Evolutionary Medicine Book

Human biology reflects our long history as hunter-gatherers. For example, to cope with a variable food supply, we evolved the ability to consume extra calories and store them efficiently as fat. Now that most humans live very differently, this adaptation is often a disadvantage. Evolutionary medicine, an exciting new multidisciplinary field, looks at such conflicts between our biological traits and contemporary culture. It provides deep insights into a wide range of aspects of human health and biology, from childhood asthma and infant crying to breast cancer, aging, and menopause. The approach is uncovering both causes and treatments and will be an essential aspect of medical research well into the next century. This volume is a comprehensive survey of the field and contains work by such leaders as Paul Ewald, Melvin Konner, and Randolph Nesse. Topics include anxieties and phobias, substance abuse, SIDS, high-blood pressure, obesity, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, sensory disorders, and reproductive disorders including cancers. Useful as a supplementary textbook for a variety of courses, this book will prove an invaluable resource in medicine, biology, anthropology, and psychology.Read More