NEW MEDICAL STUDY ADDS ONE MORE REASON TO ADD ANOTHER PRESCRIPTION TO YOUR LIST

The latest National Institute of Health sponsored SPRINT STUDY (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) determined that heart disease could be reduced by lowering systolic blood pressure (the TOP BP number) from 140 mmHg to 120 mmHg. The study showed this reduction resulted in 30 percent decrease in heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes as well as a 25 percent decrease in death.

We hear it all the time; “if diet and exercise are not enough to lower your blood pressure, medication may be needed.”

If your doctor told you to exercise and eat “healthier” without offering any structure or guidelines, how effective do you think the results would be for the average person? Now, if your doctor told you blood pressure medications were needed without offering structure or guidelines and left it up to you to decide what medication and in what dosage, how effective do you think the results would be for the average person?

Have we EVER seen medical research determining that LESS MEDICATION would lead to better results for patients with chronic conditions? Have we placed anywhere near the time and financial investment that pharmaceutical companies do into educating the public using STRUCTURED GUIDELINES to modify unhealthy lifestyles to reduce the patient’s DEPENDENCE on pharmaceutical products?

Most people reading this are probably thinking:

1. When it comes to pharmaceuticals, it’s all about MONEY!

2. When it comes to taking drugs, it’s easier to “pop a pill” than alter a lifestyle.

Money certainly plays a substantial role in a “for profit” health care system. This, however, only explains why doctors tend to over prescribe. It doesn’t explain why people fill prescriptions, open their mouths and swallow them!

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People do not believe that prescription drugs are the best option; they believe it’s the easiest and CHEAPEST option!

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They choose this because: (a) a third party payer absorbs a substantial amount of the expense, (b) it’s easier than committing time and effort to living healthy. Take away health coverage and see what the patient would do. They would either:

1. go without the medication because they wouldn’t be willing or able to spend the money

2. modify their lifestyle

LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS from LONG TERM USE of medications are NOT EASY or CHEAP. They CAUSE:

• CANCER

• DIABETES

• STROKES

• HEART DISEASE

• COMPROMISED IMMUNITY

• LIVER DISEASE

• KIDNEY DISEASE

The drug companies remind us of this in EACH and EVERY ad they run. We even take medications that CAUSE the side effects we’re taking the medication to AVOID! (ex. migraine medication may have side effects causing migraine headaches.)

Where is the “tipping point” that pushes the consumer over the edge and opens their eyes to the reality of what it takes to be HEALTHY? Is it insurance premiums? Cost of prescriptions? Lack of quality of health? Loss of function? All four of these questions relate to PAIN (financial, physical or emotional.) Is this really the best motivator to use?

What about CONTROL over one’s life? What about REDUCED medical expenses? What about SELF WORTH? What about QUALITY LIVING? What about FUNCTION providing capabilities to enjoy physical activities in life?  All five of these questions relate to PLEASURE (financial, physical or emotional.)

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Why not use PLEASURE to motivate your decisions and actions rather than PAIN?

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You might want to consider this option before the next study for the next drug reveals another erroneous reason why you “NEED” MORE MEDICATIONS TO BE “HEALTHIER.”

Guess which person takes daily pharmaceutical medications?

NOW GUESS WHICH ONE IS HEALTHIER?

 

 

Tags: disease, doctor, health, heart disease, high blood pressure, lifestyle, pharmaceutical, studies