Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems (Harvard Medical School Guides) [Paperback]

Jeffrey Garber (Author), Sandra White (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harvard Medical School Guides | Publication Date: May 5, 2005

A complete guide to understanding, treating, and living with thyroid disease, from Harvard Medical School

More than 13 million people in the United States suffer from some form of thyroid disease, and that number is expected to rise precipitously as the baby boomer generation approaches its sixties.

Written by an internationally respected authority on thyroid disease, Dr. Jeffrey R. Garber, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems is an up-to-the minute, authoritative source of practical information for thyroid patients and those who think they may have a thyroid problem. Working from the belief that "being informed is your best cure," Garber:

• Explains how the thyroid works, what can go wrong and why, and how to work with a doctor
• to feel better and stay healthy
• Dispels common myths and misconceptions about thyroid disease and describes the best diagnostic tests and both conventional and alternative treatment approaches
• Covers the most common forms of thyroid disease in detail, including Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease, and thyroid cancer

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

From a leading expert at one of the world's most respected medical schools--your total guide to understanding, treating, and living with thyroid disease

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your health. Whether you've been diagnosed with thyroid disease or you think you may have a problem, this book arms you with the knowledge you need to take charge of your health.

In The Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems, Jeffrey R. Garber, M.D., a world-renowned authority on thyroid diseases, explains in plain English how the thyroid works and what can go wrong with it, and he fills you in on:

• How to tell if you have a thyroid problem and what type of problem it may be
• What kind of doctor you need to consult
• All your treatment options, including conventional and alternative approaches
• How to spot symptoms of thyroid disease during pregnancy and in children

About Harvard Medical School Health Guides

Harvard Medical School guides give you the knowledge you need to understand and take control of your health. In every book, a world-renowned expert from Harvard Medical School provides you with the latest information on diagnosis, traditional and alternative treatments, home remedies, and lifestyle changes that can make a powerful difference in your health.

About the Author

Jeffrey R. Garber, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and chief of endocrinology at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a Harvard-affiliated independent practice. He is affiliated with both Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital, two world-renowned Harvard teaching hospitals, and he is a director on the executive council of the American Thyroid Association.

Sandra Sardella White is an award-winning freelance health writer and coauthor of The Children's Hospital Guide to Your Child's Health and Development.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (May 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071444718
• ISBN-13: 978-0071444712
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,736 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Brings nothing new to the table, August 1, 2005

By 

Toni R. Laich (Beacon, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

Probably a very good resource for individuals beginning their research in thyroid problems, a trustworthy source, but this book provided no new information and did not address the problem of continued fatigue, immune deficiency, etc. that comes along with hypothyroid despite the fact that numbers are okay.

38 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, Rehash of the Same Old Info, May 24, 2005

By 

Patricia (Northern NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

Coming from Harvard, I was hoping for much more, but I found this book a disappointment.

Here's a direct quote from the introduction to the book.

"Thyroid diseases are easily diagnosed with a simple blood test and easily treated."

Just this statement alone was enough to tell me that this book is not dealing in the reality of thyroid disease. There are more than 20 million people with thyroid disease (not the 12 million the author quotes) and half of them are undiagnosed. If it's so easily diagnosed and treated, this would not be the case.

If you want more than "easy to diagnose, easy to treat" -- and let's face it, patients deserve more than that -- you're better off with any of the books by the Shameses, Mary Shomon, Elaine Moore, or Ridha Arem.

21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and easy to understand, May 27, 2005

By 

David B (KC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems (Harvard Medical School Guides) (Paperback)

I found this book really informative and easy to read. I usually don't write reviews but had to take exception to a previous reviewer comment. The book does say that the disease can be easily diagnosed and then goes on to say many people are not diagnosed. This is just the point, if it's easy why are they not getting diagnosed? The book goes on to say that in many cases it's because the tests are simply not run and that it is often due to the cost involved. I happen to be particularly sensitive to this point and I couldn't agree more.

If you don't have a lot of background on this topic or are not in the medical profession than I would suggest this book. It is written in plain speak and is very informative.