The Healthy Boomer: A No-Nonsense Midlife Health Guide for Women and Men [Paperback]

Peggy Edwards (Author), Miroslava Lhotsky (Author), Judy Turner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 13, 1999

In North America, some eighty-eight million boomers are facing the physical and personal challenges of midlife. But midlife can also be a time of tremendous vitality, confidence, and joy.

In this comprehensive guide, three experts in midlife health draw on interviews, the latest research, and their own expertise to help men, women, and couples on the journey from midlife turbulence to midlife mastery.

The Healthy Boomer provides easy-to-use decision-making tools, accurate information, and practical advice on such topics as:

The male and female menopause; how to make a decision about hormone replacement therapy; alternative health care; preventing heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis; prostate health and impotence; healthy relationships and great sex in midlife; anti-aging techniques; weight control, exercise, and healthy eating; the importance of spiritual well-being; handling midlife stress; what to do if you can't remember names any more.

For the many North American boomers who are experiencing midlife challenges, The Healthy Boomer is required and reassuring reading.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A first-rate map of the dizzying and often distressing physical, emotional, and psychosocial changes of midlife, providing solid help not just in surviving, but in growing as well. The authors (physician, psychologist, and health educator) all specialize in health care at midlife, and they are comfortable and confident drawing on all resources that might helpmainstream medicine, complementary and alternative therapies, and social and spiritual measures are considered. The authors first detail physical changesfor men and womenand consider such hot topics as hormone replacement therapy. Their take on the subject? Until the results from a number of current, long-range studies on HRT are in, there is no reason to advise all healthy women to routinely take HRT to prevent heart disease and osteoporosis. They then offer an organized, comprehensive, preventive plan for assessing ones current lifestyle and determining what changes would make it healthier. The authors succeed in taking into account numerous health issues and concerns, and then integrate them into a cohesive approach. There is in-depth information on the most common and serious health concerns of midlife. Finally, the authors consider the medical effects of relationships, especially with spouses, and the search for meaning in daily life. For a time of uncertainty and disequilibrium: what was is gone or going, and what will be is not fully formed, sympathetic, realistic information and support. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

“At last I have found my ‘Dr. Spock’ for midlife. The Healthy Boomer answers a lot of questions I have about my health and that of my partner.”
–Mary Jane Sterne, age 53

“As a physician, erstwhile patient, and patient-to-be again in the future, I found this book enormously useful, practical, and trustworthy.…I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
–Dr. James S. Grotstein, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry, U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, Los Angeles, and training and supervision analyst, Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society & Institute

“The generation born between 1946 and 1964, whose motto was ‘Never trust anyone over thirty,’ is suddenly asking questions about hormones, hair loss, heart disease, and what to do with the rest of their lives. The Healthy Boomer has the answers.”
–Gerald Dafoe, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Public Health Association

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart (November 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0771030509
• ISBN-13: 978-0771030505
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,905,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bedside Book for Boomers...., August 24, 2000

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healthy Boomer: A No-Nonsense Midlife Health Guide for Women and Men (Paperback)

If you, or a friend, are turning 40 - or 50 - this is the book to get for yourself, and/or to give as a gift. Along with the black crepe, the Over the Hill balloons and cards, this book is a baby boomer must have.

Most of the books I review are open for lending to family or friends - this book is an exception. It sits on my bedside table when it isn't accompanying me on trips that allow me to do a lot of reading. This chunky book offers me comfort and information as I move along in life.

In a Chapter called, "Making Changes That Last!" you'll find these words from the authors:

"One of the downers in midlife is recognizing that we are no longer protected by the invincibility of youth. One of its joys is recognizing that we now have the wisdom and experience we need to take control of our health and make choices that matter.

"The chapters that follow are filled with lots of sensible and practical suggestions based on the latest research. We would like to tell you that there is a new miracle drug to prevent cancer or reverse aging. That just isn't the case...Alas the road to good health in midlife remains largely dependent on three key ideas: a positive approach, moderation, and consistency."

You can pick this book up, choose any any chapter and find information, short stories of other Baby Boomers' experiences, short charts, and explanations. It begins with a small chapter on the Midlife Journey, and closes with a short chapter called Body, Mind and Soul.

In between, there are separate chapters on specific female and male issues (prostate cancer; male menopause; female menopause; breast cancer), as well as shared concerns. Memory loss, heart care, intimate relationships, the search for the Fountain of Youth, Healthy Eating, Exercise and much more are covered.

Best of all, at the end of every chapter is a reference list with more books to read, organizations, websites to visit and a cross-reference to other chapters in this book.

The thick paperback edition has an attractive cover, quite suitable as a gift. And if someone doesn't give it to you as a gift, do yourself a favor-- get yourself a copy!