SELF-HELP HANDBOOK OF SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS

A medical do-it-yourself handbook designed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield to keep people away from doctors and hospitals as much as possible. Rather than starting with a disease and working backwards to' the symptoms, the Schlians take the symptoms themselves as a starting point and explain what they might indicate. If one has, say, a generalized rash, there is no need to search through descriptions of chicken pox or poison ivy in an effort to guess which might be the culprit. After some helpful advice on how to find a good doctor (using the four C's: competence, concern, compatibility, and convenience) and how to avoid some of the pitfalls of bad health, such as smoking, stress, and alcohol, the remainder of the book follows the symptoms format, consisting of a description of the symptom, advice on what stage of the symptom should evoke concern, home remedies, and, finally, the red lights that demand action, i.e., calling the doctor. In short, sensible self-help.