Many of us are affected by allergies, from the dreaded hayfever - the scourge of the summer - to much talked-about food allergies such as lactose and gluten. Dr Mike Dilkes, one of Harley Street's top Consultant ENT Surgeons, reveals his top tips for living with and treating an allergy. - Find out the difference between a sensitivity, an intolerance and an allergy - Discover how allergies affect your body and why - Learn how to see through the hype and take control of your own symptoms - Prevent attacks and treat outbreaks With a no-nonsense approach to this controversial topic, Stop Allergies from Ruining Your LIfe... The Easy Way provides a straightforward analysis ofthe latest scientific research, allowing you to live the life you want, whatever the season.

Don't want to get out of bed in the morning? Feeling as though the light is fading at the end of the tunnel? You may be suffering from depression, a condition Winston Churchill referred to as the Black Dog. taming the Black Dog is a simple guide to managing depression, which an estimated 1 in 5 people will suffer in one form or another at some time in their lives. Modelled on Bev Aisbett' s successful LIVING WItH It, tAMING tHE BLACK DOG has a unique blend of wit and information and is an invaluable guide for both chronic sufferers of depression as well as anyone with a fit of 'the blues'.

It started with a simple question: How can we help them? It became an international movement called NEGU: Never Ever Give Up. When Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at age 11, she chose to focus not on herself but on bringing joy and hope to other children suffering from cancer. During the ten months she battled cancer, she and her family worked in the "Joy Factory" (originally their garage) making JoyJars (R)-packages filled with toys, games, and love for other kids with cancer. Jessie first handed them out personally at the hospital where she was being treated, but the effort blossomed quickly and there were soon thousands of JoyJars (R) being distributed across the United States and to over fifteen countries. Today, more than 100,000 kids have received JoyJars (R), and they continue shipping each week to kids in over 200 children's hospitals and 175 Ronald McDonald Houses. Jessie lost her battle with cancer in January 2012, but her message lives on in the Jessie Rees Foundation, which has become a beacon of hope for families fighting pediatric cancer. Join the movement at www.negu.org.

From New York Times bestselling author and blogger Heather B. Armstrong comes an honest and irreverent memoir-reminiscent of the New York Times bestseller Brain on Fire-about her experience as one of only a few people to participate in an experimental treatment for depression involving ten rounds of a chemically induced coma approximating brain death. For years, Heather B. Armstrong has alluded to her struggle with depression on her website, dooce. It's scattered throughout her archive, where it weaves its way through posts about pop culture, music, and motherhood. But in 2016, Heather found herself in the depths of a depression she just couldn't shake, an episode darker and longer than anything she had previously experienced. She had never felt so discouraged by the thought of waking up in the morning, and it threatened to destroy her life. So, for the sake of herself and her family, Heather decided to risk it all by participating in an experimental clinical trial involving a chemically induced coma approximating brain death. Now, for the first time, Heather recalls the torturous eighteen months of suicidal depression she endured and the month-long experimental study in which doctors used propofol anesthesia to quiet all brain activity for a full fifteen minutes before bringing her back from a flatline. Ten times. The experience wasn't easy. Not for Heather or her family. But a switch was flipped, and Heather hasn't experienced a single moment of suicidal depression since. Disarmingly honest, self-deprecating, and scientifically fascinating, The Valedictorian of Being Dead brings to light a groundbreaking new treatment for depression.

'Remarkable and revelatory, a dazzling achievement. Quietly electrifying' Sunday Times On the day his daughter takes her first steps Christian Donlan discovers he has an incurable neurological disease, multiple sclerosis. As his young daughter starts to investigate the world around her, he too finds himself exploring a new landscape - the shifting and bewildering territory of the brain. Determined to master his new environment, Christian takes us on a fascinating and illuminating journey: through the history of neurology, the joys and anxieties of parenthood, and the ultimate realisation of what, after everything you take for granted has been stripped away from you, is truly important in life. 'This is not a tale of tragedy but one of re-engaging with the world - or realising what's truly important' Stylist 'An amazing and wonderful piece of writing. I could not put it down' Claire Tomalin 'Frank, thought-provoking and uplifting. Will resonate with other people with MS, and also, so importantly, with their family and friends... an invaluable resource' The Times Literary Supplement

THE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB 2017 PICK A new Sunday Times bestseller from Bryony Gordon, Telegraph columnist and author of the bestselling The Wrong Knickers. For readers who enjoyed Matt Haig's Reasons to Stay Alive and Ruby Wax's Sane New World, Mad Girl is a shocking, funny, unpredictable, heart-wrenching, raw and jaw-droppingly truthful celebration of life with mental illness. 'I loved it. A brilliant fast and funny and frank look at something that absolutely needs to be talked about in this way' Matt Haig Bryony Gordon has OCD. It's the snake in her brain that has told her ever since she was a teenager that her world is about to come crashing down: that her family might die if she doesn't repeat a phrase 5 times, or that she might have murdered someone and forgotten about it. It's caused alopecia, bulimia, and drug dependency. And Bryony is sick of it. Keeping silent about her illness has given it a cachet it simply does not deserve, so here she shares her story with trademark wit and dazzling honesty. A hugely successful columnist for the Telegraph, a bestselling author, and a happily married mother of an adorable daughter, Bryony has managed to laugh and live well while simultaneously grappling with her illness. Now it's time for her to speak out. Writing with her characteristic warmth and dark humour, Bryony explores her relationship with her OCD and depression as only she can. Mad Girl is a shocking, funny, unpredictable, heart-wrenching, raw and jaw-droppingly truthful celebration of life with mental illness.

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most common severe diseases in the world affecting over 300 million people. Diabetes is a disorder causing high blood sugar levels which causes damage to body tissues and organs. It is linked to lifestyle and the incidence is rising steadily. It is a complicated and chronic condition which can have a number of medical complications. Fortunately it can be well controlled and the better the illness is managed, the less likely the complications are to arise. Sensible lifestyle choices and correct medical management are vital. Dr Cowap translates medical language into a highly readable narrative that can be easily understood by the layperson. Using case examples, we follow people through the different stages of their diabetes, from the first sign of ill health, through diagnosis and the various forms of treatment. Different case vignettes illustrate the classical type 1 and type 2 diabetes, diabetes of childhood, diabetes of pregnancy and the less well known forms of diabetes

Dr. Peter Edelstein has learned by listening to his patients and their families--whose lives have suddenly been up-ended by a diagnosis of cancer--that they need a partner to help them navigate their new, complex world. It is critical that cancer patients take charge of their health and "own their cancer" in order to remain in control of this confusing and frightening process. This extremely accessible book is that expert partner, offering a combination of crucial medical education clearly and comfortably explained along with personal guidance gleaned from real patient experiences. In an informed, compassionate, and respectful manner, "Dr. E" translates the challenging medical and psychological issues facing the cancer patient into lay terms, as well as outlining options for "owning" the path ahead. The result empowers patients and their loved ones to take control of their treatment regardless of cancer type or stage, to maintain their independence, and to oversee the processes which will determine their ultimate survival and quality of life.

Through testimonial, anecdote and scriptural reference, this book allows the reader to share in recovery from secret habits of all kinds. Covering subjects such as alcohol, food, gambling, sex and smoking, Justyn Rees Larcombe demonstrates how to avoid the traps of the modern world. Justyn Rees Larcombe's account of gambling addiction - three years of destruction followed by three years of restoration - is interwoven throughout the book. The chapters are short and thematic, ending with helpful questions and exercises.

In 2008 the art critic Tom Lubbock was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The tumour was located in the area controlling speech and language, and would eventually rob him of the ability to speak. He died early in 2011. Marion Coutts was his wife. In short bursts of beautiful, textured prose, Coutts describes the eighteen months leading up to her partner's death. This book is an account of a family unit, man, woman, young child, under assault, and how the three of them fought to keep it intact. Written with extraordinary narrative force and power, The Iceberg is almost shocking in its rawness. It charts the deterioration of Tom's speech even as it records the developing language of his child. Fury, selfishness, grief, indignity and impotence are all examined and brought to light. Yet out of this comes a rare story about belonging, an 'adventure of being and dying'. This book is a celebration of each other, friends, family, art, work, love and language.

*All to Live For is an extended and updated edition of the bestselling memoir Talk to the Headscarf * In 2005 Emma Hannigan was thirty two years old, happily married to her long-time love with two young children. Her world was shattered when she discovered that she had the rare gene BRCA1, meaning a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer and an 85% chance of developing breast cancer. To reduce the risk, Emma had a double mastectomy and both ovaries removed. But in 2007 she received the devastating news that cancer had struck anyway. Now, twelve years later, Emma Hannigan is battling cancer for the tenth time. With her trademark warmth and wisdom, Emma shares her journey and her advice on everything from skincare and hair loss to how to keep a sense of humour through it all. All to Live For is a story of one woman's determination not to let cancer win; a story of strength and inspiration, hope and love. And of never giving up.

`If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence.' George Eliot, Middlemarch Having spent her life trying to patch up the souls of others, psychiatrist Linda Gask came to realise that being an expert in depression didn't confer any immunity from it - she had to learn take care of herself, too. Artfully crafted and told with warmth and honesty, this is the story of Linda's journey, interwoven with insights into her patients' diverse experiences of depression -inextricably linked with problems in the past and the present such as vulnerability, fear, loss, loneliness, dependence and grief. She sets out to convey, in a new and original way, how it truly feels to experience this devastating illness, what psychotherapy is about, and the role of medication- and provides hope for those who suffer from depression and their loved ones whilst busting the stigma of mental illness.

A Life In Bits is the moving story of one man's battle with bipolar disorder, a condition whose devastating consequences are still not fully appreciated by the world at large. Charles McMullen's battle with manic depression, as it is often known, began with a nervous breakdown at the age of nineteen. In his twenties, the suicide of his brother, his own divorce and the loss of his job and his home put him inside a psychiatric hospital. Yet despite the periods of appalling despair and the continued setbacks, Charles can still write at the end of the book 'Overall, it's been a pretty happy life'. This inspirational book will be of great interest to anyone who is afflicted by bipolar disorder, or knows one of the many people - roughly one in 25 of the population - who are.

Backbone is an inspirational, powerful, and funny memoir about surviving pain by Karen Duffy, who suffers from sarcoidosis-an inflammatory disorder that attacks all body soft tissues-located in her brain. O Magazine, New York Magazine, and several medical publications have already asked to interview Karen Duffy, she has podcast and radio interviews all lined up, and she has an offer to work with www.bookthewriter.com to visit New York area book clubs. Karen Duffy will be speaking at several events leading up to publication.

Stroke can devastate mental and physical wellbeing, but, lifestyle changes, combined with medication, can reduce your risk of further stroke by 80 per cent. This short, easy to read guide advises on preventing stroke, making the most of medical treatment and living a full life after a stroke. Topics include: why and how a stroke may happen key warning symptoms risk factors diagnosis and treatment rehabilitation advice for carers

Headaches and migraine affect up to 10 million people in the UK and are one of the common problems seen in doctors' surgeries and emergency departments. The profound effect they have on daily life means that they are now viewed by the World Health Organisation as one of the world's most disabling diseases. This new edition of Coping with Headaches and Migraine explains how lifestyle measures can help and updates the research on causes, treatments and ways to cope. It explores genetic factors in migraine and the increasing use of non-drug treatments such as nerve stimulation. Topics include: migraine and its varying symptoms, cluster headache, tension headache, daily headaches, medication overuse headache, causes and triggers, medical help and drugs, diet, exercise, lifestyle, non-drug strategies and complementary remedies, headaches affecting women at various stages of their lives, research and future approaches to treatment.

'Molly Case reminds us that humanity and moments of true care are as healing as the medicine modern science can deliver' Julia Samuel, author of Grief Works 'Beautifully written and passionate tales from the nurse you would choose for yourself' Stephen Westsaby, author of Fragile Lives _______________________________ The hand of a stranger offered in solace. A flower placed on a dead body as a mark of respect. A gentle word in response to fear and anger. It is these moments of empathy, in the extremis of human experience, which define us as people. Nobody knows this better than a nurse and Molly Case has witnessed countless such moments. In How to Treat People, she documents these extraordinary points, when two people truly connect. In rich, lyrical prose, she introduces us to patients with whom we share the pain, but also the experience of illness when life is at its most vivid. And when her father is admitted to the high dependency unit on which she works, Molly confronts care in a whole new way, when two worlds - the professional and the personal - suddenly collide. Weaving together medical history, art, memoir and science, How to Treat People beautifully illustrates the intricacies of the human condition and the oscillating rhythms of life and death. Most of all, it is a heart-stopping reminder that we can all find meaning in being part, even for a moment, of the lives of others. __________________________________ 'A profound reflection on the way we live and die' Bookseller 'How to Treat People gets to the heart of who we are' Nina Stibbe 'Intense, powerful, moving and very enlightening' Gerard Woodward 'Fascinating and erudite' Jo Brand

While most people find it relatively easy to manage their possessions, some find it extremely difficult. If you have a problem resisting the urge to acquire and you find your home cluttered and filled to capacity with items many people would find useless and unnecessary, you may suffer from a condition known as hoarding disorder. Hoarding is a behavioral problem consisting of clutter, difficulty discarding items, and excessive buying or acquiring. Hoarding is often associated with significant reduction in quality of life, and in extreme cases, it can pose serious health risks. If you or a loved one has hoarding disorder, this book can help. This fully updated Second Edition of Buried in Treasures outlines a scientifically based, effective program for helping those with hoarding disorder dig their way out of the clutter and chaos of their homes. Written by scientists and practioners who are leaders in studying and treating hoarding disorder, this book outlines a program of skill-building, learning to think about possessions in a different way, and gradual challenges to help people manage their clutter and their lives. It also provides useful information for family and friends of people who hoard, as they struggle to understand and help. Discover the reasons for your problems with acquiring, saving, and hoarding, and learn new ways of thinking about your possessions so you can decide what you really need and what you can do without. Learn to identify the "bad guys" that cause and maintain your hoarding behavior and meet the "good guys" who can help motivate you and put you on the path to change. Useful self-assessments will help you determine the severity of your problem. Training exercises, case examples, organizing tips, and motivation boosters help change the way you think and behave toward your possessions. This book provides easy-to-understand strategies and techniques that anyone can use.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2017 'When I was twelve, my grandfather began to act strangely. It started with inexplicable walks. He'd leave the dinner table and we would find him, half an hour later, aimlessly wandering around the neighbourhood. His smiles were gradually replaced by a fearful, withdrawn expression; as if he'd lost something irreplaceable. Before long, he didn't recognise any of us.' Alzheimer's is the great global epidemic of our time, affecting millions worldwide - there are over 850,000 people with the diagnosis in the UK alone. And its shockwaves extend far wider, through disbelieving families and friends. In 2016, it overtook heart disease as the number one cause of death in England and Wales, and as our populations age, scientists are working against the clock to find a cure. Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli is among them. Determined to save other families from the experiences that had rocked his, he set out to write the book that explained what happened to his grandfather. Far more than the story of a disease, In Pursuit of Memory zooms inside the human brain to see how Alzheimer's works and out again to show, entwined with the history and science, a thrilling hunt for answers. His quest takes us from nineteenth-century Germany and post-war England, to the jungles of Papua New Guinea and the technological proving grounds of Japan; through America, India, China, Iceland, Sweden and Colombia. Its heroes are scientists from around the world, and the brave patients and families who have changed the way that researchers think about the disease. Jebelli's compelling insider's account shows vividly why he feels so hopeful about a cure but also why our best defence in the meantime is to understand the disease. In Pursuit of Memory is the definitive book on Alzheimer's: its past, present and future.

The true story of a fiery young woman's heartwarming and hilarious journey that takes her from near-death in California to a trip around the world in search of her ultimate salvation. Along the way, she discovers a world of cultural mayhem, radical medical treatment, and, most importantly, a piece of her life she never even knew she was missing. When Amy B. Scher was struck with undiagnosed late-stage, chronic Lyme disease, the best physicians in America labeled her condition incurable and potentially terminal. Deteriorating rapidly, she went on a search to save her own life-from the top experts in Los Angeles and the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis to a state-of-the-art hospital in Chicago. After exhausting all of her options in the US, she discovered a possible cure-but it was highly experimental, only available in India, and had as much of a probability of killing her as it did of curing her. Knowing the risks, Amy packed her bags anyway and flew across the world hoping to find the ultimate cure. This Is How I Save My Life is a powerful and uplifting story of sheer determination for anyone who believes in-or doubts-the existence of miracles and the infinite power of self-healing when it seems like all hope is lost.

Christine Bryden was a top civil servant and single mother of three children when she was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 46. Since then she has gone on to challenge almost every stereotype of people with dementia by campaigning for self-advocacy, writing articles and speaking at national conferences.;This book is a vivid account of the author's experiences of living with dementia, exploring the effects of memory problems, loss of independence, difficulties in communication and the exhaustion of coping with simple tasks. She describes how, with the support of her husband Paul, she continues to lead an active life nevertheless, and explains how professionals and carers can help.;Christine Bryden makes an outspoken attempt to change prevailing attitudes and misconceptions about the disease. Arguing for greater empowerment and respect for people with dementia as individuals, she also reflects on the importance of spirituality in her life and how it has helped her better understand who she is and who she is becoming.

In this easy-to-follow book, Wendy Green explains how food intolerances, gut infections, bacterial imbalance, stress and hormones contribute to IBS, and offers practical advice and a holistic approach to help you deal with the symptoms. From simple dietary and lifestyle changes to DIY complementary therapies, find out 50 things you can do today to help you cope with IBS, including: Identify your IBS triggers and learn how to manage them Choose beneficial foods and supplements Manage stress and relax to reduce flare-ups Learn which types of exercise can help to relieve symptoms Find helpful organisations and products

Sugar is increasingly portrayed as the villain in a global "diabesity" epidemic triggering demands for drastic cuts in consumption. Is such a regulatory change feasible and would it even make sense? Sweetness and Light takes a broad look at the best of what is known - ranging from photosynthesis and our gut microbes to the ongoing industrial revolution and genetically obese laboratory rats - and concludes that the demonization of sugar incidentally the world's most efficient source of calories in terms of agricultural land obscures the need to focus on a host of more complex and troublesome culprits of the world's contemporary metabolic woes.