Product Description
Asthma prevalence is increasing worldwide, and there is growing concern about the burden of asthma both for patients and for the health sevices. There have also been major changes in the way in which the management of asthma death in some western countries in the 1960's and again in the 1970's. Asthma epidemiology has a major role to play in investigating the causes of these global changes, and in developing preventive interventions. This is the first text on the principles and methods of asthma epidemiology. It describes the types of asthma epidemiology studies, and discusses the strengths and limitations of the various methods of measuring asthma prevalence and asthma morbidity and the major risk factors for asthma, methods of studying the causes of asthma deaths. The book will therefore be of interest not only to epidemiologists, but also to the very large number of respiratory physicians, allergist, and pediatricians who are becoming involved in asthma epidemiology. ... Read more

Product Description
Around the world today, more and more people than ever before are suffering from asthma, and the associated conditions eczema and hayfever. Combat Asthma Through Diet explains what these conditions are, their causes and what can be done to reduce the debilitating symptoms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Read and Then Maybe I'll Use It for A Recipe or Two
It's a good read and a lot of great recipes.But, then in my daily life I need information that allows me to select foods and develop my own recipes to fight asthma...I'll use it from time-to-time...but, probably it's another cookbook I own on the bookshelf. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

It works!
I read another review saying it was boring.My son has allergies and I found it very interesting, in fact a door opening for a new solution.With the advice in this book, we found an allergist that uses this drop method.In fact we found the original clinic that started the work in La Crosse WI.My 6 year old son has been on the sublingular drops for his multiple allergies for 8 months and has found quite a bit of relief.His peanut allergy has been downgraded from Severely allergic to Mildly allergic.His Spring allergies are so much better, we rarely have to medicate him, before we were taking zyrtec and benedryl all the time just to stop the sniffles.Its a program to follow and we'll be on it for a few years, his quality of life will beso much better.

medical book
Way too technical.I couldn't even get through it.Found it boring, not interesting.

Terrific New Allergy Treatment Resource
As a non-medical professional I found Dr.Mitchell's book very easy to understand.His 'drops' treatment is an exciting option for allergy sufferers.I strongly recommend this book as a resource in this new area of allergy treatments. ... Read more

Product Description
Sneezing. Sniffling. Hives. Rashes. Burning eyes. Runny nose. Sinus headache. Scratchy throat. Asthma attacks.... Whether you’re reacting to pollen or peanuts, your boyfriend’s cat or your girlfriend’s pooch, your husband’s aftershave, or your neighbor’s barbecue, allergies are definitely a drag. And if left untreated, the symptoms can lead to bigger health problems down the road. Sadly, there is no cure for hypersensitivity disorders, as doctors call them. But you can minimize your risk of having allergic reactions and you can live symptom-free. And Allergies and Asthma For Dummies tells you how.

If you suffer from some type of allergic condition and/or asthma, this complete, down-to-earth guide can be your first big step toward feeling better than you’ve felt in years. Drawing on his more than twenty years of professional experience, nationally recognized allergy and asthma expert Dr. William E. Berger fills you in on what you need to know to:

• Understand allergies and asthma
• Relieve hay fever symptoms safely
• Control adult and childhood asthma
• Deal with allergic skin conditions
• Cope with food, drug, and insect sting reactions
• Allergy proof your home

Allergies and Asthma For Dummies is packed with useful information and easy-to-follow action-steps you can put to work immediately. Dr. Berger clears up common myths about allergies and asthma and makes some of the most difficult medical mechanisms understandable for the rest of us. With wit and compassion, he answers all your questions about:

• How the immune system works and what causes allergies and asthma
• All known types of allergic conditions and how to recognize them
• Hay fever, its triggers, prevention and treatments
• Asthma, what it is, how you get it, and the best ways to manage it
• Allergic eczema, contact dermatitis, hives, swelling, and other allergic skin conditions
• Food, drug, and insect sting reactions and how to recognize, prevent, and treat them

With up-to-the-minute advice and guidance on prevention, treatment, and management, Allergies and Asthma For Dummies is just what you need to find relief from what ails you.Amazon.com Review
If allergies make you wheeze, sneeze, drip, itch, puff, ordroop, or if asthma makes you feel like an elephant is standing onyour chest, you'll want to read Allergies and Asthma forDummies. Author William Berger, M.D., M.B.A., knows his stuff. Heis a practicing allergist, a member of the task force that developednational guidelines for treating allergic diseases, and a former staffallergist for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team.

You get much more thanthe basics here. You learn how to prevent and treat the common typesof allergies, with extensive information on hay fever and skin rashes,and short but helpful sections on allergic reactions to food, drugs,and insects. The asthma section is especially comprehensive, withinstructions for recognizing and managing asthma triggers, monitoringair flow, selecting the best medications for both short-term andlong-term relief, and special considerations for pregnant women andchildren. The book covers both self-help and pharmacological treatmentmethods in depth, but not alternative treatments.

One of the mosthelpful chapters is "Relieving Your Rhinitis," which will appealespecially to the 45 million Americans who suffer from hay fever.Allergic rhinitis (the medical term) is not a fever and is caused notby hay, but rather by airborne pollen from grasses, trees, andweeds. The commonly used over-the-counter antihistamines,decongestants, and nasal sprays may not be your best choice, saysBerger. He describes the uses and advantages of recommendedprescription drugs, and advises a medical evaluation to choose theright one for you.

The book's style, though still easy tounderstand, is not as casual or humorous as the typical ForDummies book. This may be because Berger is more intent onpacking a bundle of helpful medical information into the book thanbeing witty. --Joan Price ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

If you have allergies, you need this book!
I got this book about two weeks after my 9-year-old son suffered his first asthma attack. After reading it, I feel much better prepared to cope with his condition. The author's tone is reassuring without being condescending. And there is an enormous amount of information, everything from how to choose a specialist to charts describing the effects and usual dosages of the most common medications. Since I have been suffering from allergies and sinus problems myself this spring, it was especially useful. I think this might be the best investment in our family's health I ever made!

Allergies and Asthma for Dummies
Finally, a book that quickly synthesizes complex information into usable pieces!Allergies and asthma are de-mystified with practical examples.Dr. Berger's approach is uplifting, reassuring, and warm.No preaching orinsistance that you do things his way or no way as in the case of so manyother authors of asthma and allergy books.Top Choice on Allergy andAsthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc. (AANMA) book list. ---NancySander, President, AANMA ... Read more

Product Description
This easy-to-read guide will help people with asthma stay out of the emergency room, out of the hospital and as active as everyone else. It is an ideal guide for parents, patients and anyone who needs a quick asthma reference book. Accurate, clear, and illustrated with line drawings and charts, One Minute Asthma covers the basics of asthma and the medicines used to treat it. Readers will learn how to recognize symptoms, monitor the progress of an episode and communicate clearly with health professionals. Also available in Spanish. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Essential Information Packed Into This Little Book!
This concise little book contains everything you need to know in order to provide yourself or someone in your care with excellent asthma management.Dr. Plaut has taken all of the most up-to-date knowledge we have about asthma care and has distilled it into a highly user-friendly, easy-to-read guide.It is simultaneously comprehensive and brief, complete and to-the-point.It is especially useful for those who wish to learn all they need to know but who may not have the time or inclination to read through a more detailed resource (e.g., Plaut's Asthma Guide for All Ages).I especially recommend it to anyone working with children who may have asthma: teachers, day-care providers, camp counselors, etc.I recently gave it to my teenage daughter (who has asthma) so that she could better understand how to take care of herself.With a busy teenage schedule, she would never have taken the time to read through an entire book, but One-Minute Asthma provided her with the essential information she needed to know without taking up a lot of her time.

excellent resource
Dr. Plaut demystifies the signs of asthma, how asthma can be effectively treated, and how to find a good asthma doctor in this easy-to-read booklet.It is a helpful reference as we learn how to best treat our young son's asthma symptoms. ... Read more

Product Description
There are 10 million Americans with asthma--3 million are children--and most are afraid to exercise. Today, thanks to new medical research, we know that exercise can enhance their emotional and physical well-being. Nancy Hogshead shows readers how to take control of their asthma and become fit for life through a variety of exercise programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It was a great book. I really loved it , and enjoyed it,alot
Hi,I'm James Gayther. I have Asthma. I exersise alot,but, I have to take my Inhaler (Albuterol) , Before I exersise. ... Read more

Product Description
While asthma can’t be cured, it can be treated and controlled so that your child can enjoy a healthier, more active life. In this important guide, the experts at the top-ranked children’s hospital in the United States clearly explain what asthma is and how parents, caregivers, and young patients can manage it successfully. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Guide to Asthma features the most up-to-date information on the disease and the keys to optimal preventive treatment--controlling environmental conditions that trigger symptoms, making a proactive medical treatment plan, and consistently putting it into action at the first sign of trouble. You’ll discover how asthma is diagnosed, what the common triggers are, how to select the best asthma medicines, and how to protect your child in and away from your home to help him or her live a fulfilling childhood that is as symptom-free as possible. This book:

• Reveals how to manage acute and emergency episodes of the disease
• Explains how to asthma-proof your home
• Addresses sports and exercise issues for children with asthma
• Discusses the special needs of toddlers and teens
• Features a series of vignettes about children with asthma
• Includes educational materials and resources, including community support

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent guidelines for the day-to-day with an asthmatic at home
I have an asthmatic in the family and I bought the book to learn more about it. Since I know the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the best for children, I thought this was the place to start. I found the introduction of the book as an ebook online, and as soon as I finished reading I bought the book.

I have learned a lot. It has clear and thorough explanations about asthma and how the different medicines work. Also, incredibly useful and easy to follow advice to asthma-prove your home. I found this incredibly helpful. The book is very easy to read, too.

I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about asthma, not just for kids but also for adults.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.
Simple, easy to understand English.A very informative and practical guide to asthma for parents, caregivers, uncles , teachers et cetera.

Knowledge
Athma is for life - if you child has it you need information to guide your decisions and their treatment - do not assume your pediatrician has a handle on your child's illness; they may - but how do you know if you have not armed yourself with information.This guide is a very helpful, detailed first step in getting a handle on your child's illness - understanding the course of treatment, medicines involved, causes, preventions, ect.Educate yourself for the long haul - it will benifit you, but more importantly it will benifit your child.

Great
This book was very helpful in my understanding of childhood asthma. I know this is an increasing problem in the last few years, and this is a great resource.I especially liked the section on asthma myths - so many of those have been spread around causing misinformation and misunderstanding. I would highly recommend this to parents of children with asthma, and for healthcare professionals that care for these children. Bravo!

Great book
As a parent of a child with asthma, it can be very confusing to understand all the different medications my child takes, and the different tests that she has had. This book helps to make all that clear. I would strongly recommend it for any parents of children with asthma. I feel that I can trust the information from this reputable source. ... Read more

Product Description
The Second Edition of Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management continues to provide a unique and authoritative comparison of asthma and COPD. Written and edited by the world's leading experts, it continues to be a comprehensive review of the most recent understanding of the basic mechanisms of both conditions, specifically comparing their etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.

* Each chapter considers Asthma and COPD in side-by-side contrast and comparison - not in isolation - in the context of mechanism, triggers, assessments, therapies, and clinical management
* Presents the latest and most comprehensive understandings of the mechanisms of inflammation in both Asthma and COPD
* Most extensive reference to primary literature on both Asthma and COPD in one source.
* Easy-to-read summaries of the latest advances alongside clear illustrations ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great resource
This author gives a very well rounded view of dealing with asthmaholistically.The book also gives insight into the traditional medical methods of dealing with asthma. I would highly recommend purchasing this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The child in this story suffers from asthma, a chronic condition that sometimes produces frightening attacks. But kids learn that with proper medical supervision and treatment, asthma can be kept under control, and kids who are affected by it can live happy, active, and normal lives. As preschool and early-grades children read these illustrated What Do You Know About? Books , or have them read to them, they will be encouraged to explore their own feelings about problems that might be bothering them, or to find answers to a wide array of questions that puzzle them. The books have appealing color illustrations on every page, and each title features a short section of advice to parents. What Do You Know About? Books are available in both English and Spanish language editions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
Good buy.Good illustrations.Helps both kids and parents conquer fears about asthma.Diagrams explain what happens during a flare.I definitely recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Asthma touches all ages, races, and walks of life, and it is on the rise both in frequency and in severity. Taking Charge of Asthma provides practical, up-to-date information to help you develop an effective personal strategy for managing your symptoms.

World-renowned asthma expert Dr. Betty Wray outlines specific steps you can take to control your environment and reduce the onset and severity of attacks. She lists clinically tested foods, fabrics, and substances that can trigger asthma. Dr. Wray also explains the connection between asthma and allergies, details occupational hazards, lists alternative strategies, and tells how to work with your doctor—and how to make the most with the least medication. She also offers authoritative advice on helping children with asthma lead healthier, happier lives. This fact-packed handbook includes 800 numbers, helplines, Web sites, asthma organizations, and treatment centers. Taking Charge of Asthma includes everything you need to know about:

• The causes of asthma
• The best diagnostic methods
• The latest treatments

Customer Reviews (1)

A "Must-Own" for Anyone with Asthma!!
This book is an easy-to-follow discussion of what asthma is(in layman's terms, NOT all medical jargon)and how to successfully handle it.Topics discussed are such as: finding the "triggers" to your asthma problem (i.e. food allergies, environmental allergies...), making the most of the least medications, holistictreatments that might help, how parents can help their children...and the list goes on.Of all the books I have looked at on this subject, this one seems to "cover all the bases" without being too bogged down.A quick, easy reference. ... Read more

Product Description
A team of licensed natural-health practitioners offers a comprehensive guide to safe, natural methods of prevention, alleviation, diet, and treatment techniques for women, men, and children. ... Read more

Product Description
Modeled directly on the bestselling Sinus Survival, here is the most integrative, complete asthma-relief guide available today.

Here's why asthma sufferers can't afford to be without Asthma Survival:

It features a Quick Fix, fast-start program. The Quick Fix allows the reader to begin the most important aspects of the program immediately without having to read the whole book.
It is one of the only books to address the huge overlap of allergies (90 percent of asthmatics have them) and sinusitis (nearly 70 percent of asthmatics have them).
It provides specific, integrated instructions for a dietary supplement plan.
It lays out its New Life Eating Plan as one of the most profound ways to slow the disease.
It gives a balanced, comprehensive approach to herbal choices that are most accepted within the holistic medical community.
It offers a simple, powerful introduction to the most important breathing exercises.
It offers the only book to propose a unified theory of emotional causes of this disease based on worldwide trends and statistics of familial patterns
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

super
This book is a super source of medically-sound information about treating asthma, including a great section on supplements. And don't let anyone tell you that what you eat can't make a difference!

Generally good book
This is a good book that looks at the links between food allergy, candida, fungus and asthma, and offers good advice on diet herbs, supplements and alternative therapies. One thing I didn't like as much is that 2 out of 7 chapters are devoted to healing your mind and spirit. Although I am a big believer in the mind body connection and wouldn't mind a few pages on affirmation and positive thinking, it went a little to much into concepts like play and passion, dealing with anger, work and play, optimism, forgiveness, altruism, and emotional causes of asthma. I thought that the emotional causes of asthma part was also too much of the outdated theoryof let's blame the parents or the patient for the imbalance. I would rather forgo blame and work on where to go from here. This part of the book took it a little too far out of serious natropathic medicine and into self help book for me. Even so there is enough good information for the person looking for alternative treatments for asthma that it is worth the read. I did prefer "Reversing Asthma" although it is a few years older. But I would recommend this book.

A totally different way to look at asthma
This book is a really different type of book, and lets you look into your whole health, both mental, and physical to see where problems may lie. I found it to be a big help for my son, and refreshingly different.

Great book.
This is a great comprehensive book.I really like the author's approach.He gives both a short-term solution to some problems and some ideas on how to continually improve your health and vitality throughout your life. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is an innovative and refreshingly positive guide which offers an enormous range of practical, safe and effective advice. This book provides a wealth of previously unobtainable nutritional and naturally orientedmedical information that will bring new hope and greater health to many people.

THE ASTHMA BREAKTHROUGH has been newly revised and updated, incorporating the latest research for asthma treatment and prevention.

The most comprehensive and informative guide available, it was written for the large segment of the American public now suffering from this debilitating condition, and there is no doubt it will prove to be invaluable to asthma sufferers of all ages. Asthma CAN be beaten! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Asthma and Allergy Help
I've read a lot of allergy books to help my daughter with her allergies. Allopathic medicine has hardly helped. In the process I've gotten to know a lot of other children with allergies and asthma. Several of us have really followed many of the suggestions in this book with fantastic results. Namely we have followed the supplement suggestions in the book, avoided the chemicals mentioned , and following the protocols for rotation and elimination diets. This is by far the most jam-packed-with-information book on the subject I have found. I wish the title made it clear that this will help with more than asthma, as it has helped my daughter with her allergies too. I also found Chris Reading's book Trace Your Genes to Health invaluable.

Very highly recommended and informative reading for anyone suffering from asthma
Very highly recommended and informative reading for anyone suffering from asthma, this expanded and updated second edition of The Asthma Breakthrough: Breathe Freely--Naturally by Henry Osiecki (an international lecturer in clinical nutrition at universities, colleges, and professional seminars) is an extensively researched and expertly presented study of the innovative, safe and effective nutritional and natural medical information for dealing with asthma. Introducing readers to a vast understanding of the crippling disorder, The Asthma Breakthrough offers readers helpful strategies for a greater more healthy and active life despite allergy based asthmatic conditions. The Asthma Breakthrough is a an invaluable addition to alternative medicine library reference collections and would prove of great value for medical practitioners treating asthmatic patients, as well as non-specialist general readers with asthma disorder.
... Read more

Product Description
Known as the "asthma bible", Children With Asthmaemphasizes the importance of the parent's role in asthma managment. Itteaches the basics of asthma, how medicines work and when to call forhelp. Has sections on infants, children and teenagers. Containsstories by parents as well as illustratios, tables and instructions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Asthma
I relied on this book when my son was a toddler (1984).A friend's son was recently diagnosed, so I bought this revised edition for her.It is a "bible" for any parent to educate themselves about asthma.It also contains information about real situations that other parents have experienced.Very valuable information!A must for every parent of an asthmatic child.

ESSENTIAL READING
I have read numerous books about asthma in children, but this book is by far the best.The information is presented in a clear, understandable way, but is not so simplified as to be unhelpful.The book is full of good tips and pertinent information; it's like spending an hour or two talking with an asthma specialist.The book has what I found to be invaluable information about how to monitor asthma in children who are too young to use peak flow meters.A system called "asthma signs" is used and is a wonderful way to identify problems and monitor asthma in young children.
There is a also a very helpful section on traveling with a child who has asthma.
If I were to recommend only one book on asthma in children, this would be the book.

Recommend highly
This book became my single source for reference about asthma. Till I found this book, I was reading anything and everything that I could find on the net about asthma. My 3 year old had an asthma episode as a result of a viral infection. She has an excellent pediatrician and we chose to care for her at home. I got great comfort in knowing that the things we did intuitively were the recommended things in this book. It helps to have a good doctor. It also helps to have this book as a friend. While I was freaking out that my daughter had asthma, this book helped me calm down cos I realized that it could be worse. My heart goes out to all the children who suffer. If you are a parent of a young child with asthma, read this book. It will help you understand what asthma is all about in plain words and give you an idea of what you can do to make your child's life more comfortable by learning to identify the symptoms and manage your child's asthma better. Make sure you have a good doctor, too!!

Incredibly helpful
Last weekend my seven year old son had an asthma attack with no warning, his first ever.Our doctor treated him competently and he is now recovering nicely, but the information we were given -- and all the drugs and instructions -- were a bit overwhelming.My first response was to try to find some good books on asthma in children, and I was lucky enough to find this one.It explains everything you need to know about asthma in easy-to-understand language.I learned many important facts about the biology of asthma, the drugs my son is taking, long-term care and management of asthma, and -- perhaps most importantly -- the questions I should be asking his doctor.The book is well illustrated, including pictures of all the different kinds of inhalers and spacers, how to properly administer different medications, etc. (particularly useful for newcomers to the world of asthma). I also really liked all the information and sample forms showing how to keep an "asthma diary" of your child's symptoms and treatment.The first-person stories of how other parents have dealt with their children's asthma were helpful, especially for putting things into perspective.In summary, this book really helped me to understand what we are facing, and I now feel much better able to deal with it.I have other asthma books on order, but I doubt I'll need them -- it is hard to imagine how any other book on asthma in children could top this one.

Changed my life!
Dr. Plaut was coming to a town near me to speak shortly after my daughter was hospitalized for the third time.One of the nurses handed me a flyer and recommended I go hear him.I bought his book before I went.This book was a lifesaver.I first read it nearly 10 years ago (spring 1992) and my daughter has not been hospitalized since!Dr. Plaut gives the average parent the confidence to handle this illness without falling apart and without having to decipher the medical-ese being spoken by the doctors in charge of their child. ... Read more

Product Description
This reference presents the most recent investigations on the role of respiratory infections in protecting against allergy and asthma development, the activation of airway inflammation, and exacerbations of asthma—exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms, as well as factors including genetics, the environment, and allergen exposure. ... Read more

Product Description
This practical text, now in its 4th edition, provides clear explanations of the hypersensitivity mechanisms involved in allergic diseases and asthma. Based on extensive clinical experience, it gives physicians the guidelines for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, including pharmacologic regimens. ... Read more

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"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.

Customer Reviews (15)

great information
Easy to understand, eye-opening, information that has helped me understand & move in the direction of remedying a chronic medical condition that I have developed.

This book just doesn't deliver
I have developed a chronic inflammation and have been doing research.The title sounds good but it is totally inadequate.It's an easy read but adds very little true knowledge.There are several relationships to foods, spices, and herbs to relieve inflammation and very little is covered in this book.All of the author's credentials and nothing new.Lose weight, eat right,become a vegetarian,get your sleep, be happy is too simplistic.Still it's a good start for those at the very beginning of the road and those without any health knowledge or common sense.

Helped me!
I used info gained in this book to help me with my fibromyalgia pain. It has really worked, to my surprise. I am thankful to the author.

Very disappointing, no cure,
I know very well what inflammation is and how it adversely affects one's life. I've suffered with idiopathic inflammation for almost two years now. I've been tested for every disease, rheumatoid arthiritis, Lyme, erlichiosis, etc. The doctors cannot find the cause. I'm on Zyrtec 365 days a year to eliminate allergies. But even this does not lessen my joint inflammation at the young age of 43, thin, active and non-smoking.
I anxiously purchased this book to see what potential cures the author had to offer sufferers.None. Don't smoke, don't overeat, eliminition diets, exercise... all the usual stuff found in every health pamphlet. Nothing new here at all. I learned nothing my doctors hadn't already told me or I'd read online. It's a well-written book on an important subject. It just doesn't have answers as the title implies.

- book has missed a fundamental point
There is nothing new in this book and from an asthmatic point of view- it misses the most important aspect of reversing inflammation. There is very little mention about controlling hyperventilation or overbreathing. The first step would be to teach asthmatics the importance of nasal breathing so that the airways dont constrict in the first place. One method of which there are several excellent self books are is called the Buteyko method. Do a search on Amazon for Buteyko.

I can guarantee that this area will provide far reaching improvement to quality of life than this book. Other sites which provide a great account of are http://www.buteykointernational.com/ or http://www.buteyko.ie or http://www.asthmacare.ie/
... Read more

Product Description

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects all areas of your life—or even worse, that of your children. This book shows people how to prevent asthma flare-ups, support loved ones and not let this condition negatively affect your activities, your goals or your psychological approach to life.

In the Healthy Living series, Chicken Soup for the Soul partners with the nation's top medical experts and organizations to give emotional support and important information to people with specific medical needs. The books feature approximately twelve positive, heartwarming stories from real people, followed by relevant expert medical advice that will positively impact the reader's life. Subjects such as diet, psychological issues, family relations, and alternative therapies exist side-by-side with traditional subjects such as understanding common medical terms, the effects of treatment options, and the doctor-patient relationship. Each book contains source notes and a resources section for more information and support.

Product Description
In the United States, as many as 12 million people are affected by asthma.Every asthmatic's goal is to live a normal life and the information in The Asthma Sourcebook can be a vital part of achieving this goal.It defines the different types of asthma and describes their causes, symptoms, and diagnoses and explains how asthma relates to diet, exercise, allergies, stress, pregnancy, and childhood.The book also provides expanded information on a number of new asthma medications, how they are dispensed, and the risks associated with these new drugs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Info
As a Nurse entering into a new field of practice, I found this book to give a good over all view on the disease.Some of the material is out dated, but still a good source for Asthma basics.It is written for patients and their families, but is well written and this professional found it very helpful with basic knowledge questions.

People with asthma often need magnesium supplementation
There is significant evidence that the root cause of many, if not most, cases of asthma (and many allergies as well) is deficiency of magnesium. This fact is discussed in detail by Dr. Carolyn Dean in her excellent book The Miracle of Magnesium. Dr. Dean recommends 600 mg of supplemental magnesium daily. People with asthma who follow Dr. Dean's advice about daily magnesium supplementation often improve dramatically even if they have continued to struggle with asthma under other treatments which omit magnesium supplementation. If you are suffering from asthma please read Dr. Dean's excellent book and follow her advice regarding daily magnesium supplementation. It may well be the most important thing you will ever due to relieve this terrible ailment. By the way, although a variety of magnesium supplements are available, and beneficial, chelated magnesium -- which is readily available in most health food stores -- is the most effective.

Comprehensive, and biased....
This book is probably important for all of us to have in our library, since it's very complete and comprehensive in explaining what asthma is and what kinds of treatments are available - although a book like this goes out of date the second it is printed.There are already a number of new things available for asthmatics that have come since the last edition.If you are in the care of a doctor, you will ask much more informed questions - and understand the drugs you are on - after reading this book.

But the tone with which this book handles "alternative" therapies is unfortunate.It claims on the back cover to discuss "alternative approaches" and then offers a tiny 4 page chapter.It begins with an anecdote ridiculing a suffering patient who tried Chinese medicine, and ends dismissing pretty much everything not drug related as "placebo".This is a pretty narrow view for a book that wants to be a sourcebook for all things asthma.

The author seems to sum it up by saying nothing is going to be as effective as the current crop of drugs.It's true, steroids have saved my life, and yoga wouldn't bring me back from the dark side if I was gasping for breath in the back of an ambulance (as I was two weeks ago).

But a lifetime of asthma drugs has also reated havoc in my body and turned my immune system into a minefield.Even my western doctors acknowledge some of my emergency episodes have been caused by drug rebounds.The third leading cause of death in America is prescription drugs, and asthmatics are among them.

I almost died on one occasion because albuterol was keeping my lungs open, but underlying inflamation was continuing and even being increased by my drug regimen.Many asthma drugs create dependency and a boomerang effect that makes symptoms worse when you come off the drugs or hide underlying problems.The author of this book concedes some of the difficulties in the drugs, but slams the door hard on the idea that integrated and alternative therpies, used wisely, might be the key to actually getting to a level of healing that is beyond the pharmacy.

Each of us who is living with this should aspire to more than just having the latest, best drugs.We should want a healed body, and control over our lives.I'm dissappointed the author places so little importance on those things.

But since we all are seeing western doctors and taking western medicine, I give the book it's due.... of all the books I have this is the most complete on the subject of drugs and standard therapies and is valuable. ... Read more