Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

[Guest guest]

In the Government "Standards" here you get more benefit if the Nursing Home patient is on medication - so routinely they are ALL on medication even if it is "only" Paracetamol "in case they have pain" just so the Nursing Home can claim the extra amount.

 

I'm sure this is not the only country where this happens - Oh and of course they all have to have their yearly FluVax - even if the family says "No" they usually get it and the 5 year PneumoVax - as well.

 

Jane

 

-

Viviane Lerner

HEALTH & HEALING

Cc: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW ; ALTERNET ; RADTIMES ; OPED NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:40 PM

Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

http://www.NaturalNews.com/z026121.html

Elderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medication

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

 

(NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned.

 

"Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal.

 

"A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote.

 

Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients.

 

"Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"

 

In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

 

"Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."

 

Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit.

 

"Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"

 

 

 

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Jane,

My mom is on Paxil and Trazodone together which I understand is a no-no. What's your opinion? Do you believe Trazodone is used as a "chemical restraint"?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

 

 

Jane MacRoss <highfield1 Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:22:25 AMRe: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

In the Government "Standards" here you get more benefit if the Nursing Home patient is on medication - so routinely they are ALL on medication even if it is "only" Paracetamol "in case they have pain" just so the Nursing Home can claim the extra amount.

 

I'm sure this is not the only country where this happens - Oh and of course they all have to have their yearly FluVax - even if the family says "No" they usually get it and the 5 year PneumoVax - as well.

 

Jane

 

-

Viviane Lerner

HEALTH & HEALING

Cc: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW ; ALTERNET ; RADTIMES ; OPED NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:40 PM

[Health_and_ Healing] Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

http://www.NaturalN ews.com/z026121. html

Elderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medication

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

 

(NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned.

 

"Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal.

 

"A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote.

 

Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients.

 

"Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"

 

In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

 

"Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."

 

Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit.

 

"Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"

 

 

 

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

[Guest guest]



According to the info found on drugs.com via google there are major risks with the interaction between these two drugs - and one would have to wonder why anyone would need to be on two anti-depressants anyway?

 

 

Trazodone and Paxil (paroxetine) (Major Drug-Drug)MONITOR CLOSELY: Concomitant use of agents with serotonergic activity such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, 5-HT1 receptor agonists, ergot alkaloids, lithium, St. John's wort, phenylpiperidine opioids, dextromethorphan, and tryptophan may potentiate the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5-HT1A and 2A receptors. Symptoms of the serotonin syndrome may include mental status changes such as irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, hallucinations, and coma; autonomic dysfunction such as tachycardia, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, shivering, blood pressure lability, and mydriasis; neuromuscular abnormalities such as hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor, rigidity, and ataxia; and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.MANAGEMENT: In general, the concomitant use of multiple serotonergic agents should be avoided if possible, or otherwise approached with caution if potential benefit is deemed to outweigh the risk. Patients should be closely monitored for symptoms of the serotonin syndrome during treatment. Particular caution is advised when increasing the dosages of these agents. The potential risk for serotonin syndrome should be considered even when administering serotonergic agents sequentially, as some agents may demonstrate a prolonged elimination half-life. For example, a 5-week washout period is recommended following use of fluoxetine before administering another serotonergic agent. If serotonin syndrome develops or is suspected during the course of therapy, all serotonergic agents should be discontinued immediately and supportive care rendered as necessary. Moderately ill patients may also benefit from the administration of a serotonin antagonist (e.g., cyproheptadine, chlorpromazine). Severe cases should be managed under consultation with a toxicologist and may require sedation, neuromuscular paralysis, intubation, and mechanical ventilation in addition to the other measures.

 

-

Hugh Ramsdell

Saturday, April 25, 2009 8:32 PM

Re: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

Dear Jane,

My mom is on Paxil and Trazodone together which I understand is a no-no. What's your opinion? Do you believe Trazodone is used as a "chemical restraint"?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

 

 

Jane MacRoss <highfield1 Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:22:25 AMRe: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

In the Government "Standards" here you get more benefit if the Nursing Home patient is on medication - so routinely they are ALL on medication even if it is "only" Paracetamol "in case they have pain" just so the Nursing Home can claim the extra amount.

 

I'm sure this is not the only country where this happens - Oh and of course they all have to have their yearly FluVax - even if the family says "No" they usually get it and the 5 year PneumoVax - as well.

 

Jane

 

-

Viviane Lerner

HEALTH & HEALING

Cc: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW ; ALTERNET ; RADTIMES ; OPED NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:40 PM

[Health_and_ Healing] Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

http://www.NaturalN ews.com/z026121. html

Elderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medication

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

 

(NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned.

 

"Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal.

 

"A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote.

 

Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients.

 

"Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"

 

In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

 

"Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."

 

Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit.

 

"Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"

 

 

 

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

[Guest guest]

It has been my experience that none of these drugs work well in the long haul so they are gateway drugs to others. You can likely count on her being switched from one drug to another to another and so on.

 

--- On Sat, 4/25/09, Hugh Ramsdell <hughman73 wrote:

Hugh Ramsdell <hughman73Re: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 6:32 AM

 

 

 

Dear Jane,

My mom is on Paxil and Trazodone together which I understand is a no-no. What's your opinion? Do you believe Trazodone is used as a "chemical restraint"?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

 

 

Jane MacRoss <highfield1 Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:22:25 AMRe: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

In the Government "Standards" here you get more benefit if the Nursing Home patient is on medication - so routinely they are ALL on medication even if it is "only" Paracetamol "in case they have pain" just so the Nursing Home can claim the extra amount.

 

I'm sure this is not the only country where this happens - Oh and of course they all have to have their yearly FluVax - even if the family says "No" they usually get it and the 5 year PneumoVax - as well.

 

Jane

 

-

Viviane Lerner

HEALTH & HEALING

Cc: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW ; ALTERNET ; RADTIMES ; OPED NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:40 PM

[Health_and_ Healing] Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

http://www.NaturalN ews.com/z026121. html

Elderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medication

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

 

(NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned.

 

"Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal.

 

"A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote.

 

Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients.

 

"Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"

 

In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

 

"Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."

 

Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit.

 

"Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"

 

 

 

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

[Guest guest]



In "mainstream" medicine, this is what you get, probably Hugh doesn't have any say in the matter, though I am sure he would like a say in the matter.

 

Jane

 

-

Tony De Angelis

Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:23 PM

Re: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

 

 

 

It has been my experience that none of these drugs work well in the long haul so they are gateway drugs to others. You can likely count on her being switched from one drug to another to another and so on.

 

--- On Sat, 4/25/09, Hugh Ramsdell <hughman73 wrote:

Hugh Ramsdell <hughman73Re: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009, 6:32 AM

 

 

 

Dear Jane,

My mom is on Paxil and Trazodone together which I understand is a no-no. What's your opinion? Do you believe Trazodone is used as a "chemical restraint"?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

 

 

Jane MacRoss <highfield1 Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:22:25 AMRe: Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

 

 

In the Government "Standards" here you get more benefit if the Nursing Home patient is on medication - so routinely they are ALL on medication even if it is "only" Paracetamol "in case they have pain" just so the Nursing Home can claim the extra amount.

 

I'm sure this is not the only country where this happens - Oh and of course they all have to have their yearly FluVax - even if the family says "No" they usually get it and the 5 year PneumoVax - as well.

 

Jane

 

-

Viviane Lerner

HEALTH & HEALING

Cc: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW ; ALTERNET ; RADTIMES ; OPED NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:40 PM

[Health_and_ Healing] Elderly citizens are being medicalized for profit, not for health reasons

http://www.NaturalN ews.com/z026121. html

Elderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medication

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

 

(NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned.

 

"Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal.

 

"A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote.

 

Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients.

 

"Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"

 

In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets.

 

"Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."

 

Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit.

 

"Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"

 

 

 

=====

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2079 - Release 04/24/09 19:04:00

[Guest guest]

http://www.NaturalNews.com/z026121.htmlElderly Citizens Being Medicalized Through Needless Mass Medicationby David Gutierrez, staff writer (NaturalNews) Healthy senior citizens are being needlessly exposed to potentially risky medications due to blind adherence to national health guidelines drafted for younger people, a prominent cardiologist has warned."Nowadays few elderly people are allowed to enjoy being healthy," writes Edinburgh University cardiology professor emeritus Michael Oliver online in the British Medical Journal."A bureaucratic demand for documentation can lead to overdiagnosis, overtreatment and unnecessary anxiety," he wrote. Specifically addressing the situation in the United Kingdom, Oliver criticizes the National Health Service (NHS) for aggressively encouraging doctors to treat people of all ages with blood pressure or cholesterol drugs intended to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Yet the case for these drugs is based on studies showing that they slightly reduced the lifelong risk of heart attack, stroke or death in much younger patients."Preventive action may be irrelevant and even harmful in elderly people," Oliver writes. "More than 30 years ago, in his book Medical Nemesisn b , Ivan Illich called this trend 'the medicalization of health.'"In part, the NHS encourages doctors to prescribe blood pressure and cholesterol drugs by financially rewarding doctors who achieve the Quality and Outcomes Framework targets."Many older people, often retired, are summoned by their general practitioner for an annual health check," Oliver writes. "They may feel reasonably well, but the NHS does not always permit such euphoria. They may be told that they have hypertension or diabetes or high cholesterol concentrations; that they are obese; that they take too little exercise, eat unhealthily and drink too much."Yet medicating the elderly may pose a greater risk of side effects than medicating the young, he warns, and for lesser benefit."Are those people who have now been turned into patients warned sufficiently about side effects?" he asks. "Are minor side effects, which can be debilitating in this age group, reported to health authorities? More importantly, are doctors willing to discontinue treatment and permit these patients to return to their previously unencumbered and reasonably fit lives?"«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»§ - PULSE ON 21st CENTURY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE! §Subscribe send email to: - «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»