Body Signs: How to Be Your Own Diagnostic Detective

by Joan Liebmann-Smith, Jacqueline Egan, Lancelot Hogben

Book Overview

From brittle hair to hair in all the wrong places, a tingling tush, mismatched eyes, streaked nails, inverted nipples, and excessive flatulence, to name just a few, the body supplies endless signs... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 055380507X
• ISBN13: 9780553805079
• Release Date: December 2007
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Today I made a timely discovery in Body Signs!

Today I made a timely discovery in Body Signs! I was looking up snoring and noticed something about sleep apnea, which a friend has. Body Signs suggests that if you have sleep apnea and are having surgery, it's important to let the doctor know about the apnea. Well, I was just in time, because my friend is having surgery in a few days! This book is invaluable and the information is so accessible, easy to read, not to mention entertaining! I find myself referring to it all the time.

Everything you ever wanted to know about bodily malfunctions

Pessimists and hypochondriacs should probably avoid "Body Signs." Anyone over the age of fifty will be horrified at the number of symptoms that are caused simply by getting old and wearing out. Too many places in the text state that "it [a particular disorder] affects people around the age of 60" or "nearly 90% of men will have this condition by the time they reach their 80s." This book has got everything from red palms to floating poop to something called "Sister Joseph's nodule." The latter, found in the navel, "usually signifies an advanced cancer in the abdominal cavity, but the malignancy can occur in virtually any organ." Cripes! I would have thought that a body sign named after a nun would have been benign, at the very least. It you have a symptom that you find too embarrassing to mention to your physician, "Body Signs" is a good place to check it out. The authors work their way through excrement, bladder functions, borborygmus (gurgling stomach), `flatus vaginalis' and private parts. You have the option of looking up the anatomical feature that interests you, all the way from head hair to toe nails, or reading through this book from cover to cover. Not all of the symptoms mentioned within are fatal. In fact, a few of them are indicators of ruddy good health. Some of my favorite parts of this book are the anecdotes. Did you know that "The 16th-century German theologian Martin Luther claimed he could `drive away the evil spirit with a single f*rt" or that former President Bill Clinton has a bent...well, read "Body Signs" and find out for yourself.

Belongs In Every Home

"Body Signs" is one of those books which really belongs in everyone's home library. Most people have become extremely health-conscious these days, even though many do not seem to act upon the medical advice which is -- relentlessly, it seems -- thrust on us by the media and our own healthcare providers. I receive at least three e-mail health reports every day and I'm sure others do as well. Unfortunately some of the information provided is inconsistent, counterintuitive, and even contradictory, but medical research is being conducted at such a rapid pace today that this is probably to be expected. But we all want to be physically and mentally well and so it behooves us to pay attention to the latest findings and, at least, give them some consideration in our lives. Recommendations for maintaining one's health is one thing; but what do we do when we notice that something seems not quite "right" or "normal" with our own health right now? I don't know anyone, young or old, who hasn't complained at some time about some unusual ache, sudden mysterious pain, or perceptible bodily change, and is unable to exactly identify the cause, whether or it classifies as serious or minor, temporary or chronic, or should be ignored or warrants a trip to the physician. Speaking for myself, I certainly do not want to run to my physician every time I suspect something is awry. (I should mention that I don't like such visits in the first place and definitely do not like hospitals, although I've been forced to stay in one twice in the past six years -- emergencies only, suffice to say.) So, what to do if we need some advice about our immediate medical concerns? Well, we might turn to this book, "Body Signs," just to see if something might be serious and if it just a normal change due to age, diet, minor illness, or such. The book is premised on the idea that most of the signs of diseases and disorders can be detected by our senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. One could consider the book to be a diagnostic detective manual. Therefore, it should be understood that this is not a comprehensive "medical" reference book. It is more like a first-step checklist to determine if more information is needed about whatever condition one is experiencing. As the book points out, there are many perfectly normal and harmless physical "quirks" that we have from time to time; on the other hand, there are physical signs we can note that may indicate a serious health condition, necessitating an appointment with a health care professional or a trip to the emergency room. "Body Signs" covers our body from tip to toe (so to speak), from our hair, to our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, from our necks to our private parts to our feet, and lots of other areas in between. I can't think of any part of one's body that is not discussed somewhere in the text. And, to add to the value of the material itself, the authors have spread throughout the book many little boxes (rather like sideb

I love this book!

How wonderful to be able to look up a symptom I'm experiencing and be able to find a clearly written explanation for it! I love this book! "Body Signs" is a welcome addition to my collection of informative medical books.

Fascinating and fun

This book is both fascinating and fun. The detective approach makes it a great read. There is a ton of useful information in here. The book is quite funny and very well written. If you're interested in the human body and what it's trying to tell you, there's no better book out there.