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THE WEAKNESS OF PRESENT MEDICAL MODEL
Francisco Monegro, MD/PhD
The quality of life for all humanity greatly depend on hereditary factors, and our mental and environmental attitudes. Nevertheless, the debate seems interminable of why some people are healthier than others, why others are constantly seeking aid from doctors, and why we must bomb our system with a great variety of drugs.
A preventive health care program would have to be based on a health model that stimulates the healthy habits. Of course, we cannot exert much influence in our inheritance, but we can control the environmental factors and our mental attitudes. We do not need to go very far to point out the factors that contribute to our non-healthful habits. Let us see some examples of detrimental habits:
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Ingestion of tons of sweetened and greasy animal products.
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Consumption of sweetened drinks, colored with a great variety of artificial chemical components.
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Inhalation of great amounts of toxics in the cigarette and other dangerous drugs.
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Body intoxication through the high consumption of alcohol.
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Propaganda geared towards unhealthy living. The television is full of allusive announcements to the ingestion of beers and fast foods.
Paradoxically, television and other mass media continuously promote products that help treat many of the health problems caused by unhealthy living. We see a lot of ads such as:
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Antacid announcements of Alka-Seltzer, Pepto-bismol, Pecid, Zantac, Imodium, Tums.
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Different types of tonics, vitamins, herbs, and medications prescribed by "eager doctors to cure" symptoms.
Unfortunately, our model of health is a model oriented to the diagnosis, the treatment, and the self-punishment imposed by ourselves. What is the sense to be intoxicated and soon to be sorry and to have to look for aid to decontaminate to us?
One of the reasons why many people suffer from so many problems of health is due to the type of diet, not-healthful habits, stress, and the mentality geared towards treatment of a condition rather than of prevention.
The prevention of a condition or disease is one of the main factors which would help reduce medical expenses, but unfortunately, a uniform criterion does not exist. The medications more commonly prescribed, at least in the United States, are the tranquilizers, anti-ulcer drugs, tablets for the headaches and other types of corporal pains, drugs for the high blood pressure and the heart, and medications for diabetes.
The traditional medicine (orthodox or allopathic) has made great advances in the understanding of human body functions and operation, diagnosis and treatment. We have been the witness of great progress in genetic engineering, the food production, and the development of new medications. Nevertheless, we have developed into a society "over-diagnosed" and "over-treated". We are living in a society that centers its confidence in the doctor, the hospital, and assumes little or no responsibility in its own health. As a result of this conception on health, the health problems increase, the doctors and hospitals abuse the patients and insurance companies (Medicare, Medicaid, etc.). In many occasions, doctors prescribe procedures and medications, which are unnecessary or contraindicated or ineffective. The lack of conscience of our people, the weakness and emphasis on treatment instead of prevention and its holistic vision of health creates a shady and sad panorama.
The preventive medicine must begin with the individual taking control of his/her own health. The prevention begins with simple measures or common sense:
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Sleep for 6-8 hours daily.
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Walk at least 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week to reduce stress.
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Avoid the sweetened foods or carbonated drinks.
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Avoid fat from animals.
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Eat vegetables and fruits daily.
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Do not smoke.
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Avoid alcohol. Occasionally, a glass of red wine with the meal is appropriate.
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Keep a positive attitude even in difficult times.
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Avoid taking a lot of medications.
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Keep a good relationship with your couple, children, relatives, and friends.
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Take control of your own medical treatment. Ask your doctor all the questions you have until you feel that you are not confused about your medical treatment.
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If you are not satisfied with your medical treatment or procedure, do not hesitate to get a second opinion.
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Watch your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
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If you are a man, get an electrocardiogram, prostate test, and occult blood studies annually. If you are a woman, get a Pap test and Chlamydia test*, if you are over 35 years old, you should have a mammogram.
If you develop healthy habits and take control of your own health, you will have a better opportunity to enjoy a happy life, a high quality of life, and reduce the health expenses.
*[Chamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that, left untreated, but can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and reproductive complications. Now the FDA has approved a popular Pap Test, ThinPrep, to screen for both cervical cancer and Chlamydia, the most common bacterial STD in the US today].