Don't Poke A Skunk

"One of the first rules of medicine is don't poke a skunk." according to Dr. David Peura, an industry consultant and former president of the American Gastroenterological Association. This is said in relation to the over use of medications as prescribed by doctors. A lot of people are on medication they probably don't need but, if is seems to be doing something or if in fact doesn't seem to overtly harming the patient then, doctors are reluctant to discontinue medication.

Thus, the success of the little purple pill and it's relatives designed to help with heartburn. Handed out like water and is a front line med if you so much as burp. Yet for a majority of people it is choices and behaviors that cause the burping and heartburn...yet we take the path of least resistance and take a pill. After years of taking the same medication we find that there are some serious side effects to this long term habit of popping a pill.

In one study a hospital found that 60% of their patients were started on acid-suppressing drugs with no valid explanation. Scientist have been concerned about the long term side effects such as bone fractures and pneumonia. In one study they found that the sudden stopping of the drug after long term use can actually cause the symptoms they are treating...we are a nation hooked on acid suppressors and other medications. A day does not go by when I interview a patient who's medication list includes several which they have no idea why they are taking it...or 2-3 of the same class of drug. When I ask, "what are you taking this medication for?" or "do you realize you are taking 3 different diuretics?" I get answers like, "I don't know." "My doctor put me on it." or "I take the little pink pill...you know the name." or "I don't have any idea of the dosage I am taking." WAKE UP...we are turning into pharmaceutical zombies!!!! Many people are their own worst enemy. Yes, it is good to get a second opinion...yes you need a doctor who you can relate too...but each doctor should be told what you are taking as prescribed by a previous physician. There are many people who have overlapping prescriptions because the doctor has no clue what is being prescribed by a another.

Rather than taking the heartburn med...maybe we could look at our stress levels, food choices, exercise options??? And maybe we can start being proactive about our health choices and be a contributor to decreasing the out of control health care costs by only using that which we truly need rather than that which is more convenient.