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A Paradigm That is not Worth 20 Cents
By Dr. Paul Varnas | April 12, 2010
Health care costs in the United States exceed $2 trillion per year, which represents more than 15% of our GDP. Most industrialized nations only spend about 10% of their GDP on health care. The US ranks 15th out of 19 nations with regard to preventable deaths. It is estimated that 115 per 100,000 people die who would have survived if timely and appropriate medical care was administered. France scored highest in this category, with only 75 deaths per 100,000. The US ranks last in infant mortality, with 7 deaths per 1,000 births. The top three countries have 2.7 deaths per 1,000 births—less than half our number. We are at the bottom of the list in life expectancy. American children miss more school for illness than the children from the other industrialized nations. Fewer than half of American adults receive the recommended screening tests appropriate for their age and sex. Preventable hospital admissions for chronically ill patients (e.g.; those with asthma or diabetes) were twice as high compared to the nations at the top of the list. The rate of readmission of Medicare patients ranges from 14-22%.
We spend more on health care and we get much less than other industrialized nations. More utilization of natural health care would reduce this bill. For example, there are a number of studies that demonstrate that asthmatics will have fewer attacks and fewer hospitalizations if they eat a diet that is high in fresh produce and essential fatty acids. Studies have also shown that supplementation with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium have all benefited patients with asthma. Such recommendations are not given in medical offices. The reasons given ignoring natural health care include, the studies are too small and inconclusive, a cure has not been proven, and “vitamins don’t cure disease”.
Treatments for diseases are usually singular: we give Ritalin to children with ADD and ADHD–not essential fatty acids, exercise, or a diet that is free of sugar and additives. We don’t even augment the drug therapy with natural approaches that are researched and show promise. Large follow-up studies are usually not performed to “prove” the efficacy of the natural treatments. Even though natural health care treatments are low-risk and high-gain; doctors tend to want them to be proven by large studies.
The drug companies buy ads in the medical research journals, they also endow medical schools with money and they sponsor post-graduate education for doctors. They don’t necessarily have to suppress any research (although that has been done in the past). What they have been able to do is create this single treatment paradigm–it is an approach favors drug therapies. Doctors don’t give vitamin C and fish oil to asthmatics–even if it would improve the health of these patients. It is not a “cure”, but it does improve symptoms and reduce hospitalizations. They have been taught not to do this–their entire education, from medical school to the grave, is influenced by the drug companies. CoQ10 can help prevent heart attacks, there are supplements that can speed recovery from surgery and shorten hospital stays, and there are many other natural health approaches that can cut our medical costs. Unfortunately they are largely ignored by the medical community. Supplementation does not fit their paradigm.
For more natural health information, go to: http://www.wholehealthweb.com
Topics: General | 6 Comments »
April 21st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Common sense is often so rare that it is mistaken for genius. A very timely,thoughtful and welcome contribution. Great Article Dr. Varnas!
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:49 pm
You have two articles in one here. The first deals with health care costs and the second deals with how backwards we do things in the great USA. I don’t think we can draw a much correlation between the two. As an example, a major contributor to the excessive health care costs is fraud which has nothing to do with fresh produce and EFA’s. Regarding treatments, Many Americans get exactly what they want – drugs and disability. If they wanted produce and EFA’s for their asthma, they wouldn’t spend so many of their voting dollars at the fast food joints and they would make a stink about things like GMO, homogenization, pasteurization, feeding our cows and chickens hormones and inflammatory grains, trans fats, artificial flavors and colors, and the like. But they don’t. They want all that stuff because in this obese nation, the stomach rules. These people won’t change. We have to wait til they die off so the people with brains that vote with their food dollars won’t be so out numbered. Farmers and the food industry will continue to sell what makes them the most profit.
April 24th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Wow, you have your own article there. Actually, I can’t dispute what you say, except that the “backwards” way we do things does cost money–so the correlation exists. Also, I believe that people can change–see it in my office all of the time. The things you speak of in relation to diet need to be stressed by doctors who, unfortunately, get most of their info from the pharm rep; so it ads to our health cost.. Basically we are fine with bulls%*&t in this country, provided it is profitable bulls*&^t–and it costs us our money and our health. The struggle between good and evil is ongoing, so maybe pointing, in despair, to what evil is up to may not be the best strategy. Our role is to quietly speak the truth and educate people.
May 12th, 2010 at 2:56 am
The medical industry in primarily interested in treating symptoms and diseases because it makes money. Medical Doctors therefore forget to treat the patient who could benefit more and be healthier with proper nutritional support and physical exercise.
Great article Dr Varnas.
Regards
Will Kalla DC
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:30 am
Well written Dr. Varnas. I would love to learn more about how to incorporate nutrition into my practice and actually help people change their lifestyle. Plus a cash practice sounds amazing!
June 22nd, 2010 at 8:09 pm
There is a free ebook at http://www.wholehealthamerica.com called “I’m too Busy to Market Marketing Book”. It is actually centered around starting a nutritional practice