Allergies and Asthma for Dummies is designed as a reference, but it's certainly well-written enough to be read cover-to-cover. It's divided into six basic parts:
- Part I: Allergy and Asthma Basics
- Part II: Taking Care of Your Nose
- Part III: Asthma - A Disease in Search of Good Management
- Part IV: Allergic Skin Conditions - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
- Part V: Food, Drug, and Insect Reactions - A Really Bad Trip
- Part VI: The Part of Tens (which is a potpourri of informative tidbits)
The volume is further sub-divided into chapters and sections. For example, Part II: Taking Care of Your Nose, is divided into several chapters:
- Chapter 4: Hay Fever Highlights
- Chapter 5: Pollens, Molds, and Dust
- Chapter 6: Avoidance and Allergy-Proofing your Home
- Chapter 7:Relieving Your Rhinitis
- Chapter 8: Allergy Testing and Allergy Shots
- Chapter 9: Avoiding Allergy Complications
Plus, each chapter is organized into separate sections. The author frequently cross-references to other chapters, so you can quickly find the additional information you need.
While easy to read, this book deals with allergies and asthma in-depth. Dr. Berger discusses many technical aspects, but he does so in a readily understandable manner, making the information accessible to those unfamiliar with medical jargon. Clear and concise, Allergies and Asthma for Dummies has a wealth of useful, practical information. Asthma sufferers will appreciate all the detailed information covering diagnosis, treatment, and management.
In regard to allergies, although Dr. Berger primarily deals with reactions that involve IgE antibodies, he does touch upon non-IgE environmental reactions and food intolerances. For example, in Chapter 2, the author observes that non-allergenic irritants such as tobacco smoke, household cleaners, colognes, and other chemicals, can further injure areas already affected by allergens. "If you're continously exposed to allergens and irritants, a vicious cycle can develop, and the damage that allergic reactions cause is compounded by irritants...."
Here's a quote about penicillin in Chapter 20 that I found to be of personal interest:
"If you're allergic to penicillin, you will also need to avoid other antibiotic relatives of this drug, including frequently prescribed antibiotics such as ampicillin and amoxicillin. In addition, some patients will penicillin sensitivities may cross-react with certain cephalosporin antibiotics." This paragraph was very interesting to me since my sister and I discovered during childhood that we were allergic to penicillin. As adults, I had a reaction to amoxicillin; my sister had a problem with a cephalosporin.
Go To Page: 1 2
