is a fine book from an author who collaborated with other writers to make a book that clearly explains the common diseases that disturb the human body and its organ systems.

What makes this book so good is that before the book discusses about the various diseases that affect the organ systems of the body, you get a preceding chapter that explains the physiology of that organ system when homeostatically normal. This allows the student a quick review and allows the student to compare the behavior of the organ system's state when it is healthy to when it is altered by disease. Additionally, this book comes with an excellent studyguide to help the student focus on what is important about the various diseases, syndromes and conditons that can make the body unhealthy. The CD that comes with this book is a great educational tool as well. The writers and the publishers of this book did a very fine job of making sure all the tools are in place to help the student appreciate and understand pathophysiology and its importance in the health field.

This book also has good color pictures of how various diseases look and flow charts of how the disease progresses or manifests.

The only problem with this book(a minor problem) is that some diseases are not discussed deeply enough. I think that since this is a pathophysiology book, it should go more indepth with the common diseases. An example is the disease glacoma. I'm not sure if it covers glacoma but if it did, it did not cover the signs and symptoms of it enough. It needs to focus on the mechanism of the disease on a cellular level as well as on an organ level. There are some diseases in which the signs, symptoms and diagnosis is well portrayed but the mechnisms are not. Also it needs to focus less on the treatment of the disease and more on the diagnosis IMHO, however that is disputable becuae that is just my opinion.

Overall this is a fine book. I guess in time this book will have some new improvement when the new editions come out. Good book.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for nurses or for any interested layperson, January 21, 2005

By 

MERCEDES TARONGOY "Batoon" (Richmond, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (Paperback)

This book gives you a good introduction to pathophysiology without being very technical. Even if you are not a medical professional, you will still grasp the concepts because the author gives simple but adequate definition of the disease and its underlying causes. I am a career switcher (switched to RN) and this book worked for me.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, November 16, 2006

By 

Douglas Long (San Rafael, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)) (Paperback)

Extremely well written, well edited. Also includes the basic physiology so don't feel intimidated if you're not fresh on that. Well organized. Covers all aspects, such as normal versus "abnormal", pathogenesis, sequelae, pharmacology, etc. In short, it's very complete. Yet very readable. Of all my nursing and biology books, this is one of my favorites.