The Ultimate Medical Encyclopedia: Understanding, Preventing, and Treating Medical Conditions - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1554077311 ISBN 13: 9781554077311

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2010

Synopsis

The Ultimate Medical Encyclopedia is a revolutionary visual guide to the human body and the medical conditions that affect it, which can sometimes be diagnosed simply by how a patient "looks." It features hundreds of fine photographs and startlingly precise medical illustrations that explain the human body and detail more than 400 medical conditions and illnesses, from the most common and benign to the rarest and most serious.

These illustrations were produced by a team of medical illustrators according to a rigorous methodology, allowing for unprecedented views of the entire human body that have an unparalleled degree of realism. All illustrations were designed with the very latest technology and have been validated by a team of more than 300 physicians, medical specialists and university professors. The entire human body is revealed and recreated through a unique approach to medical imagery.

By precisely illustrating and examining every physiological system of the human body, this comprehensive reference book gives the reader a base from which to understand illnesses and conditions and their symptoms, including the mechanisms that cause cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, allergies, depression and sleep disorders. For example, the heart is examined in minute detail and then angina, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery are fully illustrated and discussed.

The comprehensive coverage includes:

Human cells, blood, the immune system

Skin, bones and muscles

The nervous and sensory systems

The cardiovascular and respiratory systems

The digestive and urinary systems

The endocrine system

Reproduction, childhood and adolescence

Alternative care

Medical devices, from stents to prosthetic hips

There is also expert guidance on how to maintain good health, and general topics such as pregnancy, child growth, nutrition, physical exercise and aging are also addressed. The expert biological and medical information is complemented by a practical index of symptoms that helps readers decide whether to consult a doctor or not. There is also a directory of resources for those wanting to access more information.

From how organs work to what causes cancer to grow to whether or not vitamins are useful, easy to understand descriptions and expert, practical advice make The Ultimate Medical Encyclopedia an essential guide to the well-being of the entire family.

About this title

About the Author

Martine Podesto has a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and a master's in environmental engineering. She has been writing and editing reference books for young readers and adults for more than 15 years.

Reviews

This is not your old-school, text-heavy, cursorily-illustrated clunker, but a bright, front-and-center family reference guide filled with explanatory graphics and copious details, delivered in a compact and compassionate package clearly streamlined to appeal to a general audience accustomed to user-friendly tools and layouts. Organized around 20 themes that correspond to a mechanism or bodily system, pages have standard layouts that parse information into bite-sized bits and visual color-coded cues that will help the scanning reader find what they seek. Some graphics, however, are lacking, the computer-generated people can look ghoulish at times, and the binding is best suited for light use (loose pages were evident after only several hours of use), which runs counter to the purpose. The Directory of Symptoms, a critical component for the at-home user, is buried in the back and free of graphic aids. With only scantly-interlaced symptoms, the section is of minimal use, which is disappointing in light of the self-advocacy attitude heralded by the editors. Still, the book fulfills its encyclopedic goal: it is soundly educational. Illus.
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Single-volume medical encyclopedias are popular resources, providing quick overviews and introductions to complex issues. This well-illustrated example is organized thematically, beginning with a section on prevention, which covers nutrition, fitness, infections, and related issues. An overview of anatomy follows. Sections on the various organ systems—skin, bones and muscles, nervous system, etc.—are next. Each of these begins with the physiology of the various organs in the system, followed by discussion of the diseases and conditions that can affect them. These discussions are very basic, generally consisting of a brief definition and a text box listing symptoms, treatment, and prevention measures. Sections on alternative medicine and first aid and a directory of symptoms appear at the end of the book. An index, a glossary, and a resource list complete the work. The information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the first-aid section is out of date; the American Heart Association issued new guidelines emphasizing chest compression in 2010. The nutritional guidelines are Canadian, but they are very similar to those used in the U.S. The outstanding feature of this book is the illustrations. Users will need another source, such as the Merck Manual Home Health Handbook (3d ed., 2009), for in-depth information. An optional purchase for public and consumer-health libraries. --Barbara Bibel

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1554077311
• ISBN 13: 9781554077311
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 608
• Editor: Podesto Martine