The Asthma Sourcebook

This book has tons of great information about asthma - triggers, diagnosis, medicines, alternative therapies and more. As someone who was recently diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, I've found it extremely helpful and informative. It's a must-read for anyone who has asthma or cares for someone with asthma.

I am a physical therapist who has worked in pulmonary medicine for over 20 years. I found this book to be helpful and informative for asthma sufferers and their families. It is very "user friendly" for the lay person, as well as an appropriate medical guide for the healthcare practitioner. I highly recommend this book.

This book is probably important for all of us to have in our library, since it's very complete and comprehensive in explaining what asthma is and what kinds of treatments are available - although a book like this goes out of date the second it is printed. There are already a number of new things available for asthmatics that have come since the last edition. If you are in the care of a doctor, you will ask much more informed questions - and understand the drugs you are on - after reading this book. But the tone with which this book handles "alternative" therapies is unfortunate. It claims on the back cover to discuss "alternative approaches" and then offers a tiny 4 page chapter. It begins with an anecdote ridiculing a suffering patient who tried Chinese medicine, and ends dismissing pretty much everything not drug related as "placebo". This is a pretty narrow view for a book that wants to be a sourcebook for all things asthma. The author seems to sum it up by saying nothing is going to be as effective as the current crop of drugs. It's true, steroids have saved my life, and yoga wouldn't bring me back from the dark side if I was gasping for breath in the back of an ambulance (as I was two weeks ago). But a lifetime of asthma drugs has also reated havoc in my body and turned my immune system into a minefield. Even my western doctors acknowledge some of my emergency episodes have been caused by drug rebounds. The third leading cause of death in America is prescription drugs, and asthmatics are among them. I almost died on one occasion because albuterol was keeping my lungs open, but underlying inflamation was continuing and even being increased by my drug regimen. Many asthma drugs create dependency and a boomerang effect that makes symptoms worse when you come off the drugs or hide underlying problems. The author of this book concedes some of the difficulties in the drugs, but slams the door hard on the idea that integrated and alternative therpies, used wisely, might be the key to actually getting to a level of healing that is beyond the pharmacy. Each of us who is living with this should aspire to more than just having the latest, best drugs. We should want a healed body, and control over our lives. I'm dissappointed the author places so little importance on those things. But since we all are seeing western doctors and taking western medicine, I give the book it's due.... of all the books I have this is the most complete on the subject of drugs and standard therapies and is valuable.

This book was very helpful to me in being an informed health care consumer for my child. I especially found the detailed medication section helpful. My son's asthma had progressed from being mild to moderate and the thorough review of current medication options was very helpful. I purchased the book based on the fact that a pulmonary nurse clinician had recommended it. I am a nurse practicioner in women's health and value the recommendation from another practicioner who is involved in educating her patients regarding their conditon. This book really helped me in making informed decisions along with my son's pediatrician.

As a lifelong asthmatic, I strongly recommend The Asthma Sourcebook. It is the most informative and readable asthma book on the market today. It helped me and should be required reading for all asthmatics and their families.