The Body Clock Guide to Better Health: How to Use your Body's Natural Clock to Fight Illness and Achieve Maximum Health - Hardcover

Smolensky, Michael; Lamberg, Lynne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805056610 ISBN 13: 9780805056617

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., 2000

Synopsis

A medical breakthrough explained by the leading authority on the connection between health and your body clock

Chronotherapy-adjusting the care of the body to coincide with the body's natural clock-is poised to be the next major revolution in medical science. An understanding and awareness of these rhythms will enable us to maximize the effects not only of medications and other treatments, but also of diets, exercise programs, and other daily routines. The Body Clock Guide to Better Health combines a detailed discussion of major issues such as sleep, exercise, and nutrition, with a comprehensive A-to-Z reference to specific disorders. Among the health concerns it addresses are AIDS, arthritis, asthma, ADD, backache, cancer, depression, diabetes, digestive problems, allergies, heart disease, chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, stroke, and complications from pregnancy. General chapters explore the big picture-including monthly cycles and life cycles-and provide invaluable advice on foods and dietary supplements, fitness, better sex, jet lag, and more. The first book to look at body rhythms from a practical perspective, The Body Clock Guide to Better Health offers readers the dual benefits of improving the treatment of specific conditions while boosting their overall health and wellness.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Smolensky, Ph.D., is acknowledged as one of the leading authorities in this revolutionary new field. He directs the Hermann Hospital Chronobiology Center at the University of Texas at Houston. Lynne Lamberg is a medical journalist and editor, with several books and dozens of national magazine articles to her credit.

Reviews

A leading authority in the field of "chronotherapy"Aadjusting medical treatment to align with the body's natural clockASmolensky starts with an overview of how people's circadian rhythms affect their health and then explains treatments for a variety of ailments. Though still not fully understood or recognized by many in the medical profession, chronomedicine is important, the authors argue, for several reasons, among them: illness symptoms can vary by time of day, and the hour of day can affect diagnosis and treatment. For example, blood pressure increases in the morning; that's why there are more fatal heart attacks and strokes in the morning than at any other time of day. Similarly, different cancer treatments have been shown to be more effective if they're given at a particular time of day. The sections on specific health problems (such as headaches, peptic ulcers and high blood pressure) are clear and concise; readers can walk away with steps to modify their diet and medicine regimen. Though Smolensky's book contains many digressions into other kinds of body rhythms, such as menstrual cycles, his guide makes a competent introduction to an intriguing new field of health. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805056610
• ISBN 13: 9780805056617
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 428