From: Margaret Henderson at CSHL Library
I just finished reading the following book and I wanted to let others know about it.
Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine by George C. Williams, Ph.D. and Randolph M. Nesse, M.D. Times Books, 1995 ISBN: 0-8129-2224-7
This book is a fascinating look at why our human history and prehistory is important in any research about disease and health. The authors have written a highly readable book about the new field of Darwinian medicine - finding evolutionary explanations for why we get sick. It involves the study of why certain traits from our past can cause disease today, and why some traits that are maladaptive today, may have been a help to our ancestors, the early hunter-gatherers.
There are sections on injury and infection, genetic diseases, cancer, pregnancy, aging, and psychiatric problems. Having recently had two children, I was very interested in the theories about 'morning sickness' and the fight between the mother and fetus. The authors discuss the theories of several researchers. For example one theory suggests that 'morning sickness' could be an adaptation to keep us away from strong tasting foods which are usually high in toxins during the critical first few months of pregnancy. There are also evolutionary explanations for why we crave fat, sugar, and salt.
The authors are very careful to stress that they are not just another medical fad. They want to work with the medical establishment to provide better treatment and understanding of illness. It has recently been shown that running a fever has a function in healing of certain illnesses. With the help of Darwinian medicine, a doctor would know when to let a fever run its course and when it is best to bring a fever down with medication.
I recommend this book for any library collection. Doctors in hospitals and at medical schools should be aware of it. Any public library patron would enjoy reading it and find it highly informative. And students of any discipline would find it interesting and I'm sure would get ideas about how evolution effects all sorts of things in our daily life.
Internet Source: http://www.ghsl.nwu.edu/BLAB/BLAB44.html#c8
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