Review: Good Overview but Overpromises
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 28, 2014
There is a lot to like about this book, but also some very optimistic suggestions.▲ Very nice overview of the various food and other issues that exacerbate acid reflux.  Avoid those tomatoes and sodas!▲ Good overview of the various types of medications and prescription drugs. I didn't see a warning about the acid-blockers and the problem with vitamin D and bone density.  This is a serious side-effect with this type of medication, and typically requires the patient to take supplemental vitamins. Perhaps the warning was listed, but I don't recall seeing it.▲ Excellent discussion of the various tests that can be performed by your doctor.  I am familiar with the 24-hour PH monitoring test, and it indeed is similar to what the author describes.▲ Good discussion of the "last resort" of surgery.▼ Here's my main criticism of this book. There are millions of people who have this disease. Of course, dietary changes are the very first thing the physician recommends (I know from personal experience.)  Nevertheless, millions of people have not succeeded in solving the problem with their attempts at lifestyle changes.  In other words, it's a very difficult problem to solve.  I'm afraid that some readers will be mislead by the suggestion that lifestyle changes are going to cure the reader's reflux.  The author suggests that "As you do the simple lifestyle changes to combat acid reflux, you would not only benefit from freedom from this condition for life, but your total well being would also be greatly enhanced.  Life without acid reflux is possible. Start living without it, now!"▼ The above is simply not a credible statement. Lifestyle changes may NOT solve the problem (again, I know from personal experience), and the author cannot possibly know that the rosy scenario will indeed happen.  There might be research showing how often the problem is indeed corrected with dietary changes. If those statistics exist, by all means include them.√ It would be far better to simply state that diet and lifestyle changes will likely lessen the impact, but acknowledge that millions of patients will sadly still be forced to use prescription drugs.▼ Minor nit: The use of the Subjunctive mood (something "would" happen) is puzzling and diminishes the flow a bit.√ This book really has a lot of potential.  If the overly optimistic conclusions were absent, it would be a far superior book.♫ A Review by Chris Lawson