The Slim Book Of Health Pearls

Complete risk factor analysis, a critically important part of a complete medical examination, is often a neglected aspect of an initial doctor-patient interaction. It may worsen with the impending healthcare changes to come--where doctors will face increasing patient loads. This book will introduce respective patients to a complete risk factor analysis for the major illnesses. Patients can share the results with their personal physician. They will appreciate this assistance. The author recommends that all patients must be their own personal advocate and direct their health care. The medical profession is depending upon you to help them keep you healthy!

Therapies for specific illnesses or symptoms include many medications. The ultimate decision to take these medications rests with the patient relying on a healthcare professional's advice. Medications carry with them benefits, risks, and the potential for medical errors. Patient vigilance is necessary to eliminate medical errors that could result in serious or fatal consequences. Exercise is an alternative or adjunct to medication. No medication is as versatile and has as many widespread benefits as a well-designed exercise program done with physician supervision. The authors list the many symptoms and illnesses that benefit from exercise, detailing the research and the reasons why these benefits occur. A well designed, physician supervised and faithfully executed exercise program may well obviate the need for medication and will provide life-long benefits.

The healthcare Genie is out of the bottle. Obamacare, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will impact every one of you. These changes will come slowly and inexorably, but regardless of who is in power, you need to be prepared. It will be more important than ever to take control of your health. You are the boss; the decisions are yours. You must question and question again. The best result comes from collaboration between a patient and physician who, working as a team, reach a final well-researched decision. There is nothing more important than an educated patient or patient's advocate to navigate through the complicated hills and valleys of healthcare laden with unsuspected booby traps. Education is the key. This book, a combination of four of my Slim Book of Health Pearls series, describes: the pervasive problem of medical errors and how you can play a part in their prevention; the components and importance of a complete medical history and physical examination; the importance of risk factor analysis and health screening; and the critical importance of never delaying the evaluation of an unexplained symptom. Be prepared!

Therapies for specific illnesses or symptoms include many medications. The ultimate decision to take these medications rests with the patient relying on a healthcare professional’s advice. Medications carry with them benefits, risks, and the potential for medical errors. Patient vigilance is necessary to eliminate medical errors that could result in serious or fatal consequences. Exercise is an alternative or adjunct to medication. No medication is as versatile and has as many widespread benefits as a well-designed exercise program done with physician supervision. The authors list the many symptoms and illnesses that benefit from exercise, detailing the research and the reasons why these benefits occur. A well designed, physician supervised and faithfully executed exercise program may well obviate the need for medication and will provide life-long benefits.

The immune system is a complicated mechanism whose principle actors are organs, cells, chemicals and a vast collection of proteins tuned by billions of years of evolution to work in a harmonious manner for the good of the whole. Its purpose is to keep us alive in a world where visible and invisible predators intending to usurp our bodies attack us on a daily basis. By virtue of an amazing communication network, millions of cells gather, exchange information, become activated and respond to bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses preventing them from causing infection. A malfunctioning immune system, when immune cells attack "self," results in numerous auto-immune diseases, the "God only knows" diseases of sixty years ago.

Two parts of this three part book are based upon fact: anti-Semitism and World War 2. One part of this book represents a fiction tale involving World War 2 Jewish refugees and Russian army soldiers teamed up for behind the lines partisan warfare against the invading Nazi army.

THE BOOK IS IN TWO PARTS: 1. FICTION TALE INVOLVING AN EXTREMELY RARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND THE PHYSICIANS, PATIENT AND FAMILY'S FRUSTRATION IN MAKING A DIAGNOSIS, AND 2. NON FICTION DETAILING THE LAST 60 PLUS YEARS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPTS OF AUTOIMMUNITY AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

There is danger in delaying the evaluation of an unexplained medical symptom. The author lists thirty-four such symptoms, describes them in detail, lists the possible diagnoses the symptoms may represent, their urgency, and the consequences of delay in diagnosis. Procrastination is the thief of time and results in many preventable deaths. Hopefully, the book will stimulate patients to a more prompt appraisal of an unexplained symptom.