Breathing is an activity many people take for granted. An average person takes almost 25,000 breaths a day and processes more than 10,000 liters of air. When the respiratory system functions properly, this work is done automatically. When things go awry, however, a wide range of conditions can develop that lead to outcomes varying in severity from transient to chronic and from mild to fatal. Furthermore, respiratory disorders are widespread, affecting people at all stages of life. In fact, the National Center for Health Statistics estimates that in the United States more than 3.6 million children and 22 million adults suffer from chronic respiratory diseases.

Provides basic consumer health information about complementary and alternative medical therapies.

The Oxford Desk Reference: Critical Care allows easy access to evidence-based materials on commonly encountered critical care problems for quick consultation to ensure the optimum management of a particular condition. A concise reference book, it collates key recommendations and presents them in an easily accessible and uniform way.

Contains basic information for the layperson about mental health disorders, providing medical explanations of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and other afflictions, and offers advice on treatment options.

It provides information to help patients and their families understand the differences between reversible and irreversible causes of dementia, comprehend the results of current research initiatives, and know what to expect as Alzheimer's disease progresses. A glossary and resource listings provide additional sources of help and information."--BOOK JACKET.

Examining the strengths and limitations of various standards of accuracy in clinical laboratory analyses, this detailed reference presents an in-depth study of important theoretical and empirical issues concerning the description, collection, and application of reference values in laboratory medicine.

Provides basic consumer health information about the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of various learning disabilities and other conditions that impact learning, along with facts about early intervention and the special education process, advice for coping at home and school, and handling the transition to adulthood. Includes index, glossary of related terms, and other resources.