Common Medical Problems

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

   PDF

2. Chest pain

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 1-30

3. Breathlessness

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 31-59

4. High blood pressure

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 61-106

5. Swelling of the legs

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 107-138

6. Indigestion

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 139-176

7. Diarrhoea

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 177-203

8. Jaundice

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 205-239

9. Headache and fits

   • Gerald Sandler

   Pages 241-285

10. Dizziness

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 287-314

11. Difficulty in walking

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 315-350

12. Brain failure

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 351-397

13. Increase in weight

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 399-433

14. Tiredness

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 435-475

15. Loss of weight and back pain

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 477-524

16. Polyarthritis

    • Gerald Sandler

    Pages 525-566

17. Back Matter

    Pages 567-578

    PDF

The Oxford English Dictionary defines diagnosis as: 'Identification of a disease by careful investigation of its symptoms and history' . Regrettably, the value of the history in the diagnosis of disease often seems to be neglected in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The considerable advances in medical technology have made it easy to carry out a multiplicity of tests. As a result, there is frequently an unfortunate tendency to rely on the results of tests before decisions are taken on diagnosis and treatment, even though such tests are often of limited value in the manage­ ment of the patients. This book is an attempt to redress the balance and place the proper emphasis on the diagnostic value of a well-taken and perspicacious history. The main purpose of the book is to show that most of the clinical problems encountered in daily practice can be dealt with effectively and satisfactorily on the basis of a good clinical history. This should be supplemented by a prob­ lem-orientated clinical examination, the primary function of which is either to confirm and amplify the diagnosis provided by the history, or to refute it.

• blood
• blood pressure
• brain
• diagnosis
• education
• examination
• headache
• medical education
• pain
• patients
• treatment

• District General Hospital, Barnsley, UK

  Gerald Sandler

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