With the hum of the election campaign and the debate of “big
business,” versus human interest, I decided to do a bit of
muckraking into the art and science of the recent removal of
Merck’s Vioxx. My motivation of course; to look for clues as
to the role drug companies play in our health and wellness
(or lack thereof).
Here’s some symptoms giving me trouble:
Symptom #1: After pulling Vioxx from the shelves, drug company,
Merck, (as well as the media) made the “only 7.5 in 1,000
patients could be at risk for heart attack or stroke” sound
like a simple omission.
Symptom #2: Prior to the pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies
clearing their shelves of Vioxx, studies had shown the drugs
destructive effects for over four years (Check out the proof
for yourself in this article:
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/95/103442.htm )
Symptom #3: We are given all of this data in a most nonchalant
fashion, prior to learning the amount of money Merck was
pocketing on the drug: current tally, $2.6 billion
(reference article above).
Symptom: #4: We are meant to be comforted by the fact that
the drug, Vioxx, was released with only limited clinical
testing. And gosh, if no one from the random sample had any
cardiovascular consideration to begin with, who knew it
would cause heart attacks or stroke
(ref. http://my.webmd.com/content/chat_transcripts/1/103031.htm )?
Symptom: #5: (Even if we are to digest this) Perhaps they
shouldn’t have told us that in 2002, according to a report from
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association ( www.bcbs.com )
over $160 million dollars was spent to advertise Vioxx
(which was higher than advertisement dollars for both Pepsi
and Nike).
Shall I continue?
Why not... here’s more off the cuff musings:
On the other side of the coin, Merck has set off a chain
reaction. Each and every day I see advertisements from lawyers
on my local upstate New York television asking for Vioxx users
to step forward. Yes, if you dial 1-800 they’re at your disposal,
poised and ready to sue the pants off Merck.
And so I ask you... Do two wrongs make a right?
Here’s my assessment of the situation based on clinical
experience: When we’re sick, we trust our doctor to help us come
back to health. We trust the pharmaceutical companies to support
research and create drugs to prevent disease and ailments. Yet,
in a fear based society (assuming death to be the fear we speak
of) we hear precious little about the trust we should place on
our bodies own natural ability to heal itself. It’s just that
simple.
Let’s all be honest with each other, drug companies are betting
that you are going to get sick – and if and when you do they
will be happy to accommodate you. When doctors prescribe drugs,
pharmaceutical companies make money. And when a doctor prescribes
a certain “brand” of drug, the doctor receives a kick-back from
the company. It’s simple supply and demand.
What’s more, now their digging a little deeper into your pocket
and your psyche. Here’s a prime example. Turn on your television
set during – let’s say football season just to be timely.
You’ll notice prime–time advertisements by your favorite
(or not so favorite) celebrities promoting Celebrex, Levitra and
so on... These advertisements bypass the medical profession
placing drugs on the table for commercial consumption.
So this all begs the question - are drugs bad for you? The answer
can be both yes and no. All drugs have side effects. Most drugs
are created from organic sources but are then chemically
manipulated to cause a favorable reaction in the body. When you
take a drug, basically, you’re putting an inorganic substance
into nature.
Therefore, the hullabaloo makes me think – how do we stay out of
the machine? Or better yet, if there are drugs which will help
people become well (which I believe there are) how do we keep
the money-hungry honest? Here’s my 5 remedies:
Remedy One: Educate Yourself
What drugs can do is be a means to wellness. But you need to know
the facts. If you walk into your doctor’s office with a list of
symptoms, you will receive a drug that promises to (on paper)
relieve you of your symptoms.
But what if those symptoms are trying to tell you something? And
what if the drug your doctor prescribes could make you sicker?
Here’s what you can do: If you are given a drug, check out the
side effects and interactions here, then decide:
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/
Remedy Two: Think Complimentary Medicine
So, Laura, what is complimentary medicine? Complimentary medicine
asks you to take a long look at yourself, your body and your
beliefs about why an illness has developed. It’s not about
treating one ailment (joint pain, an injury, an illness) –
it’s about looking at the whole picture: your posture, your diet,
your lifestyle. Then, creating an exit strategy for your illness.
Complimentary medicine asks you to take a look at your
relationship to the affliction and then – with your doctor’s
facilitation - developing a treatment program as a means to
health (which can include medication). This way you become
fully active in your illness and treatment.
Remedy Three: Practice Prevention
The best way to approach wellness is when you are well. Then, if
the time should come for you to become a part of your own health
care, you can be honest with yourself and how you feel about your
body.
Start now. Take a long look at your self. Begin by checking
your score on the wheel of life:
( http://www.onlinewbc.gov/docs/manage/lifewheel.html )
Are you taking ample time for yourself? Time for exercise, time
for play? Are there outside forces instigating stress in your
body? By taking the wheel of life exam you’ll understand that
your personal fulfillment can pay dividends on your health.
Remedy Four: Have Routine Check Ups
This one is easy. Create a relationship with your doctor:
Make continuous notes of all your concerns and talk to your
doctor about them. Most doctors will only spend a limited time
with you, so get your notes together before hand and aim to keep
the lines of communication open.
Step Five: Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Be Kind To Yourself: Start by taking a few quiet moments each
day to silence the outside world and allow the heart rate to
slow. Continue your process to be well by becoming conscious
of all that is around you.
Nutrition: Practice becoming aware of what you are putting
in your mouth – try to focus on the naturals: fruits and
vegetables and go for lean meats and low fats. Finally,
don’t forget to drink your 8-oz glasses of water.
Exercise: Be sure to find an exercise program you enjoy
and be consistent with your workouts: My philosophy: spend
1 hour per day at least 5 days a week. This is just a guideline.
Find what kind of exercise you enjoy most, and be consistent.
Your body will thank you.
In Closure:
Learn to get to know your body. Your body and your relationship
to it will give you signals as to how to take care of it. You can
keep the drug companies honest by asking questions, challenging
information and making the most of the time you spend with your
doctor. By creating a positive atmosphere and a positive
lifestyle you are certain to find yourself betting on wellness
and keeping the pharmaceutical monies right where they belong:
in you own pocket.
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