In this book, Richard Gwyn demonstrates the centrality of discourse analysis to an understanding of health and communication. Focusing on language and communication issues he demonstrates that it is possible to observe and analyze patterns in the ways in which health and illness are represented and articulated by both health professionals and lay people.

Communicating Health and Illness:

Explores culturally validated notions of health and sickness and the medicalization of illness.

Surveys media representations of health and illness

Considers the metaphoric nature of talk about illness

Contributes to the ongoing debate in relation to narrative based medicine.

`There has been a pressing need for a book like this for some time. Gwyn cogently reviews the literature on discourse analysis as it pertains to medical and health matters. Introducing original research from his own studies allows him to vividly illustrate just how important it is to understand the role played by discourse. Students of health communication and the sociology of health and illness will find this book integral to their studies′ - Deborah Lupton

"It raises a number of thorny issues concerning what communication is, or might be, for embodied people… I enjoyed reading this book and it goes on my shelf in the knowledge that I shall reach for it again. It also becomes a key reference on my list of recommendations for students taking my ′health and illness′ course… it deserves to be read as an excellent review of the field at present."

Richard Gwyn is Lecturer and Co-ordinator at the Health Communication Research Centre, Cardiff University