Health maintenance
Most women understand that their body needs check-ups and regular maintenance, whereas a lot of blokes will only go to the doctor if their head has fallen off and their leg is singing a song – and even then they'll forget to bring the head and not mention the singing on the grounds that it's not hurting.
Good health is partly about luck and genes, but it's also a lot to do with taking care of yourself. Here's how to keep your bits working, what to do when they don't, putting together a healthcare team of on-call individual experts, where to get medical advice and where not to get it, all about screening tests you need such as pap smears, which warning signs to look out for when it comes to things like eyes, teeth, ears, feet and your bottom workings, which alternative therapies can be useful, and why homeopathy is a big steaming load of ning-nongery.
Sleep
Here's what we now understand about sleep: if you don't get plenty of it you get scatty, crabby and sick. Sleep deprivation, as any new parent or secret agent knows, is torture. Severe lack of sleep can lead to psychosis (hallucinations and other breaks with reality). Not enough sleep means you're vulnerable to colds and other infections. It contributes to workplace and car accidents, memory problems, an inability to concentrate or study, and going to the school gate with your nightie on under an overcoat. Okay, maybe that was just me.
Illnesses & conditions
This isn't the most cheerful part of the book, but if you, a loved one or a friend gets sick, it may be the most useful.
Here's an 'unlucky dip' of a few health problems we might encounter in our lives, warning signals to look out for and some comforting news about available treatments.