Anyone interested in health should have this book. That robust exhortation came from the good editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping Ellen Levine after she put down this not-so-little red book titled The Merck Manual of Medical Information — Second Home Edition (available at National Book Store). Truth is, you may have a hard time putting down this totally absorbing volumetric (all of 1,767 pages) book that’s loaded with vital information on just about every medical issue (or disease) you probably know (or didn’t know). The book, published as a public service by Merck, world leader in breakthrough medical discoveries, is a handy reference on quite a number of diseases, their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, etc. But first, there’s a refresher course on the parts of the human body — the cells, tissues and organs — whose mind-boggling names you probably memorized in biology class in high school.
In this revealing book, you discover illnesses, pains, and aches you never thought had names.
For instance, do you know what an air conditioner lung is? Well, it’s what happens when contaminated air conditioners (especially the large units in office buildings) circulate dust that can trigger an allergic reaction.
But if the source of the dust particles (or antigens) is unroasted coffee beans, what is the ailment called? Answer: Coffee worker’s lung. Coffee hounds, take note!
Ever heard of the De Quervain’s Syndrome (or washerwoman’s sprain)? Named after Fritz de Quervain who identified it in 1885, De Quervain’s Syndrome (a.k.a. mother’s wrist) is the swelling and inflammation of the tendons or tendon sheaths that’s caused by the repetitive use of the wrists. Ask your mother about it.
You and I know what insomnia is, but do you know what hypersomnia is? But first, the book tells you that insomnia is not a disease. It is “a symptom that can have many different causes, including an irregular sleep-wake schedule, physical disorders, drug use or withdrawal, drinking large amounts of alcohol in the evening, emotional problems, and stress.” Of course, some people have chronic insomnia that has little to do with stress, drugs, etc.
So, what is hypersomnia? It’s the opposite of insomnia, where there’s a substantial increase in total sleeping time. Less common than insomnia, hypersomnia refers to an increase of at least 25 percent in one’s total sleeping time that goes on for days. It may indicate a neurologic or psychologic disorder.
Ever suffered from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)? GERD occurs when the stomach acid and enzymes flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain in the esophagus. In layman’s language, it’s called heartburn!
Do you know what chronic otitis media is? For sure, it has nothing to do with the newspaper or television. Hear this: It’s a long-standing infection of the middle ear.
And do you know what Meniere’s disease is? I didn’t know what it was until I got the disease. I was really sad and mad when my EENT doctor told me I had Meniere’s because the disease was so alien to me that at first, I couldn’t even spell or pronounce it. Now, you and I know that Meniere’s is a disorder characterized by recurring attacks of disabling vertigo (a whirling or spinning sensation, like riding a Ferris wheel and never getting off), hearing loss (thankfully, I was spared from this), and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears, as if a nasty bee got stuck in your eardrums). Among famous people in history who had Meniere’s disease were Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh who liked to cut ears off people, author Jonathan Swift who wrote Gulliver’s Travels (he suffered from wracking dizziness and deafness), poet Emily Dickinson who wrote about unrequited love. I’m in such illustrious company.
Put together by nearly 200 internationally respected medical experts headed by editor-in-chief Dr. Mark Beers of Merck & Co., this special home edition of The Merck Manual of Medical Information provides ample but easy-to-digest info on almost every medical malady known to man: AIDS, ADHD, eating/digestive disorders, heart disease, mental illness, terminal illness, sexual dysfunction, viruses/infections, etc.
There’s a chapter devoted to medicinal herbs and the now popular “nutraceuticals.” Who would have thought, for instance, that the garlic bulb you use in the kitchen to add flavor to your food can add years to your life by reducing blood pressure and blood sugar levels? Or that ginger, that pungent aromatic rhizome, can relieve intestinal cramps and prevent nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, and dizziness?
Written in reader-friendly language (devoid of doctor double talk, according to USA Today), this must-have medical guide groups together related diseases, to wit: brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders; bone, joint, and muscle disorders; sports injuries; electrical and lightning injuries; lung and airway disorders; allergic diseases of the lungs; respiratory diseases; heart and blood vessel disorders; venous disorders; bacterial infections, parasitic infections; disorders of the nose and sinuses; eye disorders; menstrual disorders; disorders of the penis and testes; sexually transmitted diseases, and even childhood cancers. Between angina or anomia (yes, there’s such a disease) and zinc or zygote found in the copious pages of this book, there’s something that’s bound to grab your interest.
The book likewise thoughtfully lists the common medical tests (a lot of which are not common knowledge to us) and diagnostic procedures. In its last few pages, it also lists the trade names of generic drugs.
While the book should not replace a doctor, doctors are enjoined to encourage their patients to own one. It can make their patients better partners in health.
Indeed, a dose of knowledge is a healthy thing.
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