Reading Your Way to a Healthier Lifestyle

“I’M TOO YOUNG TO GET OLD: Health Care for Women After Forty”

Dr. Judith Reichman; Times Books $25

*

“A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH: Getting the Best Medical Care in a Man’s World”

Dr. Bernadine Healy; Penguin $12.95

*

You can find two fine new health books for women on the bookshelves. “I’m Too Young to Get Old” is by Dr. Judith Reichman, a Los Angeles gynecologist, and comes highly recommended by her peers. Reichman devotes much of the book to hormonal issues, including an excellent section on pregnancy and birth control after 40.

Dr. Bernadine Healy, former director of the National Institutes of Health, addresses the 10 top health matters for women from adolescence to old age. These include nutrition, reproductive health, cancer, depression and osteoporosis. Woven throughout Healy’s text is the admonition that women are still affected by inadequacies in the understanding of women’s health issues. Women, Healy says, need to be their own best advocates. And being well-informed is the first step.

*

“THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIABETES”

Philip E. Cryer, M.D., and Belinda P. Childs; American Diabetes Assn. Inc. $29.95

The prognosis for diabetes depends greatly on how well the disease is managed at home. This consumer guide from the American Diabetes Assn. will benefit many diabetics who struggle with self-care issues. The book is up-to-date and accessible. Diabetics can find information on meal planning, the effects of exercise on diabetes and controlling costs associated with the disease. The guide is available at bookstores nationwide or can be ordered directly for $29.95 plus $3 for shipping and handling from the ADA, P.O. Box 930850, Atlanta, GA 31193-0850. Or call: (800) ADA-ORDER.

*

“NIPS & TUCKS Everything You Must Know Before Having Cosmetic Surgery”

Diana Barry; General Publishing Group Inc. $17.95

As the popularity of cosmetic surgery rises, books like this one will become more in demand. Diana Barry has counseled women who have undergone cosmetic surgery and is familiar with many of the concerns and misconceptions people bring into the operating suite. The book advises consumers on how to choose a doctor, what surgery will be like and how to adopt realistic expectations. “Nips & Tucks” is edited for medical accuracy by specialists in cosmetic surgery.

*

“THE ORIGIN OF EVERYDAY MOODS: Managing Energy, Tension and Stress”

Robert E. Thayer, PhD; Oxford $24

Robert E. Thayer, a psychologist at Cal State Long Beach, is a recognized expert on moods, and this book summarizes what he’s learned during more than 25 years of research. If you are puzzled by your moods or those of a loved one, this book helps demystify emotions. Thayer believes moods are based on the body’s natural, biological rhythms through the day. Thus, sleep, food, illness and energy become important predictors of mood. The book includes advice on how to acknowledge your moods and change them.

*

“THE POWER OF ABSTINENCE: How Parents Can Help Teens Postpone Sexual Activity--& Achieve Emotional Security, Maximum Self-Esteem & Stay Healthy”

Kristine Napier; Avon Parenting $11

Parents may believe that sex between teenagers is inevitable, but this book argues forcefully against that assumption. Kristine Napier, former president of the Responsible Social Values Program for Greater Cleveland, an abstinence organization, presents arguments for parents to employ in making the case for sexual abstinence. The book has useful advice on how to dispel myths about sex perpetuated by television, music and movies. While few would argue that abstinence is best for teenagers, the book lacks a discussion of how the abstinence message can be successfully combined with the message of “if you do have sex, use contraceptives.” This dual message is, according to recent research, the most valuable and realistic for adolescents.