Staying Alive: The Signs That You Have to See a Doctor Right Now (and the Ways to Avoid Having to See One Again)

by Matthew Hahn M.D.

Overview

Staying Alive is the ultimate medical survival guide for the twenty-first-century patient. Written by the award-winning family physician Dr. Matthew Hahn, the book details what most effectively saves patients’ lives and keeps them well. Drawing on his extensive experience, Dr. Hahn teaches you to spot life-threatening symptoms and recognize medical emergencies in time. He then follows up with advice on taking advantage of available preventative care and changing your lifestyle to avoid these emergencies in the future.

The book is divided into three sections:

1.Sixty-Two Medical Complaints That Should Never Be Ignored. As part of their medical education, doctors are taught certain classic symptoms that are the first sign of a serious medical condition. The intent of this section is to teach you those important signs and symptoms so that you know when you need to see a doctor immediately.

2.The Miracles of Twenty-First-Century Medicine. A revolution has taken place in the medical sciences. In this important section, you will learn about the true miracle that is modern preventive medical care.

3.The Be Healthy Workbook. The true secret to health and wellness is healthy eating and regular exercise. The Be Healthy Workbook provides a tested simple systematic method to developing and maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits.

Each section includes real-life cases and illustrations that will bring this essential advice to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510713963
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	01/10/2017
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	292
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr. Matthew Hahn is a practicing family physician in Hancock, Maryland. His passions are the delivery of excellent care and motivating patients to be healthy. He was voted a Maryland Family Doctor of the Year. He is married and has one daughter, and his hobbies include running a lot but slowly. He lives in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part 1 Sixty-Two Medical Complaints That Should Never Be Ignored 1

Chapter 1 Introduction 3

Chapter 2 When to See the Doctor: The Cardinal Signs and Symptoms of Disease 11

Chapter 3 General Complaints 19

Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis) 19

Excessive Thirst 21

Fever 22

Weight Loss, Unexplained or Unintentional 24

Chapter 4 Newborns, Babies, and Infants 27

Crying Baby That Won't Comfort 27

Diarrhea in a Baby 28

Fever in a Newborn 29

Fever in Infants Older Than 1 Month 29

Listless or Tired-Appearing Baby 30

Projectile Vomiting in a Baby 31

Trouble Breathing in a Baby 31

Chapter 5 The Head 38

Headache 38

Headache Red Flags 39

One-Sided Headache in a Person Over the Age of 50 40

Chapter 6 The Eyes 43

Change in the Appearance of the Eye(s) or Eyelid(s) 43

Pain of the Eye 45

Sudden Changes in Vision 45

Sudden Loss of Vision 46

Chapter 7 Ears, Nose, and Throat 47

Ears 47

Ear Pain 47

When to Go to the Doctor for Ear Infections 48

Other Causes of Ear Pain 49

Ringing in the Ears (Pulsatile Tinnitus) 50

Sudden Hearing Loss 51

Nose 51

Nosebleeds 51

Throat 52

Abscess of the Throat or Neck 53

Mononucleosis 53

Strep Throat 54

Chapter 8 Chest/Cardiovascular System 59

Abnormal Heartbeat 59

Chest Pain 60

Chapter 9 Lungs/Breathing 68

Cough 68

Gradual Onset of Difficulty Breathing 68

Sudden Onset of Difficulty Breathing 69

Sudden Onset of Difficulty Breathing in People with Chronic Lung Conditions 70

Chapter 10 The Back (Back Pain) 74

Back Pain 74

Back Pain Red Flags 75

Cauda Equina Syndrome 75

Chapter 11 Abdomen 80

Abdominal Pain 80

Hernia 82

Indigestion 82

Chapter 12 Urinary System (Plumbing) 94

Blood in the Urine 94

Other Urinary Symptoms 95

Chapter 13 The Bowels and Rectum (Sewer Line) 99

Blood: Rectal Bleeding or Blood in the Stool 99

Change in Bowel Habits 100

Chapter 14 Lady Parts 105

Lady Parts 101: The Missed Period 105

Lady Parts 201 : Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding, Vaginal Discharge, Pelvic Pain, Growths, or Swelling 105

Postmenopausal Bleeding 107

Chapter 15 Man Parts 110

Swelling of the Uncircumcised Penis: Paraphimosis 110

Testicle Lump 110

Testicle Pain 111

Chapter 16 Arms and Legs 112

Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT or blood clot) 112

Chapter 17 Neurologic 114

Change in Mental Status 114

Seizures 115

Stroke 117

Chapter 18 Skin 123

Angioedema 123

Cellulitis/Abscess 124

Herpes 125

Hives (Urticaria) 126

Lyme Disease 126

Measles 127

Meningitis 128

Moles/ Growths 129

Shingles 130

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome 132

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) 132

Chapter 19 Organizing Your Medical Information 136

Part 2 The Miracles of Twenty-First-Century Medicine 149

Taking Advantage of Modern Preventive Medical Care 151

Part 3 The Be Healthy! Workbook 169

Chapter 1 Introduction to the Be Healthy! Workbook 171

Chapter 2 How to Use the Be Healthy! Workbook 176

Chapter 3 Motivation 181

Chapter 4 Personal Assessment 184

Chapter 5 Creating Weight, Eating, and Exercise/Fitness Goals 193

Chapter 6 The Calendars 206

Chapter 7 Reassessing Progress 209

Chapter 8 On Being Healthy 212

Chapter 9 Losing Weight 215

Chapter 10 Nutrition 101 224

Chapter 11 Assignment: Controlling Eating Behavior 231

Chapter 12 Assignment: Portion Control 237

Chapter 13 Assignment: Cutting Snacks, Sweets, and Junk Foods 241

Chapter 14 Assignment: Stopping Night Eating 244

Chapter 15 Assignment: Cutting Beverage Sugar and Calories 246

Chapter 16 Assignment: Fast Food and Restaurant Eating 247

Chapter 17 Assignment: Reducing White Breads, Pastas, and Refined Carbs 249

Chapter 18 Assignment: Optimal Nutrition 251

Chapter 19 Assignment: Physical Activity 253

Appendix: Supplemental Exercise Plans 262

References 265

Editorial Reviews

10/17/2016
Hahn, named a Maryland Family Doctor of the Year, draws on his experiences in this essential guide. He emphasizes that we can increase our odds of being healthy through proper diet and exercise, not smoking, and avoiding excessive alcohol intake, as well as taking advantage of modern medicine’s truly impressive range of preventive procedures. Hahn observes that too many people wait too long to address pressing issues, fail altogether to receive treatment, or just don’t eat well or exercise enough. With this guide, Hahn addresses the three prongs of this problem. Part one meticulously details 62 medical complaints that should never be ignored, including general concerns (allergies, fever) and gives a “threat level” for each complaint. Part two covers advances and advantages in modern preventive medicine (immunizations, medications, etc.), and part three is a workbook that promotes healthy eating and exercise habits. The final “Be Healthy! Workshop” section is replete with charts and fill-in pages. This is an informative and potentially life-saving text that will appeal to any readers concerned about their health. 15 color photos. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"An informative and potentially life-saving text that will appeal to any readers concerned about their health." — Publishers Weekly

“Anyone interested in how to stay healthy and how to manage when illness or injury strikes must read this book. Anyone interested in applying the miracles of modern preventive medicine must read this book. Anyone who needs a practical, step-by-step Be Healthy Workbook to help them achieve their health goals must read this book. Matt Hahn, MD, catalogues his knowledge and years of experience into a reference that is practical and easy to use. His clinical vignettes tell a story and provide examples of how to use the rules he offers. This book should be in every home, in libraries, and in doctors' reception rooms.” — Andre Lijoi, MD, family physician, former Pennsylvania Family Doctor of the Year, and associate director of the York Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program

"Let’s suppose you are not going to go through all the medical training to become a doctor. Let’s suppose you want to help those you love when they share a health condition with you. If this is the case, you would do well to read this book and keep a copy in your home. If your only goal is to improve your health, this book will also be of great help. The information provided is very useful and clearly offered. I found the use of patient stories to be an especially effective way to bring the information to life. The stories were engaging and provided a framework that helped me to apply the medical information that was presented." — Laurence Bauer, MSW, MEd, chief executive officer of the Family Medicine Education Consortium

“The Syrian-born Roman writer Publilius called good health and good sense two of life’s greatest blessings. In Staying Alive, Matthew Hahn tells us how to use the latter to achieve the former.” —Carol Ann Rinzler, author, Spare Parts: In Praise of Your Appendix and Other Unappreciated Organs

"An informative and potentially life-saving text that will appeal to any readers concerned about their health." — Publishers Weekly

“Anyone interested in how to stay healthy and how to manage when illness or injury strikes must read this book. Anyone interested in applying the miracles of modern preventive medicine must read this book. Anyone who needs a practical, step-by-step Be Healthy Workbook to help them achieve their health goals must read this book. Matt Hahn, MD, catalogues his knowledge and years of experience into a reference that is practical and easy to use. His clinical vignettes tell a story and provide examples of how to use the rules he offers. This book should be in every home, in libraries, and in doctors' reception rooms.” — Andre Lijoi, MD, family physician, former Pennsylvania Family Doctor of the Year, and associate director of the York Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program

"Let’s suppose you are not going to go through all the medical training to become a doctor. Let’s suppose you want to help those you love when they share a health condition with you. If this is the case, you would do well to read this book and keep a copy in your home. If your only goal is to improve your health, this book will also be of great help. The information provided is very useful and clearly offered. I found the use of patient stories to be an especially effective way to bring the information to life. The stories were engaging and provided a framework that helped me to apply the medical information that was presented." — Laurence Bauer, MSW, MEd, chief executive officer of the Family Medicine Education Consortium

“The Syrian-born Roman writer Publilius called good health and good sense two of life’s greatest blessings. In Staying Alive, Matthew Hahn tells us how to use the latter to achieve the former.” —Carol Ann Rinzler, author, Spare Parts: In Praise of Your Appendix and Other Unappreciated Organs

From the Publisher