Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care, 7th Ed: Answers for Everyday Health Problems

It can be difficult to make a trek to the doctor whenever you have an odd symptom, and a quick search on Google doesn’t always provide the most reliable answers. Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care is a practical, comprehensive, easy-to-understand reference guide for understanding more than 300 common medical conditions.


Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care offers in-depth information about the common causes and symptoms of more than 300 medical issues, including conditions like allergic reactions, bug bites and stings, chronic pain, insomnia and other sleep disorders, unexpected weight gain or loss, digestive issues, common vision problems, diabetes, heart disease, mental disorders, and hundreds of other common ailments.

Throughout 300 pages of expert advice, the acclaimed specialists at Mayo Clinic offer strategies for detecting these common conditions, treating them early on, and reducing your overall risk for illness.

Additionally, this newly updated, seventh edition of Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care provides new chapters that follow the latest medical research and recommendations, including:

• A newly revised CPR section, with easy-to-learn CPR instructions for adults;
• Adult and pediatric immunization guidelines;
• Tips for committing to a nutritious diet and exercise plan;
• The latest information about smoking and alcohol abuse;
• And research on popular integrative medicine therapies and approaches, as recommended by the experts at Mayo Clinic.

Martha Millman, M.D. is an emeritus physician in public health and general preventive medicine. During her decades-long career, Dr. Millman also specialized in undersea and hyperbaric medicine. As an assistant professor of Preventive Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Millman researched the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on common health conditions and injuries.

Cindy Kermott, M.D., M.P.H is a public health and general preventive medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In addition to serving in the Mayo Clinic’s Executive Health Program, Dr. Kermott also holds the position of medical director of the Preventative Services Clinic in Rochester. In 2013, Dr. Kermott was elected a fellow to the American College of Preventive Medicine and has previously served as a member of the Minnesota Medical Association.

How this book is organized
Most chapters in Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care begin with a general discussion of the health topic, sometimes including signs and symptoms and a summary of the cause. Next, look for:
- Self-care and prevention suggestions
highlighted in blue shading
- “Medical help” headings, which advise you
when to see a doctor or other health care
provider and what kind of treatment you
might expect
- “Kids’ care” headings when there’s special
information regarding children (however, the
book is not meant to be a comprehensive
resource of childhood illnesses)
- Information in gray boxes related to topics
on a page
In the table of contents, you’ll find eight
major sections:
- Emergencies and urgent care
- General symptoms
- Common problems
- Specific conditions
- Mental health
- Staying healthy
- Your health and the workplace
- The healthy consumer
Browse the contents to get familiar with the
topics and the format. Don’t forget the index at
the back. Scan the book so that you know where
to look when specific health concerns arise.