The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition (Merck Manual Home Health Handbook)

Description

The Merck Manual of Medical Information–Home Edition continues the impressive 100-year heritage established by The Merck Manual. This completely new book provides the information found in the physician's version written in easy-to-understand, everyday language for today's health-conscious individuals. Each section contains overviews on anatomy and physiology, in-depth information on symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment options, and detailed illustrations. With contributions by more than 200 leading medical experts, The Merck Manual–Home Edition features informative discussions on virtually all topics in medicine, including cancer, heart disease, digestive disorders, bone and joint disease, women's health, and children's health, as well as detailed discussions of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Whether you seek better understanding of a diagnosis or a quick reference to a medical term, The Merck Manual–Home Edition is the only book you need. This “must-have” home medical reference is an invaluable source of information for parents with young children, adults with elderly family members, or anyone who wants to communicate better with a healthcare professional.

Editorial Review

Need to find the definition of a medical term and comprehend it? Need fast information about your child's illness? Need help defining that redness in your eye? Or maybe you need a reality check on the progress of your pregnancy. For the first time, Merck–the leader in medical research since 1899–has opened its treasure chest of medical knowledge to the general public.

The team of nearly 200 experts, consultants, and authors has assembled a body of information so vast that listing select items fails to do it justice. The Merck Manual provides reams of useful medical information, ranging from fundamentals such as anatomy to crisp, easily understood descriptions of complicated diseases. Clear drawings of basic anatomical details and helpful sidebars that define terms and proffer advice are invaluable features, as is the up-to-date counsel on choosing the right form of exercise.

The Merck Manual's 30-page section on drugs is itself an excellent resource. Here you'll find descriptions of the biological impact of high-powered pharmaceuticals, plus a table of drugs that put the elderly at risk. Its five appendixes on such topics as legal issues and commonly used medical terms segue handily into a guide of institutions that offer information and counseling for a multitude of medical conditions. This exhaustive volume clarifies both the workings of the human body and the geography of its demise, not to mention Western medicine's solutions to its failures. If knowledge is power, buy this book to arm yourself with a world of information.