We are one drugged-out country. The average person in the United States is on an average of 11.5 prescription medications according to Verispan, a health care information company. To really sink in, that statistic bears repeating – the average person in this country is on 11.5 prescription medications. That is an almost unbelievable statistic and it is largely driven by prescriptions for chronic diseases that are largely preventable through dietary and lifestyle interventions.
Behind the numbers
In 2008, total sales for prescription drugs reached $291.5 billion – this is a HUGE business. The top-selling drug was Lipitor, which is a statin drug used to control cholesterol, followed by the acid reflux medication Nexium, and Plavix, an anti-platelet agent that reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Anti-depressants were the third most popular type of drug dispensed in 2008, with $9.5 billion in sales. Together sales of drugs for cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous system issues (such as depression) accounted for half of all drug sales in 2008 – over $146 billion!
What’s going on?!
Almost all cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and mental health disorders can be improved or resolved through dietary and lifestyle interventions. The problem is that most people don’t take the time or make the effort to educate themselves on what they can do to improve their health. Instead, they go to their medical doctor and are given one or more drugs.
Chronic diseases are not due to a drug deficiency. There are identifiable underlying causes for every chronic disorder; the first step is to find out what they are. The second step is to do something about it. Yes this takes time, yes it will involve change and yes it will not always be fun. However, it is the only way you can be well.
Taking a handful of medications every day isn’t solving any problems; it’s creating them. All drugs have side effects and nobody knows how that many drugs in combination are reacting within your body. Don’t be an experiment in the medical arts. Find out what you can do to help yourself get healthier, and then do those things every day.
We can turn this country around – and we can get a whole lot healthier doing it!
This post comes to us from our friends at Natural Solutions for a Healthy You.