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Too many people take too many pills

economist.com

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Re: Too many people take too many pills

#31

Post by JohnFen »

asdfman123 wrote: post #30
JohnFen wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course I've heard it. As you said, the odds are excellent that everyone reading this has heard it too. And I actually do all of that. Not because anyone told me to, or because I should, but because that's just how my life ended up being arranged. Not sure how that's related to my point, though.

Just that everyone's heard it, so the doctor isn't going to repeat it to you with every visit. I think a doctor absolutely should gently remind people that those things improve a variety of conditions, and occasionally push a little harder in certain situations (you need to start doing X now or your condition is going to be a big problem). Many of them already do, of course.

Sure, a doctor isn't necessarily going to give generic health advice on every visit. That wasn't what I was saying.

What I was saying is that if I go see a doctor for a condition, and the proper way to resolve that condition is to make a lifestyle change, then that is what I want the doctor to tell me.

What I don't want the doctor to do is to just give me a prescription if the actual treatment is to behave differently in some way.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#32

Post by mydogcanpurr »

badpun wrote: post #11
aschearer wrote: post #8

People want pills or miracle diets. People don't want lifestyle changes. They're busy, stressed, strapped for cash, and anyway they like the standard American diet. Collectively, we could shape our environment so healthy decisions are easier and unhealthy choices are harder, but we can't even agree to tax sugar. So we won't make policy changes anytime soon, and individually many of us will fail to make healthier choi…

[flagged]

There's a huge confounder missing in your analysis which is that they're also typically quite old by the time they retire. People don't change their habits easily at that age.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#33

Post by asdfman123 »

JohnFen wrote: post #31
asdfman123 wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just that everyone's heard it, so the doctor isn't going to repeat it to you with every visit. I think a doctor absolutely should gently remind people that those things improve a variety of conditions, and occasionally push a little harder in certain situations (you need to start doing X now or your condition is going to be a big problem). Many of them already do, of course.

Sure, a doctor isn't necessarily going to give generic health advice on every visit. That wasn't what I was saying. What I was saying is that if I go see a doctor for a condition, and the proper way to resolve that condition is to make a lifestyle change, then that is what I want the doctor to tell me. What I don't want the doctor to do is to just give me a prescription if the actual treatment is to behave differentl…

But difficult to treat chronic conditions aren’t that straightforward, and virtually all of them respond to general good health as outlined on that list.

Everything else is either a straightforward treatment, is untreatable, or has a lifestyle change that the doctor will tell you about (like with IBS and a low FODMAP diet for instance).

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#34

Post by ElevenLathe »

badpun wrote: post #28
aschearer wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How puritanical. Do you look down on everyone or just unhealthy people?

I'm the same. It's just human nature to not want to expend effort. We love excuses, like - I'm too stressed, to busy etc. - but quite often, they're just that - convenient excuses.

All humans in environment A get fat, develop heart disease, and are depressed. All humans in environment B are lean, live long lives without medication, and are happy. The only logical conclusion: everyone in environment A is lazy or otherwise morally deficient.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#35

Post by JohnFen »

asdfman123 wrote: post #33
JohnFen wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, a doctor isn't necessarily going to give generic health advice on every visit. That wasn't what I was saying. What I was saying is that if I go see a doctor for a condition, and the proper way to resolve that condition is to make a lifestyle change, then that is what I want the doctor to tell me. What I don't want the doctor to do is to just give me a prescription if the actual treatment is to behave differentl…

But difficult to treat chronic conditions aren’t that straightforward, and virtually all of them respond to general good health as outlined on that list. Everything else is either a straightforward treatment, is untreatable, or has a lifestyle change that the doctor will tell you about (like with IBS and a low FODMAP diet for instance).

I agree. That isn't counter to what I was saying at all.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#36

Post by dantheman »

aschearer wrote: post #8

People want pills or miracle diets. People don't want lifestyle changes. They're busy, stressed, strapped for cash, and anyway they like the standard American diet. Collectively, we could shape our environment so healthy decisions are easier and unhealthy choices are harder, but we can't even agree to tax sugar. So we won't make policy changes anytime soon, and individually many of us will fail to make healthier choi…

Sugar is taxed, it's why we have hi-fructose corn-syrup.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#37

Post by manuel_w »

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372

I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope.

I'm wondering if pharmaceutical companies are sponsoring this. It's akin to product placement.

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#38

Post by SturgeonsLaw »

manuel_w wrote: post #37

Slightly related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16252372 I noticed that taking pain-killers is a very common thing in american TV shows. The main protagonist (male hero) gets hurt, goes to the bathroom, hastily pours a handful of pills into his hand and pops them into the mouth. Not one, but a hand full of pills, cleary too many. I've seen it so much, I'm starting to wonder if it's a TV trope. I'm wondering if…

Like the way toothpaste ads show them squirting 3x as much paste as you actually need onto the toothbrush

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#39

Post by SturgeonsLaw »

ElevenLathe wrote: post #34
badpun wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm the same. It's just human nature to not want to expend effort. We love excuses, like - I'm too stressed, to busy etc. - but quite often, they're just that - convenient excuses.

All humans in environment A get fat, develop heart disease, and are depressed. All humans in environment B are lean, live long lives without medication, and are happy. The only logical conclusion: everyone in environment A is lazy or otherwise morally deficient.

Maybe it's all the beef from those spherical cows they're eating

Re: Too many people take too many pills

#40

Post by rufus_foreman »

asdfman123 wrote: post #24
JohnFen wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect my doctor to give me the best medical care. If that's telling me to make a lifestyle change, that's what I want (whether I follow his advice is an independent issue). I 100% don't want a doctor to give me medication that isn't necessary.

I’ll tell you what your doctor might not be telling you: - 30 minutes of cardio, 3x a week is a bare minimum. The more cardio the better, so consider endurance sports. - Resistance training is necessary too, and can be done at home with no equipment - Get at least 10 minutes of sunlight right after you get up or right after the sun comes rises, even if it’s cloudy, if possible - Don’t drink more than 2 drinks in a da…

I'll tell you what your doctor might not be telling you, doctors have the highest suicide rates of any profession. Should I trust them to tell me what is healthy?

Retail managers have the lowest suicide rates.

I don't trust them either.

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