McGraw-Hill OnlineMcGraw-Hill Higher EducationLearning Center
Student Center | Instructor Center | Information Center | Home
Sample Chapter
Overview
Table of Contents
Preface
What's New
Feature Summary
Print Supplements
Digital Supplements
PageOut
Feedback
Help Center


Core Concepts in Health, Brief Cover Image
Core Concepts in Health Brief, 9/e
Paul M. Insel, Stanford University, School of Medicine
Walton T. Roth, Stanford University, School of Medicine


What's New

New to the Brief Ninth Edition

  1. Updated coverage of key topics throughout. Topics new or updated include Healthy People 2010, the 2000 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the 2000 Surgeon General's report on mental health, the Human Genome Project and its implications for wellness, new methods of contraception, research on the potential health effects of cell phone use, emerging infectious diseases, global warming, and many others. Statistics and basic health recommendations have also been updated throughout the book.
  2. Reorganized and revised coverage of health care. New Chapter 15, "Conventional and Complementary Medicine: Skills for the Health Care Consumer," provides consumer-oriented coverage of both conventional medicine and widely used complementary and alternative practices. The focus is on providing students with basic background information to help them make informed consumer decisions. In addition, coverage of popular dietary supplements has been expanded throughout the book.
  3. Expanded coverage of spiritual wellness. For the ninth edition, the category of boxes formerly known as "Sound Mind, Sound Body" has been renamed to reflect a new, broader focus. Now labeled "Mind/Body/Spirit," these boxes cover such topics as paths for achieving spiritual wellness; religion and tobacco use; stress and its effects on the function and structure of the brain; journal writing to manage chronic illness; and how intimate relationships benefit health.
  4. Clear links between the text and the student CD-ROM and Web site. CD and Web icons throughout the book indicate elements and topics for which enhanced coverage can be found on the CD or Web site. For example, students can easily identify which chapter topics have mini-tutorials on the CD or are tied to Internet Activities on the Web site.
  5. New features designed to engage students' attention and to help them make healthy lifestyle changes:
    • "In the News" boxes highlight current topics and health issues that are in the news, including such topics as the Human Genome Project, same-sex marriages and civil unions, mifepristone (RU-486), genetically modified foods, club drugs, and emerging infectious diseases. Each "In the News" box includes the new Web icon, indicating that the Core Concepts in Health Web site has links to online resources students can use to learn more about the topic of the box.
    • Take Charge boxes have been renamed for the ninth edition to tie them more closely to the message of Chapter 1: Take charge of your health. As always, these boxes offer the practical advice students need to apply information to their own lives. New Take Charge boxes offer strategies in such areas as enhancing support in relationships, handling an alcohol-related emergency, staying safe on campus, and choosing foods rich in whole grains.
    • Communicate! activities suggest strategies and activities for improving communication skills in ways that will enhance wellness. These activities cover all aspects of communication, including assertive speaking; empathetic listening; and interpersonal, family, group, and mass communication. There are 3-4 Communicate! activities in each chapter.
    • Tips for Today provide a very brief distillation of the major message of each chapter, followed by a list of a few simple things that students can try right away. The chapter-ending Tips for Today sections are designed to encourage students and to build their confidence by giving them easy steps they can take immediately to improve their wellness.