Conventional medicine is beginning to look more closely at the benefits versus risks that many routinely prescribed drugs and procedures offer patients but recent studies have found that many doctors still recommend treatments that have long been proven to be unnecessary, even dangerous.
According to a recent report in The Atlantic, despite strong evidence that some medications for common problems like high blood pressure, which may improve numbers, don’t necessarily lower the risk for heart attack. Similarly, routine procedures such as surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the knee or inserting a stent to open a narrowed artery, are not always more beneficial than physical therapy or losing weight. The examples are plentiful, and with more study, researchers are finding that many frequently prescribed procedures and prescriptions offer no more benefit than lifestyle changes and may even have a significant risk of doing harm.
And while pharmaceutical companies push to hurry the process, taking time to fully evaluate new drugs, while frustrating for patients with chronic illness, is hugely important. Rushing drugs into use can lead to disappointing and sometimes dangerous results.
The number of drugs, even surgeries than could cause harm is more common than we are likely aware. Even the use of aspirin to help prevent heart attack also carries the risk for major internal bleeding. The first line of medical treatment for many problems, especially those that are more common in older age should be a close look at diet, exercise and stopping smoking. And as patients become more aware of possible risks and able to ask the right questions and educate themselves about their health, they will be able to make better informed decisions.
Advocating for yourself or a loved one is an important component of taking care of your health and well-being. An open and detailed conversation with your doctor is the first step in helping to take a proactive approach to protect your health and maintain a good quality of life. To help patients learn more about what health care steps they may need and what might cause harm, the ABIM Foundation has developed the Choosing Wisely app, which helps patients navigate more than 500 medical procedures, health topics, treatments
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