The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health (Harvard University Press Reference Library) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Stephanie A. Eisenstat (Author), Terra Ziporyn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A well-researched update to the 1996 edition, The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health is an essential reference guide for women of every age. Combining simple alphabetical listings with complete cross-referencing throughout the 300 topics, it's easy to find what you're looking for--anything from airbags to wrinkles, asthma or vulvar cancer. Many of the entries include illustrations, and a number of anatomical charts give welcome assistance if you can't quite remember where your inguinal nodes or tibial nerves are hiding. Making use of the most current research, much of it from the Women's Health Initiative, the advice combines alternative therapies with advanced diagnostic suggestions and the latest recommendations for physical exams. Unlike some medical reference books, the tone here is reassuring--not scary. The authors (also responsible for the first edition) do a fine job of balancing potential serious diseases with the general likelihood that the majority of us are fairly healthy--and just as concerned about hair dye as we are our blood pressure. Best of all, the wide range of topics covered make it equally appropriate as a gift for a girl going off to college (or even just entering puberty), and for a mother concerned about dealing with menopause. --Jill Lightner --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Librarians will breathe a sigh of relief at the release of this new edition. There is so much good information in the 1996 version, but eight years is a long time in the area of medical guides, and many of us have likely withdrawn the previous edition.

As before, the guide's major focus is on diseases and disorders of the female reproductive system and how diseases common to both sexes may manifest themselves differently in women. The most important change is the updated information on estrogen replacement therapy. In 1996 ERT was viewed as an ideal treatment for women. The 2002 findings of the Women's Health Initiative changed that thinking completely. The research results and the current position of medical professionals are reflected in this edition. Medical advances in the treatment of other diseases and disorders are also covered. The growing acceptance of alternative medicine is reflected in revised articles on the topic. Among the new entries are Airbags, Dissociative identity disorder,^B Lyme disease, and Lymphedema.

This edition is 30 pages shorter than the previous one but contains more entries and a center "blue pages" section with bodily systems diagrams, nutrition charts, and more. The page reduction has been accomplished by the use of smaller type. Information on diseases and disorders is presented as questions and answers addressing definitions, symptoms, treatments, and prevention. A topical resource list gives organizations to be contacted for additional information. Many labeled medical drawings appear throughout the book.

The guide is an outstanding source for public and professional libraries. It is aimed at an educated readership. Given the recent publicity on the literacy problem in consumer health information materials (most of which are written at a tenth-grade reading level and above), libraries should be sure to provide other sources on the topic. Marlene Kuhl
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; 1 edition (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674013433
• ISBN-13: 978-0674013438
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #196,308 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own only one book about women's health....., June 5, 2004

By A Customer

Buy this book. The focus is on "health," not illness, and the issues addressed are broader than those which bring you to the doctor's office. From Airbags to Zinc, the topics are laid out alphabetically, making answers to specific questions easy to find. I find myself looking up one thing and being drawn to other sections of the book. I've never opened the book without learning something new. For women of a certain age who wonder "Am I the only one who feels like this?" and "Should I be worrying about this?" this is a great book to have on your reference shelf.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A doctor on your bookshelf!, December 17, 2004

By	TracyQuilts (Tukwila, WA) - See all my reviews

I spent the last few months wrestling with a "women's health issue" of my own and this book was invaluable! I was able to research the possible things that might be causing my problem so that I had intelligent questions to discuss with my physician. I was then able to refer back to the book with the information he gave me. The diagrams are useful, the language concise, and each entry refers you to related entries in the book. Need a reference when you're healthy and want more info? This book is great. Need a reference when something is going wrong? This book is EVEN BETTER--find out what tests/procedures your doctor might use, the rationale for particular choices, what to expect during the test/exam, and gain insights for what the results mean. The New Harvard Guide can make a very scary situation much more manageable(knowledge is power!).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lasting medical reference easy for lay readers to access, December 10, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

With the 1996 publication of this title, women seeking answers to common health questions enjoyed the combined expertise of physicians from three world-class institutions: The New Harvard Guide To Women's Health revises this classic, including new recommendations reflecting the latest medical thinking on menopause and hormone replacement therapy and adding updated recommendations on cardiac health, nutritional requirements, and the latest medications and diagnostic procedures. A lasting medical reference easy for lay readers to access, yet with all the power of the established medical community behind it.