64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How Not to Die: 10 Lessons to Save Your Life, October 15, 2008
This review is from: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner (Hardcover)
From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!
Book Review: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner (Crown Pub., 2008) by Jan Garavaglia, M.D.
A FirstLook Review
Dr. Jan Garavaglia is also known as Dr. G: Medical Examiner on the Discovery Channel's hit series. In real life she is a forensic pathologist in District 9 of Orange County, Florida. Her district sees about 1100 cases (bodies) a year. She determines the cause of death.
The purpose of How Not To Die lies in the fact that most medical examiners' labs in the United States see deaths for the following reasons:
* 10 % are homicides
* 40% are premature natural deaths
* 40% from accidents
* 10% are suicides
Dr. G writes, "There are other actions you might not be aware of that can save your life." Though many of us believe in an appointed time of death, Dr. G believes that fate lies with genetics and luck, and "a lot of us make our own bad luck."
Following upon the heels of her successful television show with this book, Dr. G hopes to alert society to the benefits of forensic pathology. This science allows doctors to warn us about ways to save our lives. Using actual case studies and sometimes graphic scientific descriptions, Dr. G motivates the reader into health and safety contemplation. She adds various lists and data to improve the reader's comprehension--for example:
* 10 Questions to Ask a New Doctor
* Symptoms Not to be Ignored and What They Could Mean
* Screening Tests Needed for Women and Men
* Commonly Confused Medications
* How Not to Die in the Hospital
* Finding a Trustworthy Hospital
Reading How Not to Die reminded me of a young boy who went into our local hospital for ear tubes several years ago. He died on the operating table. Why? A medical mishap occurred when a drug, which should not have even been in the room, was mistakenly given to him.
Dr. G writes that life is precious and death has taught her to live a healthier, happier life. Her 10 major lessons out of which the books evolves:
1. Know your numbers: Body Mass Index, blood glucose level, blood pressure, LDL and HDL cholesterol
2. Listen to your body--seek attention if something doesn't feel right
3. Follow medical directions from your doctor and those on any medications. To avoid injury follow instructions.
4. Practice good hygiene--wash your hands. Protect yourself when necessary.
5. Drive carefully--wear a seat belt. Observe road rules.
6. Just say no to smoking, illegal drugs, drinking too much.
7. Watch your step--think before you act.
8. Have a good time. Include humor and laughter in your life.
9. Don't go it alone. Form close relationships and live a longer life. "Caring for others helps us care for ourselves and brings added meaning to our lives."
10. Remember what matters. Set priorities by putting family first. What did you do with your life's years?
How Not To Die is a book written from a scientific viewpoint, but explained so that the general public can understand what happens inside a forensic pathologist's lab. It's fascinating. Dr. Garavaglia is truly a captivating author, drawing us in, and then sounding an alarm of warning.
Did you know:
The most common cause of death while traveling is a heart attack. And 30% of people who die suddenly from a heart attack have no prior symptoms.
Each year 800,000 American seek medical attention for dog bites, half of them children.
Chewing tobacco (snuff) contains 28 carcinogens.
A motorcyclist is 37 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than someone in a car.
Nearly 1/3 of adults take 5 or more medications, putting them at greater risk of a medical interaction with other drugs, food, alcohol, herbs, or tobacco.
An excess of 500-600 milligrams of caffeine each day can cause anxiety, nausea, and heart palpitations.
The most commonly abused prescriptions drugs Dr. G sees: methadone, oxycodone, benzodiazepines, hydrocodone, fentanyl.
How Not to Die is not the usual wellness book. It's a wake up call to what we're all in denial about: death. Yes, we'll all die one day, but about 80% of these cases could potentially be prevented until a later date in life. Read the book. Save your life.
5 Stars
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Their bodies store secrets and have stories to tell.", November 1, 2008
This review is from: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner (Hardcover)
Dr. Jan Garavaglia is the host of the Discovery Channel's "Dr. G: Medical Examiner" and the author of "How Not to Die," with valuable "lessons on living, longer, safer, and healthier" lives. Dr. G. is a forensic pathologist who performs autopsies in Orange County, Florida. The knowledge that she gains from investigating how and why someone passed away unexpectedly serves many purposes: It can bring closure to the decedent's family, solve crimes, and settle lawsuits. In addition, Dr. G. hopes that the living will learn from the dead that it pays to follow common sense rules about diet, exercise, mental health, and accident prevention "to avoid an early trip to the morgue."
The author loves her work and it shows. She speaks with relish about the challenge of solving the tricky puzzles that she faces. Dr. G methodically examines each body, takes notes and photographs, makes microscopic slides, and sends fluids out to the toxicology lab. She also factors information from the individual's medical history into the equation. All of this leads to the doctor's findings about cause and manner of death.
Dr. G's chatty writing style, colorful and fascinating case studies, compassionate attitude, and insights into her own life combine to make this an entertaining, educational, and lively book. Aficionados of "CSI" will find Dr. G's stories particularly engrossing, since they are sometimes dramatic, unusual, and at times, gruesome. Fortunately, Dr. G. has a sense of humor that makes even such grim subject matter a bit more palatable.
Much of the author's advice is obvious: Be your own advocate if you are hospitalized, avoid abusing alcohol and other drugs, get regular checkups, do not ignore symptoms of illness, drive defensively (with seat and lap harness securely fastened), and make sure that you eat properly, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Some of the recommendations that Dr. G. passes on, however, may prove surprising. For instance, an untreated dental infection can cause bacteria to migrate to the bloodstream, resulting in multisystem organ failure, so don't neglect your teeth and gums. The author emphasizes the crucial role of psychological well-being since the mind and body are so closely interrelated. Social connectedness, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose can affect a person's attitude and contribute to his longevity.
"How Not to Die" contains useful and informative charts, a list of resources and Web sites, a bibliography, and a thorough index. As Dr. Garavaglia says in her epilogue: "Life has its challenges at times, and death is inevitable. We just don't have to help it along."
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing, but still a worthwhile book, March 13, 2009
This review is from: How Not to Die: Surprising Lessons on Living Longer, Safer, and Healthier from America's Favorite Medical Examiner (Hardcover)
I couldn't wait to read this book, but it left me disappointed, like tuning in to Dr. G's show only to find out it's a rerun! It is a good read and well written in Dr. G's caring candid no nonsense easy to understand style, but for me it fell short of my expectations. All the cases she describes in the book are ones from her TV show, so if you are a regular viewer, a good part of the book will be like watching those episodes again.
The advice she gives on healthy living is sage and sound, but it is things most all of us already know: i.e. exercise, eat healthy, see your doctor regularly, don't smoke, do drugs, drink & drive etc. Of course, maybe someone will actually listen to Dr. G, so the book will undoubtedly do some people a lot of good! Nonetheless, if you're a Dr. G fan, buy the book anyhow and it would probably be fascinating for someone interested in forensics who does not watch her show since all the cases she describes would be "new" to them. Don't get me wrong, I love Dr. G and her heart is in the right place! I really hope her book helps people to make changes towards a healthier lifestyle and or to seek out the considerable resources she gives for help with specific lifestyle and health problems.
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