Answers to the health questions people ask in libraries

We've all heard the questions...asked with urgency and genuine need. "Does the flu vaccine cause the flu?" "How do I find a LASIK surgeon?" "Will Echinacea treat my daughter's cold?" This new consumer-focused handy reference volume will give your staff a reliable, authoritative resource to suggest when patrons come to you with health questions. Each entry provides a clear, easy-to-understand explanation of medical conditions and treatment, and provides critical call-out facts to support better understanding. In addition, your patrons can use the handy "Ask the Experts" information to find additional, authoritative information and answers to their specific questions. They'll also discover tips, checklists for questions to ask healthcare professionals, charts and other easy-access information to address their specific concerns and provide important background information as they determine the next appropriate steps for their care.

• List of Tables p. ix
• Foreword p. xi
• Preface p. xiii
• Acknowledgments p. xvii
• Chapter 1 Major Health Concerns p. 1
• Heart Health p. 2
• What is high blood pressure? p. 2
• How often should I have my cholesterol levels checked? p. 4
• What is coronary heart disease, and can it be prevented? p. 7
• Can heart disease be inherited? p. 9
• Can stroke be prevented? p. 10
• What are the warning signs of a heart attack or a stroke? p. 12
• Cancer p. 13
• What are the risk factors for lung cancer? p. 13
• Is there a screening test for lung cancer? p. 15
• What tests are used to screen for colorectal cancer? p. 17
• What foods will keep my colon healthy? p. 21
• When should I get my first mammogram? p. 23
• Do I need to get tested for the breast cancer genes? p. 25
• Diabetes p. 27
• What does a diabetes screening involve, and who should be tested? p. 27
• Is diabetes hereditary? p. 28
• Will gestational diabetes hurt my baby? p. 30
• HIV/AIDS p. 32
• What are HIV and AIDS? How can I protect myself from them? p. 32
• Should I be tested for HIV? p. 33
• Is HIV treatable? p. 34
• Ask the Experts p. 36
• Chapter 2 Family Health p. 37
• Women's Health p. 37
• Why should I take folic acid before becoming pregnant? p. 37
• I've heard that I shouldn't eat cheese or lunch meat during my pregnancy. Is this true? p. 39
• Will morning sickness hurt my baby? p. 40
• What are the different kinds of birth control pills? p. 43
• What can I do to relieve premenstrual syndrome symptoms? p. 45
• What happens during a pelvic exam? What is a Pap test? p. 47
• Do I need to take hormone therapy during menopause? p. 49
• Is mental illness more common in women than in men? p. 50
• Children's Health p. 52
• What are the benefits of breast-feeding my baby? p. 52
• How much sleep does my child need? p. 55
• What is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and how can I protect my baby from it? p. 57
• What is autism? p. 59
• Men's Health p. 60
• What does a prostate exam involve, and should I have one? p. 60
• Is there a cure for erectile dysfunction? p. 62
• Do men really deal differently with depression than women? p. 63
• Why do men usually live shorter lives than women? p. 65
• Senior Health p. 66
• What can I do to prevent osteoporosis? p. 66
• How can I relieve my osteoarthritis pain? p. 69
• Is there a cure for Alzheimer's disease? p. 71
• What are the common signs of dementia? p. 73
• General Family Health p. 74
• Why should I worry about being overweight? p. 74
• What does a dental exam involve, and how often should I get my teeth examined by a dentist? p. 77
• When should I consider getting an eye exam? p. 78
• Why should I get routine blood tests? p. 80
• How can I reduce my risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease? p. 82
• Vaccinations p. 84
• What are vaccines, and why does my child need them? p. 84
• Can you get the flu from the flu vaccine? p. 86
• What is the HPV vaccine, and who should get it? p. 87
• Do I need shots before I travel? p. 89
• How often do I need to get a tetanus shot? p. 91
• Who should get a pneumonia vaccine? p. 93
• Ask the Experts p. 96
• Chapter 3 Nutrition and Fitness p. 97
• Nutrition and Exercise p. 97
• I want to lose one pound per week. How should I do this? p. 97
• I know I should exercise 30 minutes a day. Do I have to do it all at once? p. 99
• What is the body mass index? How does it relate to chronic diseases? p. 100
• Is it better to work out in the morning or at night? p. 102
• I do aerobic exercise. Do I also need to do strength training? p. 103
• Should I use heat or cold on my sore muscles and injuries? p. 105
• Does eating before bedtime cause weight gain? p. 107
• Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? p. 108
• What are the pros and cons of a low-carbohydrate diet? p. 109
• Vitamins and Supplements p. 111
• Which is better-getting your vitamins from food or from taking supplements? p. 111
• Do antioxidants prevent disease and slow the aging process? p. 112
• Alcohol and Stimulants p. 113
• How much coffee is too much? p. 113
• Can alcohol be good for you? p. 115
• Is it possible to be allergic to alcohol? p. 117
• How do I select a substance abuse treatment program for a family member? p. 118
• Ask the Experts p. 120
• Chapter 4 Complementary and Alternative Medicine p. 121
• Healing Systems p. 121
• Is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used to treat cancer? p. 121
• What is Ayurvedic medicine? p. 123
• What is the difference between naturopathy and homeopathy? Are there health benefits to either? p. 124
• Mind-Body Connections p. 126
• Can meditation reduce stress? p. 126
• What are the health benefits of yoga? p. 128
• What is biofeedback? p. 130
• Herbal Medicine and Dietary Supplements p. 132
• I've heard some herbal supplements can have adverse effects. Are herbal supplements safe to take? p. 132
• Can echinacea help treat the common cold? p. 135
• Can taking ginkgo improve my memory? p. 136
• Manipulation and Touch p. 138
• Is chiropractic effective in treating back pain? p. 138
• Can massage therapy reduce stress? p. 140
• What are the benefits of infant massage? p. 142
• Is acupressure effective in relieving nausea? p. 143
• Energy Therapies p. 145
• Is there any evidence that acupuncture is beneficial to your health? p. 145
• What does therapeutic touch therapy involve? p. 147
• Can Reiki really increase relaxation and decrease pain? p. 148
• What are the differences and similarities between magnet therapy and polarity therapy? p. 149
• Ask the Experts p. 151
• Chapter 5 Drug Information p. 153
• Over-the-Counter Medicines p. 153
• What is an over-the-counter medicine? p. 153
• What are some safety tips for taking over-the-counter drugs? p. 154
• What does it mean to have an adverse effect from an over-the-counter drug? p. 156
• What are the most common over-the-counter pain relievers? p. 158
• What should I know when giving over-the-counter medicines to my child? p. 160
• Is it safe to take over-the-counter medicines while pregnant or nursing? p. 162
• Can I drink alcohol when taking over-the-counter medicines? p. 164
• Prescription Medicines p. 166
• What is a prescription medication? p. 166
• What health professionals are authorized to write prescriptions? p. 168
• What do I need to know about getting a prescription filled? p. 168
• Is it safe to buy prescription medicines online? p. 170
• What is prescription drug abuse? p. 171
• What are some common prescription pain medicines? p. 173
• What is antibiotic resistance? Is it a serious problem? p. 174
• Other Drug Information p. 176
• What are drug interactions? p. 176
• How do I know if a product is a drug? p. 177
• What are generic drugs? p. 178
• Why do elderly people have to be especially careful when taking medications? p. 179
• What should I worry about when taking multiple medications? p. 181
• Ask the Experts p. 182
• Chapter 6 Odds and Ends p. 183
• Unusual or Misunderstood Health Conditions p. 183
• What determines if a disease is "rare," and what are some of the rarest medical conditions known? p. 183
• What are phobias, and what are some of the wildest phobias that people have developed? p. 185
• What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and what are some of the most common obsessions and compulsions that people with OCD develop? p. 186
• What exactly are parasites, and what are some of the most common ones? p. 188
• What is pica? p. 189
• Why does my urine smell funny after I eat asparagus? p. 191
• What is hypertrichosis? p. 192
• What is synesthesia, and is it real? p. 193
• What is androgen-insensitivity syndrome? p. 194
• What is porphyria, and is it really the origin of the vampire and werewolf myths? p. 196
• Technology-Related Health Questions p. 197
• Can microwave ovens be harmful to my health? p. 197
• Can cell phone use hurt my health? p. 199
• Can computer screens damage my eyesight? p. 200
• Is it true that computer keyboards are contaminated by germs? p. 201
• Ask the Experts p. 202
• Appendix: Survey Tool p. 203
• Glossary of Experts p. 205
• Resources: Where to Go When You Want to Know about Health Care p. 229
• Comprehensive List of Sources Consulted p. 235
• Index p. 261
• About the Authors p. 277