What books on health are worth reading?

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Vasily Kozak

Editor for working with experts and columnists of Lifehacker.

Hello! There are many books about medicine, and it is difficult to understand how much each of them can be trusted. Therefore, we have compiled a selection of works by authors who adhere to the principles of evidence-based medicine.

1. “No wallet, no life. Alternative medicine under investigation ”, Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst

This book is a true story about alternative medicine. Based on the results of scientific research, the authors (a popularizer of science and a doctor) analyze which of its methods are effective and harmless, and which are dangerous.

The main part of the book is devoted to four areas of alternative medicine: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine. And in the appendix, the authors briefly analyze more than 30 alternative therapies and explain what is wrong with them.

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2. “A deadly choice. How the fight against vaccines threatens us all, ”Paul Offit

Paul Offit is a pediatrician, immunologist, virologist and one of the creators of the rotavirus vaccine. In his book, he explains why a child should be vaccinated, and explains in an accessible way why they are needed. And also brilliantly refutes the arguments of opponents of vaccination and debunks the myths that have developed around it.

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3. Who Should I Believe? By Brian Clegg

Does osteopathy really work? What about homeopathy, cell tower damage, or gluten? And is it true that everyone without exception needs to drink vitamins and probiotics? The author subjects such judgments to strict verification and gives answers to questions, based on the results of the latest scientific research.

Some advances in science do improve human health and life expectancy. But to understand what is useful and what is not, you need to imagine a real picture of the world. This book gives the reader a clear idea of ​​how, from the point of view of modern science, to change life for the better.

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4. “Why are we still alive? A guide to the immune system, Aidan Ben-Barak

A myriad of bacteria and viruses exist in and around us. Many of them are causative agents of dangerous diseases. However, we do not get sick all the time - our immunity helps us in this. Aidan Ben-Barak, a scientist and popularizer of science, tells about how it works and how it works. He also answers other important questions: what will replace antibiotics, how to deal with allergies and how vaccines work.

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5. "Hard case. Notes of a surgeon ", Atul Gawande

Atul Gawande's book is worth reading if you are interested in seeing the inside of a doctor's work. This is a story about people who deal with life and death on a daily basis and are forced to make quick decisions in situations where science is unreliable, information is limited, and human life is at stake.

The author of the book, a practicing surgeon and popularizer of science, speaks frankly about the problems of modern medicine and the mysteries of the human body. And also about the successes and failures in the work of a surgeon, about medical errors and about what happiness it is when you manage to save a patient's life.

Buy

There are also good books by Russian doctors that we can recommend. For example, "0,05. Evidence-based medicine from magic to the quest for immortality"Peter Talantova and"Patient Reasonable. Medical Diagnostic Pitfalls Everyone Should Know About»Alexey Vodovozov.

What books about health do you know? Share in the comments!