You have heard the term “informed consent”. It makes sense that a patient would learn about the pros and cons of any prescribed treatment or medication. However, that is not what typically happens and so, it is smart to inform yourself so you ask the right questions of your doctor and not only about what the doc recommends, but also about what alternatives may have been skipped over.
The US has a miserable global ranking in most health categories. Let’s start with life expectancy…we rank 43rd. Really, with all our resources??? It is also shocking that we rank worst among developed countries in maternal mortality. (Statistics seem to indicate that we rely on OBGYN’s for childbirth while other better ranked countries have a higher ratio of midwives) We do fairly well (but not great) in statistics for stroke, cancer and keeping folks alive if they make it to age 75. Our advantage in those categories is due mainly to the happy fact that we smoke less than many countries and that our high tech medical heroics at the end of life are superior. By that I mean we can prolong life indefinitely but, by then, that life may have become a miserable dependent existence. Isn’t what we really want to live younger and healthier longer? US healthcare in general ranks LAST among high-income countries in spite of spending much more. Improved diet and lifestyle can save the day. We’d darn well better do what we can ourselves because the medical profession is not prepared to lead the way / teach us and Medicare is headed into trouble. Exceptions to the generalization about docs can be found on the Library page: Doctor Resources. As crucial as oral health is to our whole body, sure to also visit a cutting-edge dentist. Check out this page: Dental Resources.
There is a good reason that it is called the “practice” of medicine. Misdiagnosis is a very large problem. (If you are having symptoms, it is smart to ask the doctor what is the worst thing your symptoms could mean and rule out that possibility in a timely manner.) Treatments and advice go out of favor as more is learned and as the proponents of old ideas retire or die. Major changes often take 40 years…especially if there is a big financial incentive to stick to the old paradigm. Meanwhile, old ideas can cost lives. The article linked below, Death by Medicine, and the radio interview with one of the authors points out that the side effects of drugs, hospital-acquired infections and medical mistakes add up to be the number one cause of premature deaths…ahead of heart disease. The more you know, the better you can avoid being one of those statistics. The doctors in the resources noted above blend historic wisdom with new science to provide better care. Self care is the most important and that is what this website and the HBN radio show are all about.
For more information, read our pages on Drugs,Testing, How to Recognize a Quack, and How to safely search the internet for health information.
News:
Nearly 19% of Medicare recipients will experience serious harm due to medical care. The risk of death after these harms was greater, with only 45% surviving till the end of the study. Two thirds of the events occurred in outpatient care versus one third in hospitals. Link to abstract.
Books / Articles:
- Death by Medicine article
- The Textbook of Natural Medicine by Joseph E. Pizzorno, ND and Michael T. Murray, ND – Every health professional should have this book.
- List of recommended books
Online Searchable Resources:
- MERCK MANUAL
- Ronald Hoffman, MD
- Knowledge of Health (Bill Sardi)
- Compare Hospitals
- SmartPatients.com (network for answers)
- Dr. Joseph Mercola
Media Resources:
- Know the Cause television show with Doug Kaufmann
- Peoples Pharmacy radio show, newspaper column and content rich website with Joe and Terry Graedon
- Forever Young Radio Show
- Ronald Hoffman,MD
- Dr. Bob Martin radio show
- Healthy by Nature
Copyright 2014-2024 by Martie Whittekin, CCN