Many of us are under physicians’ care for diseases and conditions which are treated with prescription medications. We find our dosages, frequencies and the intensity of our recommended drugs escalating with time. We also find ourselves at the mercy of pharmaceutical company prices as charged to us through our health insurance plans. Cost is certainly a major consideration in how we address our dependence on prescription drugs, but there are a few other factors to consider.
First, drugs are essentially not natural to our systems. They are designed to effect changes in how our bodies work, but are they manna to our systems or a form of poison that helps us to fight the conditions they are targeted to? When I think of cancer medications which kill certain blood cells in an effort to support other blood cells I wonder at the battles going on inside the patients who are locked into this war.
Second, there has been criticism of mainstream healthcare providers whose first response seems to turn toward drugs before more holistic interventions are attempted. For years those who espouse wellness treatments have questioned the knee jerk reaction so many doctors have of prescribing pharmaceutical solutions before diet, exercise and other treatments are considered. Even worse, the proliferation of drugs, each stronger than the ones which preceded them, makes escalation of dosage and frequency an accepted course of action.
Third, along with the increase in dosage and frequency comes complacency on the part of patients about addressing the conditions in question. It is easier to “stay the course” of drug treatment than to change our lifestyles thus further addicting us to the easy road. We also need to be wary of the all too frequent end result of true addiction either by the patient or by other members in the household who have easy access to prescription drugs.
In the end we can choose to be victims of pharmaceutical solutions or we can take responsibility to seek out other alternatives. Diet, exercise and stress management will truly go a long way in limiting our prescription use. As an example my “eat every 2 hours” diet seems to be managing my blood sugar issues pretty well so far. The true test will be in my next blood test. Exercising moderately every day produces terrific positive results as well and also helps manage stress. I am always excited when my grand-puppy Tubby comes over to walk me.
We need to look critically at how we address our health and be personally accountable for the course of treatment we elect. Good decisions now will save a lot of money and heartache in the future. If you need help thinking through other ways to save money, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at CDA Inc. We are here to help you!
Stay Tuned: I recently read about a non-pharmaceutical treatment for Parkinson’s Disease as well as a treatment for Dementia that did not include drugs and I will write about both next time. Please check next Tuesday for some exciting ways in which major illnesses are being addressed.