The Hypochondriac's Handbook: A Disease for Every Occasion, an Illness for Every Symptom

by John Naish

THE HYPOCHONDRIAC'S HANDBOOK is a treasure trove of wild, daft, strange, scary -- and hitherto obscure -- medical research. This is a snappy and amusing guide to over 250 fascinating conditions from the dark corners of medical journalism, compiled by THE TIMES' Health Features Writer. Being tall can mean an early death. But then being short can also kill. As can stormy Mondays and the crease in your ear. Steering clear of sunburn could cause a lethal disease, whereas a full moon boosts your risk of being beaten or bitten. Then there are the perils of sexual sleepwalking, golfer's liver, fracture of the penis and Chinese restaurant syndrome. And, yes, hypochondria can apparently prove lethal -- people who worry about their health turn out to have four times the normal fatality rate. The Hypochondriac's Handbook comes from the drawers-full of intriguingly odd reports which Times journalist John Naish has gathered from the dark corners of respected research journals and hospital libraries over the last decade. It should appeal to all of the neurotic inhabitants of 21st-century world, who just don't have enough to worry about.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Health, Medical, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

John Naish is a British health journalist, currently writing for The Times.

He is a t'ai chi–practicing vegetarian and does not own a mobile phone. He lives in Brighton.

Reviews

[Tea Jovanović]

umesto prikaza delić iz knjige:

SINDROM SALONA ZA ULEPŠAVANJE
Taština može imati strašnu cenu, i to ne samo u prodavnici kozmetičkih preparata. Sindrom salona za ulepšavanje identifikovao je Majkl Vajntraub, s Medicinskog koledža u Valhali u državi Njujork. On je shvatio opasnosti koje krije održavanje lepote pošto je video pet žena pacijenata primljenih u bolnicu zbog moždanog udara koji su dobile pošto su bile u frizerskom salonu
da operu kosu i naprave frizuru.
Žene, starosti od 54 do 94 godina, napustile su salon s čitavim nizom simptoma sličnih moždanom udaru, od vrtoglavice do delimične paralize. Vajntraub veruje da su pretrpele povrede arterija koje dovode krv do mozga
dok im je glava bila istegnuta unazad preko frizerskog lavaboa. On je poslao poruku vlasnicima salona u časopisu "Journal of the American Medical Association" (1933, 269; 16: 2086): budite pažljivi sa starijim klijentkinjama, da ne bi napravile frizuru i umrle.

:)

[Barbara]

Picked this book up at the library because the title sounded amusing lol. It was interesting but a little ridiculous too. The stats stated in the book are actual statistics but just so strange and in some cases unbelievable but true. It was a decent enough read.

[Xanthi]

I enjoyed this book. I found it humorous in a subtle and very dark way. It isn’t too long or technical, and it can be read in short bursts though I found myself powering my way through it because it was so entertaining.

[Ryan S]

Equal parts silly and stupid. I bought it for the titlw, not the content...

[Ivan]

very meh

[Todd Stockslager]

Slim and inconsequential compendium of strange diseases and research into hypochondria. One interesting tidbit: Hypochondria really can kill you!

The nocebo effect, the opposite of the placebo effect, is a real and documented danger. One study of heart patients taking aspirin divided the study into two groups, one warned of the side effects of aspirin, the other not. The group warned about the side effects were three times likely to suffer them. Another study of a group of women with equal risk factors found that those who believed they were susceptible to heart disease were four times more likely to die of heart disease.

[Harvey]

- wacky illnesses from actual medical publications mixed with odd scientific studies
- celebrity worship syndrome
- loud shirt sensitiveness
- favourite quote: "Men with ugly wives live up to 12 years longer because they are not worried about them being unfaithful, Yale University Scientists have claimed. Psychologist Edgar Dablen says: 'Men with attractive women are permanently jealous. They are always seeing competition which is an unhealthy and stressful situation.'"

[TK Keanini]

I'd like to offer my title for this book "How to make Hypochondria your hobbie". In fact, I may right now be suffering from RWS (review writers syndrome) or maybe OOWPMTAMRS (Obsessive Over What People Might Thing About My Review Syndrome)

I take this book too seriously to consider it humor but you can certainly put it there if you wish.

[Erik]

A fun quick book about things you may or may not start to worry about after you finish reading this. Decently humorous, but not as practical as you might think it is.

A bit scattered in its layout, but I imagine this is done on purpose to try not to just seem like you are reading a reference guide.

[Laren]

This book is chock full of bizzare medical conditions, and statistical probabilities that any random one might kill you. I guess I thought from the cover illustration that it was going to be funnier than it was. It is actually a serious book, so keep it away from the hypochondriacs in your life.

[Monica]

I got this book some years ago as a present from a friend studying medicine. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself so reading about all the weird and whacky illnesses and injuries people can get was very entertaining!

On re-reading this book has lost none of its charm and fun.

[Laura]

funny and sometimes disturbing...learn about the odd (and sometimes painful to read about) less than well known diseases out there...

[J.M.]

This was a fun book to read. I really enjoyed it.

[Brenda]

I thought I was a hypochondriac before I read this book

[Hettie]

A interesting and fun read. Amazing what 'medical' conditions there are now.

[Andrea]

It was a good silly read to pass time. A lot of interesting and odd illnesses. Nothing that I would re-read for fun but I got some quirky facts from it for sure. It is definitely a coffee table book.

[Morgan]

Quick entertaining read.

[Lynzee]

A disease for every occasion, an illness for every symptom - SO TRUE! Good/Funny read!