The Savvy Woman Patient is the brainchild of The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), and is the collaborative effort of 40 professionals with a wide range of backgrounds. Medical doctors, PhDs, nurses, and dietitians are but a few of the fields represented in this extensive work.

It wasn’t that long ago when the latest medical technology was based solely on biomedical research done on male patients. Fortunately, certain groups, including SWHR, saw the need for women to be incorporated into the research and advances in the field of medicine. Not surprisingly, researchers have indeed found a significant difference between men and women in many important areas, including the response to medications, the metabolism of various substances, and a variety of genetic, biological, and environmental factors that impact health, to name but a few.

In Part 1 of the book, the authors address the topic Taking Care of Yourself and provide 4 important chapters to help you care for yourself. In Part 2, they shift their attention to specific diseases grouped by organ system and type of disease, such as diseases of the digestive tract and liver, heart disease, cancer, and bone and muscle health. The authors conclude their work with the 3rd, and final section, called, Where to Go for Help which includes vital information on medical research.

As a practicing physician, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants and needs to know more about how the female body works, what to expect when you have been diagnosed with a medical disorder, and how to prevent disease. In other words, all women would benefit from having a copy of this important book.

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