The Harvard Medical School Guide To Taking Control Of Asthma [Paperback]

Christopher H. Fanta (Author), Lynda M. Cristiano (Author), Kenan Haver (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0743224787 | ISBN-13: 978-0743224789 | Publication Date: October 14, 2003 | Edition: 1

Take control of your asthma now wih this easy-to-follow personalized approach

Shortness of breath. Tightness in the chest. Wheezing and coughing. These distressing symptoms are a daily fact of life for many of the fifteen million Americans who suffer from asthma, including nearly six million children -- and asthma is on the rise. But even those with severe asthma can lead full, active lives with the help of the experts at Harvard Medical School and Partners Asthma Center. Here is a commonsense guide that includes:

Cutting-edge therapies such as anti-IgE therapy and leukotriene-blocking drugs -- as well as complementary and alternative medicine treatments

Practice sessions that help you create a personalized program to prepare for acute asthma attacks

Plus, special sections addressing issues faced by:

Women -- how pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy may affect your asthma

The elderly -- how to distinguish asthma from other respiratory conditions such as emphysema

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Similar in scope to other excellent publications from the Harvard Medical School, this authoritative overview of asthma a disease that afflicts millions of Americans will be welcomed by patients and their families. With editorial assistance from Waring, these three leading physicians who practice at the Partners Asthma Center, have written a guide in layman's terms. The authors explain how asthma is diagnosed and how the various symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing and tightness in the chest, manifest themselves in different individuals. A large portion of the book is devoted to a lengthy and highly useful discussion of the current therapies available, as well as the pros and cons of specific medications. Although the authors do not recommend alternative and complementary therapies, because they consider them to be largely unproven, they do single out emotional stress as an asthma trigger; other triggers, such as allergens and environmental pollutants, are also identified, along with suggestions for avoiding or alleviating them.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Christopher H. Fanta, M.D., is director of Partners Asthma Center and one of its cofounders. He is a member of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (October 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743224787
• ISBN-13: 978-0743224789
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #920,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, January 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Harvard Medical School Guide To Taking Control Of Asthma (Paperback)

As a parent of a child just diagnosed with asthma, I was looking for a good reference for understanding what asthma is and how it is treated and managed. When I ordered this book, I was expecting a dry textbook type book long on theory and short on application. What I got was a clear well written and layed out book. It is easy to read and understand. It has up to date information on the current drugs and offers practical advice on how to manage asthma for the long haul. It has instuctions and advice on how to properly use the various medicines. It give me the knowledge to comfortably discuss asthma with my doctor and laid the foundation for establishing a long term treatment plan. Overall this is an excellent book on asthma.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Basic Information, April 3, 2007

By 

framzimpet "framzimpet" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Harvard Medical School Guide To Taking Control Of Asthma (Paperback)

I had asthma as a child, and now my daughter has it. This book is a reasonable introductory text, but you can find the same information on the internet. It provides an overview of asthma, covers medications, and medication delivery. Sentences like "We want to emphasize that even for the most severe asthma, highly effective, safe, and convenient medications are available" (picked at random) are strewn throughout the book, and give some idea of the authors' bias. Unfortunately, my daughter has experienced significant side-effects from her asthma medications. This book did not address this issue. The lists of medication side-effects are about what you'd find on the box. It does not discuss the pros/cons of various dosages, interaction of medications, or alternatives. If you or your child has just gotten asthma, and you are looking for an introductory reference book, this is probably a reasonable choice. Again, most of this information is easily found on the internet. If you are looking for more detailed information, I found this book lacking.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative and helpful, August 25, 2004

By 

Bee "Bee" (Makati City Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Harvard Medical School Guide To Taking Control Of Asthma (Paperback)

The book has special sections, e.g. Women, Children, Adult-onset, older folks, etc. I contracted adult-onset asthma and being a diver, the disease cramped my lifestyle. This comprehensive book helped me understand the causes of the disease, treatment, advances in medicine, asthma action plan, etc. It helped me to have an intelligent and informed discussion with my pulmonologist.