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A family affair: guides for good health
REVIEWS BY LYNN GREEN
"Comprehensive" is definitely the first word that comes to mind to describe The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health. This hefty volume, an updated version of the first guide, published in 1996, covers almost every imaginable women's health concern, from face-lifts to fibromyalgia. Incorporating new findings from the Women's Health Initiative, the authors (two Harvard doctors and a medical writer) delve into such hot topics as estrogen replacement therapy and perimenopause. The text is detailed, but presented in a way that's understandable for the lay reader. Helpful charts and illustrations explain anatomical references. Appropriate for readers of any age, The New Harvard Guide to Women's Health can help to ensure that women are informed partners in their own medical care.
Harvard, $24.95 768 pages, ISBN 0674013433
HarperResource, $19.95 664 pages, ISBN 0060746378
By Dr. Daniel W. Nixon and Dr. Max Gomez Free Press, $26 368 pages, ISBN 0743253485
By Dr. Mark Pochapin Warner, $25.95 320 pages, ISBN 044653188X
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Whether you're battling an illness or simply striving to stay healthy, books are an excellent resource to keep you and your
family informed about the latest research, preventive care and treatment options. We've picked a few of the best recent
offerings to give you a head start on the path to a healthier you.
Support your 
A wonderful gift for a first-time expectant mother, the
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a reassuring reference
on what to expect in pregnancy. Arranged in a month-by-month format, the guide describes the baby's growth at each stage and
explains how the mother is changing, as well, both physically and emotionally. It's nice to be warned, for example,
that at 17 to 20 weeks, mothers may experience dizziness, shortness of breath, heartburn and urinary tract infections.
The book also offers decision guides on topics such as breastfeeding and circumcision and a reference section with
common concerns of pregnancy arranged alphabetically. Authoritative, readable and well illustrated, this is an excellent
addition to the already ample literature on pregnancy.
In the area of men's health, one of the most talked-about topics is prostate cancer. Men want to know how to prevent
prostate disease and what treatment to opt for if they get it. An interesting approach is outlined in
The Prostate Health Program: A Guide to Preventing and Controlling Prostate Cancer.
Dr. Daniel W. Nixon and Dr. Max Gomez put the emphasis on diet and nutrition, citing research that indicates 35 percent of
all prostate cancers could be prevented through changes in diet. The authors offer a food pyramid, as well as specific menus
and recipes, for putting their recommendations into action.
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with colon cancer, you'll want to read Dr. Mark Pochapin's new book,
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Colorectal Cancer.
Pochapin is a colon cancer specialist who treated Jay Monahan, the husband of "Today" show anchor Katie Couric.
After her husband's death from the disease, Couric became a passionate advocate for colon cancer screening, even
submitting to a televised colonoscopy. In her foreword, Couric writes, "This book provides the information
I wish I had before Jay became ill." Pochapin describes prevention methods, screening techniques, diagnosis and
treatment. Straightforward but encouraging throughout, this book is a wonderful resource for patients and their families.