Synopses & Reviews
Asthma affects more than 15 million Americans, including more than 5 million children. "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Taking Control of Asthma is the most comprehensive, authoritative guide to asthma, covering everything from the causes of attacks to the best treatment program, and featuring practical, straightforward advice on handling such special cases as asthma in very young children, pregnant women, and the elderly. New breakthrough therapies covered include: anti-IgE medications; nebulized corticosteroids; combination controllers...with benefits, risks, and typical dosage of each. Here also is information on how to: eliminate environmental triggers; get the most out of your inhalers, spacers, and nebulizers; evaluate alternative therapies; and distinguish between asthma and related conditions like allergies. The guidelines for managing asthma are designed to lessen the impact of asthma on everyday life; they address common concerns about how to protect children while allowing them to participate freely in ordinary activities; and they provide advice on what to do when asthma doesn't get better.
Synopsis
Take control of your asthma now wih this easy-to-follow personalized approachShortness of breath. Tightness in the chest. Wheezing and coughing. These distressing symptoms are a daily fact of life for many of the fifteen million Americans who suffer from asthma, including nearly six million children -- and asthma is on the rise. But even those with severe asthma can lead full, active lives with the help of the experts at Harvard Medical School and Partners Asthma Center. Here is a commonsense guide that includes:
- Cutting-edge therapies such as anti-IgE therapy and leukotriene-blocking drugs -- as well as complementary and alternative medicine treatments
- Practice sessions that help you create a personalized program to prepare for acute asthma attacks
Plus, special sections addressing issues faced by:
- Women -- how pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy may affect your asthma
- The elderly -- how to distinguish asthma from other respiratory conditions such as emphysema
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references and index.
About the Author
Christopher H. Fanta, M.D., is director of Partners Asthma Center and one of its cofounders. He is a member of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Table of Contents
ContentsPreface
Part I: Understanding Asthma
Chapter 1: What Is Asthma?
Chapter 2: Diagnosing Your Asthma
Chapter 3: Judging the Severity of Your Asthma
Part II: Treatments for Asthma
Chapter 4: Nonpharmacological Therapies: Taking Action Against Your Asthma Triggers
Chapter 5: Asthma Medications: The Quick Relievers and How to Inhale Them
Chapter 6: Controller Medications: The Corticosteroids
Chapter 7: The Other Controllers
Chapter 8: New Asthma Therapies
Chapter 9: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Part III: Caring for Your Asthma
Chapter 10: Finding the Treatment That's Right for You
Chapter 11: The Many Faces of Asthma
Chapter 12: Special Considerations in Children
Chapter 13: Special Considerations in Women
Chapter 14: Asthma in the Elderly
Chapter 15: When Asthma Doesn't Get Better
Chapter 16: Developing Your Asthma Action Plan
Chapter 17: Testing Your Skills for Dealing with an Asthma Flare-up
Chapter 18: Wrapping It Up
Appendix
Glossary
Asthma Timeline
Resources
Index
Illustration Credits