Not to broach the subject of excess weight with a patient is a dereliction of duty as a healthcare professional, say the authors of 'Fast Facts: Obesity'. "Patients who smoke are rapidly identified for intervention, and the same should be true of anyone who is obese". Every consultation is an opportunity to educate and encourage patients to pursue better health. 'Fast Facts: Obesity' is packed with practical advice on how best to support patients to improve their nutrition and levels of physical activity, and change their habits, with simple and achievable goals tailored to individual needs and concerns. This highly readable handbook also provides a comprehensive overview of: • the causes and consequences of obesity • the latest information on pharmacological and surgical options • the issues specific to the management of obesity in children, pregnant women and the elderly. The authors say: “The opportunity to educate others and exert influence can be leveraged at many levels, even with limited amounts of time.” Reading 'Fast Facts: Obesity' is an excellent starting point for any healthcare professional who wants to understand this major threat to human health and ultimately improve outcomes. Contents: • Patient assessment • Causes and science • Cardiometabolic consequences • Other consequences • Management: diet • Management: physical activity • Management: behavioral therapy • Pharmacological and surgical treatments • Children, the elderly and pregnant women • Management tools, prevention and advocacy • Useful resources • The health risks of excess weight figure

In the 2001 Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, former Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD, warned of the negative effects of the increasing weight of American citizens and outlined a public health response to reverse the trend. The Surgeon General plans to strengthen and expand this blueprint for action created by her predecessor. Although the country has made some strides since 2001, the prevalence of obesity, obesity-related diseases, and premature death remains too high.

Worldwide, osteoarthritis is one of the most rapidly rising conditions associated with disability. For most people, it is a syndrome of joint pain and stiffness, with associated functional problems that have a substantial effect on quality of life. As well as expert advice on well-established diagnostic criteria and the latest practical treatment information, this comprehensive handbook provides: • updates on the genetics of the disease • novel concepts of the association between structural changes and pain • recent recommendations for the use of modern imaging modalities • the latest on intra-articular therapies • an insight into current developments in the field. For all healthcare professionals who have ever felt unable to provide effective therapy for this disease, or who have encountered negative patient and community attitudes to joint pain, 'Fast Facts: Osteoarthritis' is essential reading. Something can be done to help every person with osteoarthritis!

“An in-depth, well-researched, and thoughtful exploration of the ‘fat boom’ in America.” —TheBoston Globe Low carb, high protein, raw foods . . . despite our seemingly endless obsession with fad diets, the startling truth is that six out of ten Americans are overweight or obese. In Fat Land, award-winning nutrition and health journalist Greg Critser examines the facts and societal factors behind the sensational headlines, taking on everything from supersize to Super Mario, high-fructose corn syrup to the high costs of physical education. With a sharp eye and even sharper tongue, Critser examines why pediatricians are now treating conditions rarely seen in children before; why type 2 diabetes is on the rise; the personal struggles of those with weight problems—especially among the poor—and how agribusiness has altered our waistlines. Praised by the New York Times as “absorbing” and by Newsday as “riveting,” this disarmingly funny, yet truly alarming, exposé stands as an important examination of one of the most pressing medical and social issues in the United States. “One scary book and a good companion to Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Praise for the Second Edition: “[This resource] will direct school nurses to the answers for many questions and to wiser counsel when a dilemma seems unsolvable. It is authored by a school nurse of publicly acclaimed distinction who brings a lifetime of experience to these pages.” —Lucille A. Joel, EdD, RN, FAAN, Distinguished Professor, School of Nursing Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey This time-tested reference provides quick access to information busy school nurses need to practice competently and efficiently. Written for both new and experienced school nurses, it delivers consistently organized information in bulleted format. The third edition has been substantially revised with expanded coverage of first aid, depression screening, drug use, and adolescent sexuality. Authored by a nurse with over 25 years of school nursing experience, this resource offers clear guidelines to a full range of daily tasks and nursing responsibilities. It provides clinical protocols for safe management of common childhood illnesses, accidents, and emergencies, along with advice on legal and ethical considerations, documentation, and high-risk areas of school nursing practice. Also covered are the delivery of culturally appropriate care, screening tools, wellness strategies, individualized healthcare plans, and childhood obesity. The guide is also useful as a supplemental text for certification exam study. New to the Third Edition: New information on adolescent sexuality and gender identity Expanded coverage of first aid, including when to call 911 Depression screening, immigration laws, ethical dilemmas, and school shootings and gun control Use of medical marijuana, OTC drug use and abuse, opioid addiction and overdose treatment, and vaping Key Features: Addresses the five content components included in the National Certification Examination for School Nurses Covers guidelines, management protocols, and care plans for childhood disorders, accidents, and emergency situations Prioritizes responsibilities with a handy month-by-month task calendar Provides quick reference for health office setup, recommended immunizations, and national health observances Presents a technology chapter with information on reporting, software, and confidentiality issues

Hypertension is the biggest cause of death and disability in the world, yet it remains underdiagnosed, undertreated and, in many cases, poorly controlled. As in the previous edition, 'Fast Facts: Hypertension' advises on: • accurate measurement of blood pressure and problems such as 'white-coat' hypertension • routine assessments for people with high blood pressure • other modifiable risk factors (smoking, high cholesterol levels etc.) • non-pharmacological measures (reducing salt, losing weight, increasing physical activity etc.) • rational and effective use of all drug treatments • identification of people with secondary hypertension • treatment of children, pregnant women, the elderly and patients with diabetes. Updates in this new edition include: • distinguishing between patients with primary (low renin) and secondary aldosteronism • greater use of home BP measurement in clinical decision-making • the latest thinking on BP treatment thresholds • new guidance on fourth-line therapy for resistant hypertension Sometimes dubbed 'the silent killer', hypertension rarely produces symptoms until it manifests as a heart attack or stroke, so early identification of the condition and appropriate management are vital. This practical readable refresher for every-day use supports better investigation and treatment of high blood pressure by primary care providers and better self-management by patients. Contents: • The dangers of raised blood pressure • Causes • Investigation • When to treat • How to treat • Special patient groups • Uncontrolled hypertension • Useful resources

With rising levels of alcohol consumption, obesity and viral hepatitis infection, liver disease is presenting more and more frequently in general practice. Health professionals need to be adept at isolating the cause of disease and initiating prompt action. 'Fast Facts: Liver Disorders' is designed to help primary care providers, hospital doctors and specialist nurses understand the most important issues as quickly as possible, including the indicators of severe disease in order to identify patients who need specialist referral. This succinct, practical handbook provides quick access to: • an organized approach to the interpretation of liver function tests • guidance on determining levels of alcohol consumption • the latest hepatitis B and C treatments • key information on the complications of cirrhosis • an overview of the common clinical problems associated with transplantation With its simple explanations, clear illustrations and logical algorithms, 'Fast Facts: Liver Disorders' will help you identify and correct liver disease, minimize permanent damage, and monitor and manage recovery within the community. Contents: • Investigating liver disease • Acute liver disease • Alcoholic liver disease • Drug-induced liver injury • Autoimmune liver diseases • Metabolic liver diseases • Chronic viral hepatitis • Complications of cirrhosis • Benign liver tumors, cysts, infections and abscesses • Hepatocellular carcinoma • Pregnancy and the liver • Liver transplantation

The earlier a person with an eating disorder is treated, the greater the likelihood of physical and psychological recovery. 'Fast Facts: Eating Disorders' guides the reader through the latest evidence in detection, diagnosis and efficacy of treatments for anorexia, bulimia and related disorders, including a practical overview of the: • risk factors – genetic, developmental and familial • questions to ask the patient • behavioral and physical signs and symptoms • screening tools and laboratory investigations • treatment goals and options. In this highly readable handbook, the two renowned authors demonstrate how a carefully coordinated and multidisciplinary intervention can be successful. They address the important role of primary care physicians and other frontline healthcare workers in detecting eating disorders, working with the treatment team and monitoring the patient, and the positive impact these services can have on the rate and level of recovery. Content: • Classification • Epidemiology • Etiology and pathogenesis • Diagnosis • General management principles • Treatment of anorexia • Treatment of bulimia • Course and prognosis • Other eating disorders • Research areas • Case studies • Useful resources

All patients arriving at hospital with chest pain suggestive of myocardial ischemia require an immediate 12-lead ECG and medical assessment. Management will depend on the type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosed. 'Fast Facts: Acute Coronary Syndromes' is an international evidence-based primer that focuses on optimizing patient outcomes via accurate initial diagnosis, appropriate risk stratification and proper therapeutic decision-making in line with both American and European management guidelines. This refreshingly readable handbook simplifies the complexities involved in the care of patients with ACS by: • Familiarizing readers with the common pathophysiology underlying all ACS • Detailing the specifics of clinical assessment (targeted history, symptom-oriented physical exam, electrocardiography, cardiac biomarkers and imaging) • Assisting best practice in ischemic risk stratification and assessment of bleeding risk • Outlining coronary revascularization techniques, reperfusion strategies and preventive measures • Providing an update on potent antithrombotic therapy (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) • Clearly explaining the latest developments that are likely to be implemented in the near future. In this fast-changing field it is difficult for healthcare professionals to remain current and virtually impossible to fully understand all of the subtle nuances of the available clinical trial data. This comprehensive handbook is therefore the essential resource for all healthcare professionals looking for up-to-date, easy-to read information that will assist best practice in the identification and management of all patients with ACS. Contents: • Pathophysiology • Diagnosis • Risk stratification and decision-making • Coronary revascularization • Unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction • ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction • Secondary prevention of coronary artery disease • Developments • Useful resources

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