Clinical Pathophysiology Made Ridiculously Simple

I am a nursing student who learns things by understanding them on a deep level (causes, patterns, connections) rather than by memorizing isolated fragments. So this book is excellent for someone like me. Unlike the assigned textbook for pathophysiology, this book begins its survey of the clinical problems that can affect each body system with a "big picture" preview--and always in the simplest, clearest language possible. Here, for instance, is how the pulmonary system chapter begins: "What problems could affect the alveolar sac and/or airways? 1. The sac is already filled with something other than air. 2. The sac does not open adequately. 3. The sac is unable to expire adequately due to either obstruction of the airways or decreased elastic recoil of the sac itself." The rest of the chapter simply fills in the details of these three possibilities. Moreover, the book is filled with extremely useful devices for remembering and organizing the information presented. There are on virtually every page very clear diagrams, pictures, or formulas that capture a central concept in a memorable figure. For instance, a figure depicting the renal system, with blood supply, nephron, and collecting system (ureter, etc) uses little pointing hands to show the classification of kinds of acute renal failure: prerenal, intrinsic, and postrenal. Second, the book has many helpful mnemonics. For instance, "aldosteRoNe causes Reabsorption of Na (sodium)." Finally, the book provides detailed but wonderfully clear and simple explanations of virtually every pathophysiological problem, including many of the major diagnostics for distinguishing them. Moreover, it frequently uses questions in the text to give the reader a chance to think about the problem. For instance, in discussing hyperthryroidism, the author points out the two main mechanisms: "The thyroid over-secretes thyroid hormone (primary) or the pituitary over-stimulates the thyroid to secrete thyroid hormone (secondary). One needs only one lab value to distinguish between primary and secondary hyperthyroidism. Which one? Think about negative feedback. If the thyroid itself secretes lots of hormone 'without being told to,' this would increase negative feedback on the pituitary. So in primary hyperthyroidism TSH will be low." Plainly, one cannot come to this book without an adequate background in basic anatomy and physiology. Nor does the book presume to provide detailed coverage of everything, as Guyton and Hall do. But it is the best short overview of pathophysiology I have ever seen, and it helped me tremendously in understanding and therefore thinking critically about clinical problems.

WOW! This is my new favorite medical textbook! Definitely closes the gaps between didactic and wards. Wonderful explanations and diagrams, just like the other Made Ridiculously Simple books. Highly recommend!!!!

I used this in NP pharmacology. It breaks pharmacology down to the cell function.

Beautiful 😍 really love the colorful illustrations. Pages are coated, keeping protected from spills and snags when left open. The spiral binding is very convenient but not as clean turning pages versus previous edition. Minor inconvenience, doesn't detract at all. As a late 30s mom working full time while in nursing school, this book is invaluable. Takes the body systems and breaks them down nicely, covering key concepts as well as expected pathology of system disorders. Love it 😀 😍 so glad they made this 3rd edition. Gave my 2nd edition copy to my 15 year old (who i interested in healthcare). Also enjoyed! The author makes it makes it that easy to understand.

I love this series of books! A lot of students struggle with pathophysiology. (Personally, I find pharmacology more difficult, but that's neither here nor there.) Anyone struggling to understand pathophysiology or anyone just wanting to read pathophysiology simplified - as much as it can be - needs to read this book. While written primarily for college and medical school students - I'm working on a MS is Advanced Biosciences - even intelligent and engaged high school biology and physiology students should be able to understand this book. It describes the disease process according to each system of the body. For example, on the first page, we begin to read an anatomical overview of the heart, then we jump right into heart failure and its causes. The book continues describing most everything that can adversely affect the heart and how to treat it, then it dives into the pulmonary system, the renal system, the gastrointestinal system, etc. There's nothing extraneous, but there's nothing left out, either. (As the author points out in the preface, you won't find information on histopathology, epidemiology, diagnostic algorithms, treatment protocols, and psychosocial medicine in this book. This book is dedicated to what causes disease and how to treat it. That's it. And that's all I wanted, at least from this book.) Even my non-medical, non-scientific sister could understand this book, though she really wasn't interested in it. I've maintained a 4.0 average in my Advanced Pathophysiology class, and I really have to credit this book for much of that grade. (I love my textbook, but it can be daunting at times.) I read this book before my class began, and I refer to it often during class projects and the writing of papers. The only thing I wish were different is that the book were spiral bound. However, if you're a college student, or even a high school student studying human physiology, I think you'll find this book very helpful. I've been recommending it too all my classmates, and the ones who've read it love it! I think you will, too.

I used this book in my FNP program to study advanced patho. It saved my life. The author explains concepts so well. Very easy to follow

For those of you who are in school for healthcare, this book does a fantastic job of breaking down complicated topics for pathophysiology. I take it everywhere I go. They give great examples, charts, and some mnemonics. I tell anyone I know who is in school for medicine to buy it. It has really helped me to understand organ system topics.

I have used this to help me in four different classes so far (for nursing school), and it has been wonderful. It explains what my text book attempts to explain in a very simple and comprehensive format. It actually gives me more insight on a lot of things than my giant thick textbook does. I can honestly say I’ve read nearly the entire thing- and when I write care plans or concept maps I continually resort back to this book. If I read something in my book that doesn’t make sense (usually because they try too hard to explain), I’ll use this book and always immediately understand the concept or process. After this I purchased this, I also purchased the Clinical Cardiology guide for my cardiac rotations, and the acid base balance from this series- and they are wonderful as well. Thank you for making my life easier!

The best book to keep in order the storm of mnemonic notions in the medical student's head! Definitely a lovingly readable book.

This book is genuinely a good find. It has very simple yet detailed - thorough explanations that provide an exceptional learning experience. Highly recommended

so much more readable and understandable than my professor ... most students on my course (human sciences) use this book. It's physiology, it's pathology and it relates to real people. A Winner

I like the easy to grasp style the book is written. Definitely for beginners but good for recap as well. The included diagrams help solidify the concepts behind the written text. The book arrived damaged as per photos, doesn't affect me but if it was a gift purchase I would be a bit disappointed. The packaging was just a satchel and should have probably been wrapped around in cardboard.

Ich bin durch einen amerikanischen Med. Studenten auf diese Buchreihe aufmerksam geworden. Er hat sie mir damals wärmstens ans Herz gelegt und was soll ich sagen - das einzig Negative ist die fehlende deutsche Übersetzung. (wobei das Englische hier nun wirklich keinen überfordern wird!) Natürlich hab auch ich mich durch die üblichen Buchwerke mühselig durchgearbeitet und wer kennt das typische Szenario nicht? Es steht mal wieder eine Prüfung an, die Zeit ist knapp bemessen und die Standardwerke erdrücken einen mit einer schier unfassbaren Informationsflut (teils ja auch Irrelevantes), was das Durcharbeiten meist erheblich verlangsamt! Leider hab ich mir dieses Buch erst nach der Prüfung zugelegt. Mit den knapp 200 Seiten ist es ein echtes Leichtgewicht unter den ganzen Fachbüchern. Die pathologischen Prozesse werden hier ja nahezu kinderleicht dargestellt und sind wirklich sehr, sehr lesenswert geschrieben, so dass sich der Stoff relativ rasch verinnerlichen lässt. Für zusaätzliche Infos schlägt man dann eben ein anderes Fachwerk auf, aber das ist man als Med. Student sowieso schon gewohnt, dass man aus mehreren Quellen seine Infos bezieht;) Abschließend kann ich das Buch hier voll und ganz empfehlen. Es wäre bestimmt ein absoluter Kassenschlager, wenn es denn eine deutsche Fassung von dem Werk geben würde.