Book reviews

One Minute Asthma: What You NeedTo KnowFourth EditionThomas F. Plaut, MD. Pedipress,Inc., Amherst, Massachusetts, 1999.Softcover, 60 pages. $5.00.

This is the Fourth Edition of thislittle book that had its beginning in1991. The author wrote this book “togive asthma patients the basic factsthey need to know about asthma” inan accurate, clear, concise, and easyto read format. The book does ex-actly that.Intended to complement the basic

education provided by physicians, itprovides patients quick access to theessence of the most important aspectsof asthma care. It spans the scope ofasthma care: the basics, asthma medi-cations, home monitoring and treat-ment plan, devices important to people

with asthma, and additional resourcesabout asthma. Each topic is covered onone page and each page requires aboutone minute to read, hence the title.Although published by Pedipress, thisbook is intended for anyone withasthma or responsible for the care ofsomeone with asthma.Additional topics covered in this

edition not covered in the edition thatI own (Second Edition) include: Si-nus Trouble, Inflammation of theNose, Long-acting Adrenaline-likeMedicines, Leukotriene ModifierMedicines, Ipratropium, Dry Pow-dered Inhalers, & Medicines ThatMay Make Asthma Worse. Dr. Plauthas expanded the summaries of peakexpiratory flow rate meter use andhome monitoring of peak expiratoryflow rate as well as the discussion ofholding chambers. He presents briefcomments on a range of topics in-

cluding Antihistamines, Cough Med-icines, Which Inhaler To Use First, IsYour Inhaler Empty?, and How ToChoose An Asthma Doctor.Dr. Plaut is a pediatrician who has

devoted the majority of his practice lifeto the care and education of patientswith asthma. He is the author of Chil-dren with Asthma: A Manual for Par-ents, Asthma Charts & Forms for thePhysician’s Office. He is on the edito-rial board of Advance for Managers ofRespiratory Care and is the medicalconsultant to Asthma Update, a news-letter for patients and professionals.Dr. Plaut is in private practice in Am-herst, MA.

PETER B. BOGGS, M.D.Medical Director and Senior FellowThe Asthma 2000 GroupShreveport, Louisiana

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