Overview
Asthma is the most common chronic disorder among children and teens, currently affecting an estimated 6.2 million people under the age of 18. Millions of adults also suffer from the disease. An asthma episode is characterized by difficulty in breathing, due to inflammation of the airway, increased mucus secretion, and tightening of the airway muscle - all of which may be triggered by allergens, irritants, stress, exercise, or other factors. With medication and preventive measures, asthma can be successfully treated and managed.Living with Asthma examines this illness and provides teens with the information they need to understand it. The book addresses how to recognize asthma, obtain a diagnosis, recover from the condition, pay for care, and how to help yourself, friends, or family members who may have asthma. Lists of suggested reading and resources guide readers' further research. This accessible book is the ideal one-stop guide for those living with asthma, whether in themselves or a loved one.
About the Author:
William E. Berger, M.D., is founder and medical director of the Southern California Research Center, Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California, and a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, at the University of California in Irvine
Synopsis
Asthma is the most common chronic disorder among children and teens, currently affecting an estimated 6.2 million people under the age of 18. Millions of adults also suffer from the disease. An asthma episode is characterized by difficulty in breathing, due to inflammation of the airway, increased mucus secretion, and tightening of the airway muscle - all of which may be triggered by allergens, irritants, stress, exercise, or other factors. With medication and preventive measures, asthma can be successfully treated and managed.
Living with Asthma examines this illness and provides teens with the information they need to understand it. The book addresses how to recognize asthma, obtain a diagnosis, recover from the condition, pay for care, and how to help yourself, friends, or family members who may have asthma. Lists of suggested reading and resources guide readers' further research. This accessible book is the ideal one-stop guide for those living with asthma, whether in themselves or a loved one.
About the Author:
William E. Berger, M.D., is founder and medical director of the Southern California Research Center, Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California, and a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, at the University of California in Irvine
VOYA
AGERANGE: Ages 11 to 18.
Living with Asthma provides specific advice related to special issues like traveling and playing sports. There is a great directory of referral and online resources in the appendix. Although there are no illustrations, the text is appealing, well-organized, and accessible for the teen reader. Living with Depression is a straightforward book and a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on depression. Written in a clear and uncomplicated style, the book uses short case histories to define depression, its causes, and how it relates to other problems like bipolar, anxiety, and eating disorders. Chapters on diagnosis and treatment discuss the various professionals, therapies, and medications a patient may encounter. A self-help section and a chapter on reaching out to help a friend or family member with depression complete this inclusive guide. The appendix includes sources of financial assistance and contact information for many associations and Web sites. The books follow essentially the same format. Clear definitions and teen vignettes are followed by diagnostics, self-help, and coping techniques, plus information on related conditions. Other titles in this series cover the topics of diabetes and anxiety disorders. These diseases afflict millions of young people so the series should prove useful and popular. The paperback editions of these titles, while not as sturdy, may be more affordable. Reviewer: Kevin Beach
April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1)
Editorials
VOYA
AGERANGE: Ages 11 to 18.Living with Asthma provides specific advice related to special issues like traveling and playing sports. There is a great directory of referral and online resources in the appendix. Although there are no illustrations, the text is appealing, well-organized, and accessible for the teen reader. Living with Depression is a straightforward book and a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on depression. Written in a clear and uncomplicated style, the book uses short case histories to define depression, its causes, and how it relates to other problems like bipolar, anxiety, and eating disorders. Chapters on diagnosis and treatment discuss the various professionals, therapies, and medications a patient may encounter. A self-help section and a chapter on reaching out to help a friend or family member with depression complete this inclusive guide. The appendix includes sources of financial assistance and contact information for many associations and Web sites. The books follow essentially the same format. Clear definitions and teen vignettes are followed by diagnostics, self-help, and coping techniques, plus information on related conditions. Other titles in this series cover the topics of diabetes and anxiety disorders. These diseases afflict millions of young people so the series should prove useful and popular. The paperback editions of these titles, while not as sturdy, may be more affordable. Reviewer: Kevin Beach
April 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 1)