subject: Book Review: How Not to Drop Dead [print this page] Book Review: How Not to Drop Dead Book Review: How Not to Drop Dead
Non-Fiction
How Not to Drop Dead: A Guide for Prevention of 201 Causes of Sudden or Rapid Death
Eduardo Chapunoff, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.
2010
Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-4415-1356-4
Pages: 359
How Not to Drop Dead is a reference tool that explains many major illnesses and life events that can cause sudden or rapid death. Dr. Eduardo Chapunoff offers detailed descriptions of each condition, including causes, treatment and often adds personal anecdotes about patients from his own practice.
The book is divided into eight parts covering aneurysms, heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and a variety of other conditions that may end a life if not properly diagnosed, treated, or avoided.
This is not a book to be read from cover to cover. It is a resource that will allow the reader to search for information on Kawasaki disease, endocarditis, or variations in circadian rhythm among other conditions. While the content is pretty heavy in medical jargon, Dr. Chapunoff uses humor and real-life cases, including historical references, to flesh out the technical explanations.
Dr. Eduardo Chapunoff is the author of several books including Morbid Obesity and Answering Your Questions about Heart Disease and Sex. He is the Chief of Cardiology at the Doctor's Medical Center in Miami, Florida. In 2009, Dr. Chapunoff was named one of "America's Top Cardiologists" by the Consumer's Research Council of America. The doctor's concern for his patients and for people reading this book is evident in the time he takes to describe symptoms, treatment and prevention.
I must admit, I was initially intimidated by the subject matter of this book. That changed once I came across conditions that I was familiar with and wanted to know more about. As a fan of the television series, ER and House, it was nice to get a clear definition of terms like "tachycardia" and "sepsis" that the TV doctors throw around in almost every episode. As someone who has been diagnosed with both asthma and mitral valve prolapse, it was interesting to read a succinct explanation of both conditions and pick up a few tips for keeping myself healthy. I was also impressed with the chapter Dr. Chapunoff devotes to sudden infant death. It should be required reading for all new parents.
How Not to Drop Dead is both educational and enlightening. It is a useful resource that can become a valuable addition to any personal library.
