The Inflammation Cure: Simple Steps for Reversing heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, osteopor [Paperback]

William Meggs (Author), Carol Svec (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2004

"In addition to explaining inflammation's causes and its role in various diseases, the author offers advice--'an antiinflammation game plan'--on how to maintain 'inflammation balance' and feel better."--The New York Times

In clear, everyday language, William Meggs, M.D., explains what causes inflammation, its relationship to disease in the body, and what steps readers can take to minimize their risk.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In addition to explaining inflammation's causes and its role in various diseases, the author offers advice - " an anti-inflammation game plan" - on how to maintain "inflammation balance" and feel better." - The New York Times"

From the Back Cover

". . . a levelheaded approach, weaving the latest research on various diseases into a broad picture."
--Library Journal

Inflammation is a natural part of our immune system, helping to protect us from serious infection and heal injuries. But inflammation processes can and do malfunction. Just as inflammation destroys germs, uncontrolled inflammation can ravage our bodies. Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and many types of cancer are linked to inflammation, but the relationships have been little understood. And ways to prevent or cure these medical problems have been totally unknown. Until now.

In a clear, easy-to-understand tone, William Meggs, M.D., and Carol Svec help you guard against the life-threatening dangers of severe or long-term inflammation. This valuable guide gives you crucial information on:

• The inflammation connection and its impact on your health and aging
• What triggers inflammation
• The link between inflammation and fatigue, obesity, depression, and insomnia
• A lifestyle, diet, and medication program that lowers your risk of inflammation and promotes wellness
• And much more

A more complete understanding of inflammation ushers in an era of great possibilities--a revolutionary era when treating diseases such as asthma and diabetes will be akin to treating the common cold. Today, you can take the first step toward controlling your inflammation risk and assuring life-long health by discovering the power of The Inflammation Cure.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (December 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071438718
• ISBN-13: 978-0071438711
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

213 of 219 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, informative book on vital subject, November 1, 2003

By 

Kate McMurry "Young Adult Author" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Inflammation Cure : How to Combat the Hidden Factor Behind Heart Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, & Other Diseases (Hardcover)

Dr. Meggs is professor and chief of the division of toxicology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He has been instrumental in the development of the theory of neurogenic switching, which is related to the study of inflammation. As such, he is definitely an expert on the subject of this book.

Dr. Meggs states that a growing body of medical research points to the process of inflammation in the body as a primary contributor to (if not an actual cause of) the major killer diseases: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer (in particular, colon, stomach, esophageal, lung, breast and ovarian cancer). Inflammation is also implicated in chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, obesity and sleep disorders. It plays a major part in the bodily degeneration of aging, especially Alzheimer's and osteoporosis, and it is strongly implicated in the progression of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, asthma, dermatitis, lupus, and scleroderma.

Dr. Meggs provides clear, easily understood explanations of what inflammation is, how we get it, and how to avoid it. He also offers an inflammation quiz to allow you to self-screen for inflammation. His writing (and that of his co-author Carol Svec, an award-winning health writer) is accessible throughout the book, and the flow from subject to subject is so smooth, it invites the reader to study every word. In addition, the book contains a detailed table of contents, an index, and 21 pages of references for those who wish to pursue this subject further.

I found it extremely helpful that after making an extensive, well-documented case for the ravages of inflammation in the body, Dr. Meggs proceeded to list, in a non-overwhelming fashion, lifestyle changes that anyone can make which will lessen the personal health impact of inflammation. He also includes important information on non-prescription and prescription anti-inflammatory medications.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about inflammation. It is written in such a straightforward fashion that the lay public will have no trouble understanding it, and the information in it is so crucial and up-to-date, many healthcare professionals could benefit from reading it as well.

I was particularly interested in this book on a personal level, because within my immediate and extended family, all of the following diseases indicated by Dr. Meggs to be implicated in inflammation exist (and in some cases, abound): heart disease, stroke, diabetes, various cancers, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, obesity, sleep disorders, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and dermatitis. I plan to immediately implement many of this book's practical suggestions and discuss with my doctor at my upcoming annual physical what it has taught me about inflammation.

148 of 158 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read, Informative, Worth Keeping on Your Bookshelf, March 21, 2004

By 

Thumbtack "mparks20" (Sarasota, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Inflammation Cure : How to Combat the Hidden Factor Behind Heart Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, & Other Diseases (Hardcover)

The Inflammation Cure by Meggs and Svec, and The Inflammation Syndrome by Challem, both appeared in 2003 and both discuss the role of inflammation in the major diseases of our time, and the things that one can do to limit the risk of diseases related to inflammation. Both books are easy to read. Which to choose? According to the prestigious Library Journal, "While Jack Challem's The Inflammation Syndrome covers similar ground [to the Inflammation Cure], his approach leans toward the faddish and sensationalist, while Meggs takes a more levelheaded approach, weaving the latest research on various diseases into a broad picture." The thing I most prefer about Meggs' book is that it takes a comprehensive approach (including diet) to the things that affect inflammation, rather than spending the whole book just discussing the role of diet as is done in Challem's book. Challem is a health reporter who writes and publishes The Nutrition Reporter newsletter; it is natural that he would stress diet and its consequences. But diseases are caused and controlled by much more than our diet. Meggs is a practicing physician who has a great deal of clinical experience with all aspects of inflammation, and who has woven many real-life cases into the book as illustrations. So, which book should you buy? I have little doubt that you will find The Inflammation Cure by Meggs and Svec more informative and much more useful as a reference on your shelf.

73 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and helpful book, October 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Inflammation Cure : How to Combat the Hidden Factor Behind Heart Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, & Other Diseases (Hardcover)

This is a good book. It's an easy read and the author clearly understands the connection between inflammation and lifestyle choices. His advice is interesting and helpful.

I agree with the reviewer below; this book is broad-based and really doesn't address specific inflammatory issues. The point of the book is to recognize how pervasive inflammation is among various health issues and to learn to make beneficial changes in our lives.

My one criticism is: the author states, "There is no need to take supplements for vitamins B6 or B12". I absolutely disagree. As many vegetarians (especially vegans) have learned the hard way, sometimes vitamin B12 supplements are essential. The author recommends a vegetarian diet, yet apparently doesn't recognize that one of the most common risks of a vegetarian diet is insufficient vitamin B12 intake. The author is potentially putting people at risk by not recognizing the possible need for vitamin B12 supplements (totally supported by research on vegetarians and vegetarian diets).