|
Most DCs would agree: Chiropractic is about health. However, while our business is promoting health, patients initially come to us complaining of pain and/or disease.
Yes, we do adjust, and many of us even teach posture rehab, and we do help patients from athletes seeking better performance enhance to boomers seeking wellness, but society at large does not fully appreciate our value for wellness & performance.
At some point most patients are making a choice about taking drugs, even when seeing you and even if they do not always admit it. So, while DCs do not prescribe drugs, it behooves us to be aware of the messages about drugs targeting our patients, as well as society at large.
Intelligently prescribed medication can truly cure many illnesses, but drug abuse is rampant...and I am not talking about illegal drugs. While potentially lifesaving, the problem with drugs (and the root of much of our professions long time anti-drug stand) is the mistaken philosophy that there is a pill for every ill.
Historically, the role of drawing the line for when drugs are appropriate is usually filled by the allopathic physician, a professional by and large trained to reflexively use prescription pads. However, big Pharma is shifting the PCP's gatekeeper role to their marketing department with burgeoning budgets for direct to consumer drug ads.
Direct to consumer ad spending for drugs (such as that cute little purple pill) hit an estimated $7.5 BILLION in 2005, up from a mere $2.5 billion in 2000. So, in my opinion, educating people about big Pharma marketing is consistent with our mission of advocating healthy LifeHabits.
In addition, patient injuries from getting the wrong drug are ballooning. There are over 10,000 prescription and 300,000 over-the-counter drugs on the market today, all of which have varied interactions and instructions. A 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) study reported 100,000 patient injuries from medication, a finding which spurred the government to spend $50 million on improving patient safety.
In July, 2006 the IOM released another study and reported that in the U.S medication errors serious enough to cause injury occur 1.5 million times a year (a 15 fold increase in the past 7 years!) prompting a recommendation to spend another $100 million on electronic systems and provider education.
My question is this: Is it possible the problem has something to do with the BILLIONS spent annually on direct to consumer drug ads?
If you agree that drug marketing is a problem and want to communicate this message, I suggest you investigate a new documentary DVD- Money Talks: Profits Before Patient Safety.
Details: Money Talks
Details: Side Effects
Want to read more on this topic? Read Buyer Beware |
|
"Bank" your calories for foods or meals that are important. Cut back on the size of your regular meals, but don't skip meals in anticipation of a party or event.
Try to increase your activity. Take a walk or a bike ride. Park at the far end of the parking lot on your holiday shopping trips.
At parties, head for the veggies. Put the food you're planning on eating on a plate, so you can see how much you're consuming. Look over the buffet table first, step back and preplan what your're going to eat.
Beware of alcohol. Almost any way you drink it, alcoholic beverages pack in 150 to 300 calories per drink.
Don't let special occasions uproot your healthy eating and exercise habits. Take time for yourself, to eat well, to relax, to exercise, and to enjoy good health.
|
|
You are what you eat. Literally. Your body makes new tissue from what you eat. Your body is constantly making new cells and tissues out of what you put in to it. In the course of time, every 7 years, every atom in your body is replaced.
What did you eat during the past 24 hours? Low fat and low nutrition isn’t smart. However, high carbohydrates, low fat and quality foods is smart. Trade in fat free doughnuts, which have no nutritional value, for a banana. Getting the nutrients you need makes a difference in how you feel now, and how your body wears for tomorrow.
Also, throw out your scale. Or, if you need a scale... only use it once a week. Weight is not always a true indicator of health. Body composition (fat vs. muscle) is. There are several ways to have your body fat percentage measured, but the easiest way to see if you've lost fat is to just stand naked in front of a mirror. The eye is a good judge, that, and how your clothes are fitting.
|
|
|
The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day. Be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs and make smart choices from every food group.
|
|
Read more...
|
NUTRITION: Know the facts…
Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label. For a healthier you, how do you make smart food choices quickly and easily? Try these tips:
- Keep these low: saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
- Get enough of these: potassium, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.
- Use the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible: 5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 2 of 3 |
