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Blood Works: An Owner's Guide: What Every Person Needs to Know BEFORE They Are a Patient
Much has been published on heart health, kidney health, and gut health. But how many of us are aware of our blood health? Is your blood as healthy as it should be? How would you even know? Blood Works is a fascinating new blood owners’ guide to help you care for the health of your most precious fluid—your blood.
About 2 billion people globally are anemic, and almost as many suffer from iron deficiency without anemia. Many don’t even know they have it, just feeling tired, lethargic, and “foggy-headed.” Sound familiar? Over 600 million more suffer from acute or sometimes unrecognized chronic blood loss from causes such as heavy menstrual bleeding, obstetric hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, surgery, and trauma. Anemia, iron deficiency, and bleeding are signs of “blood failure” and have major negative health effects. Blood Works , with contributions from 48 leading international medical experts, is a must have book for all who want to look after their blood health.
Your blood is the essential fluid that keeps you alive. Yet, while many of us know our cholesterol level and blood pressure, few of us are aware of our blood count. What we don’t know can affect our everyday quality of life and put us at risk if we have bleeding, an injury, or require hospitalization.
Blood, and the vessels that contain it, make up the largest organ system in the body. Its balance and health must be maintained. For many decades, the treatment of first resort for anemia and blood loss has been blood transfusion, which is essentially a “liquid organ” transplant from another person. In heart failure or kidney failure, organ transplantation is not first-line treatment. In blood failure, blood “transplantation” should not be the first thing we reach for. Since the 1990s, scientific research has shown that the common use of blood transfusion is not the most effective treatment in many medical situations. It has been identified as one of the most overused treatments in modern medicine, costing billions of dollars, while causing changes in the recipient’s immune system that may increase the risk of complications and death. In October 2021, the World Health Organization called for the urgent global implementation of Patient Blood Management (PBM), stating “our own blood is still the best thing to have in our veins.”
Blood Works is one of the most exciting books on blood health you will read. The book zooms in on why medical experts from around the world now recognize the need for fundamental change in the way a patient’s blood is managed. Known as PBM, Patient Blood Management places the person receiving treatment at the center of decisions involving their lifeblood. Its aim is to improve general health and treatment outcomes by managing and preserving a patient’s own blood while empowering them to share in making decisions.
Meticulously researched and referenced, masterfully illustrated, and featuring personal stories from patients and their families, Blood Works is a compelling read. It will have a profound impact on your health and the health of your loved ones and is an invaluable resource for health care professionals.
About 2 billion people globally are anemic, and almost as many suffer from iron deficiency without anemia. Many don’t even know they have it, just feeling tired, lethargic, and “foggy-headed.” Sound familiar? Over 600 million more suffer from acute or sometimes unrecognized chronic blood loss from causes such as heavy menstrual bleeding, obstetric hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, surgery, and trauma. Anemia, iron deficiency, and bleeding are signs of “blood failure” and have major negative health effects. Blood Works , with contributions from 48 leading international medical experts, is a must have book for all who want to look after their blood health.
Your blood is the essential fluid that keeps you alive. Yet, while many of us know our cholesterol level and blood pressure, few of us are aware of our blood count. What we don’t know can affect our everyday quality of life and put us at risk if we have bleeding, an injury, or require hospitalization.
Blood, and the vessels that contain it, make up the largest organ system in the body. Its balance and health must be maintained. For many decades, the treatment of first resort for anemia and blood loss has been blood transfusion, which is essentially a “liquid organ” transplant from another person. In heart failure or kidney failure, organ transplantation is not first-line treatment. In blood failure, blood “transplantation” should not be the first thing we reach for. Since the 1990s, scientific research has shown that the common use of blood transfusion is not the most effective treatment in many medical situations. It has been identified as one of the most overused treatments in modern medicine, costing billions of dollars, while causing changes in the recipient’s immune system that may increase the risk of complications and death. In October 2021, the World Health Organization called for the urgent global implementation of Patient Blood Management (PBM), stating “our own blood is still the best thing to have in our veins.”
Blood Works is one of the most exciting books on blood health you will read. The book zooms in on why medical experts from around the world now recognize the need for fundamental change in the way a patient’s blood is managed. Known as PBM, Patient Blood Management places the person receiving treatment at the center of decisions involving their lifeblood. Its aim is to improve general health and treatment outcomes by managing and preserving a patient’s own blood while empowering them to share in making decisions.
Meticulously researched and referenced, masterfully illustrated, and featuring personal stories from patients and their families, Blood Works is a compelling read. It will have a profound impact on your health and the health of your loved ones and is an invaluable resource for health care professionals.
456 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2023
9 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Shannon L. Farmer
1 book4 followersDr. Shannon L. Farmer, DHSc, is an academic researcher and a consultant and pioneer in Patient Blood Management, having been in the field for over 30 years. He is a Doctor of Health Science and has appointmentsas Adjunct Associate Professor, Discipline of Surgery, Medical School, The University of Western Australia, and Honorary Research Fellow in Haematology, Department of Haematology, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia. He is a medical journal peer-reviewer, and serves on several PBM committees and guidelines expert working groups. In 2021 he was invited to serve on the World Health Organization External Working Group to develop a WHO Policy Brief and Guidelines for the implementation of PBM. He has published numerous peer-reviewed research papers, is a regularly invited lecturer, and has consulted to national and international health authorities. In 2014 he received the Dr Kathleen J Sazama Award (USA) “For Outstanding Leadership in Advancing Patient Rights and Patient Blood Management.”
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 30, 2024
I am not a medical professional. I read mainly non-fiction to fill 'gaps in knowledge'.
Physically, this is a heavy book. It is very information dense, but I found it highly readable even for a medical gumbie like me. The textbook weight and content is divided very thoughtfully into chapters of a user-friendly length...you can complete a chapter in one sitting, making the experience very satisfying.
I consider myself now so much better informed on so many matters relating to Patient Blood Management (PBM). The fact that I now understand the difference between 'informed consent' and 'informed choice' is just one of the hundreds of 'wow!' points in this book.
The final chapter closed out the discussion in a way that answered the few lingering questions I still had. Why do the wheels of change (relating to PBM) in medicine turn so slowly? I think I now can understand more of the mechanics involved. Intriguing!
Another aspect that adds value to this book is that whatever addendums etc may be necessary or become relevant in the future, can be subscribed to through the bloodworksbook.com website.
On top of all this, it's just great to have more respect, more of a sense of wonder at the beauty of the red stuff in my veins. I am so grateful for the education!
Physically, this is a heavy book. It is very information dense, but I found it highly readable even for a medical gumbie like me. The textbook weight and content is divided very thoughtfully into chapters of a user-friendly length...you can complete a chapter in one sitting, making the experience very satisfying.
I consider myself now so much better informed on so many matters relating to Patient Blood Management (PBM). The fact that I now understand the difference between 'informed consent' and 'informed choice' is just one of the hundreds of 'wow!' points in this book.
The final chapter closed out the discussion in a way that answered the few lingering questions I still had. Why do the wheels of change (relating to PBM) in medicine turn so slowly? I think I now can understand more of the mechanics involved. Intriguing!
Another aspect that adds value to this book is that whatever addendums etc may be necessary or become relevant in the future, can be subscribed to through the bloodworksbook.com website.
On top of all this, it's just great to have more respect, more of a sense of wonder at the beauty of the red stuff in my veins. I am so grateful for the education!
March 14, 2025
Bloodless medical treatment is a fascinating life saving subject few take time to reflect on. So many options are available if people take the time to research and make informed decisions ahead of time to set them up for success in case of a future medical emergency. This publication is priceless gift. It is the perfect conduit between the patient and the professional. It has depth in such digestible fashion, and easy on the eye without being overwhelming. It truly is an incredible achievement to have produced this publication. My sincere commendation to the team for making this happen. What a labour of love, and what good results will come out of this excellent educational resource. A must buy for every household. Whether you are in high school, university, or as a family you are thinking about your medical choices, this book will put everything in perspective for you. A must buy!!
May 24, 2023
Have just finished reading Blood Works. Easy to read. Excellent review of PBM, also for young doctors. Illustrations and summaries of high quality. Useful appendices. Well referenced.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews