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HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALSAsthma Care - Book Shop
Welcome to our TalkAsthma Book Shop. We've picked some the best books available. We're sure you'll like them. Whether you want to broaden your knowledge or learn about ways in which to manage your asthma, these are the books for you.
Over the coming months we hope to read and review other books we think could be of interest to you.
BOOK REVIEWS
If you have a book you've read and think it would be useful and interesting for others to know about, send us your review and we will publish it.
If you are an author or publisher and would like us to review a book about asthma please contact us
YOUR GUIDE TO ASTHMA
Reviewed by Samantha Cook
Web Site Manager
Written by two leading asthma specialists, this book is a handy guide for anyone who suffers from asthma or is the parent, relative, friend or carer of an asthma sufferer. It would be especially useful to the recently diagnosed as it explains what asthma is, how it’s diagnosed and treated, self help techniques and special cases that might complicate a patient’s asthma. It also helps to answer those questions that we all forget to ask at the doctor’s surgery when we receive a new diagnosis.
Your Guide to Asthma is clearly written and easy to read. The chapters are kept short so the reader doesn’t get bogged down in the ‘science’ of asthma. I liked the fact that in each chapter, dotted amongst the text, are relevant questions and answers as well as common myths about asthma and the corresponding facts. The authors have also put some of the more ‘technical’ terms in bold print in the margin and given a brief explanation of these words.
This book is very helpful when it come to explaining the differences between the most common lung diseases and why it is so important to seek a correct diagnosis. It explains in detail the various tests that a patient may have to undertake in order to reach that conclusion. This in itself will help to reduce a large part of the anxiety that many new patients may be feeling. There is also advice on the different treatments that are available and suggestions as to when further medical help should be sought.
The guide stresses that, while, in some cases, asthma can be life-threatening, if a proper treatment plan is devised and followed asthma can be controlled and patients can lead a normal life. I feel that this guide removes the ‘fear factor’ from an asthma diagnosis and gives sufferers the confidence to feel they can cope again.