This accessible book provides a cogent review of the literature on discourse analysis as it pertains to medical and health matters. It demonstrates the centrality of discourse analysis to an understanding of health and communication. Introducing original research from his own studies, Richard Gwyn focuses on language and communication issues. He shows 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. Discourse, 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 The book is vividly illustrated throughout with examples from the author's own research.