Medical Myths That Can Kill You: And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life » (Abridged)

Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the chief medical editor for NBC News and reports for Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, and MSNBC. She also has an academic appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining NBC News, Dr. Snyderman served as a medical correspondent for ABC News, then spearheaded a digital project at Johnson & Johnson. She has received numerous broadcasting awards and grants from the American Cancer Society and the Kellogg Foundation.

Do you know what’s really good for you?

In this age of countless miracle cures, it’s vital to separate the myths that endanger your health from the medical facts you need.

FACT:
Unfiltered coffee can clog your arteries.

FACT:
Donating blood may lower your risk of heart disease.

FACT:
You don’t really need eight glasses of water a day.

FACT:
Coughing won’t help if you’re having a heart attack. (But aspirin will!)

We’ve become a nation of cyberchondriacs, diagnosing ourselves with false information and half-truths found on sketchy websites. In Medical Myths That Can Kill You, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, chief medical editor for NBC News, provides clear, practical, scientifically proven advice that can lead you to a healthier, happier life.

Discover the simple, everyday things that affect well-being, and get the information you need to revitalize your body, maintain your longevity, manage your care, and possibly even save a life–yours.

Susan B. Hagloch - Library Journal

Snyderman, chief medical editor for NBC News, here examines some common medical myths-e.g., that only old people get heart attacks and strokes, that "natural" means safe-explaining why they have become so prevalent, why they are wrong, and what sensible approaches people can take to avoid inadvertently damaging their health because of false beliefs. Along the way, she points out some little-known truths that can improve health and longevity, e.g., that hyperactivity is unrelated to sugar, that sunglasses can prevent blindness, and that drug mistakes are a leading cause of death and illness in this country. Every page is filled with useful facts in this fascinating and well-researched and -written book accessible to all readers. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ1/08.]

Introduction     1
Annual Checkups Are Obsolete     9
Vaccinations Are Just for Kids     47
Doctors Don't Play Favorites     73
Only Old People Get Heart Disease and Stroke     108
We're Losing the War on Cancer     138
Natural Means "Safe"     172
You Can Just Snap Out of Mental Illness     205
Today's Gift     238
Resources     251
References     257
Index     263