50% of Americans take prescription drugs

[Phurfur 70]

Do you take prescription drugs?

 

I don't and never have, my wife has taken something for decades. My mother age 88 and father age 93 do not take any prescription drugs even though Doctors have tried to prescribe drugs to them for decades.

 

 

About half of all Americans take at least one prescription drug each month, and 10% take more than four, according to a new government report.

 

"Health, United States, 2013" is an annual report on the nations health prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. This years report includes a special section on prescription drugs.

 

Here are a few key facts from that section:

 

We spend a lot on prescription drugs. In 2011, Americans spent $263 billion on prescription drugs, which accounts for 9.7% of all national health expenditures (up from 5.6% in 1990).

 

Pharmaceutical companies aren't relying on doctors to sell their pills. Spending on direct-to-consumer advertising for all drugs more than tripled between 1996 and 2005 to $4.2 billion, according to the report.

 

Americans are depressed. Adults' use of antidepressants increased more than fourfold between the years of 1988-94 and 2007-10, from 2.4% to 10.8%.

 

Doctors are prescribing fewer useless antibiotics. Antibiotics prescribed during medical visits for cold symptoms declined 39% between 1995-96 and 2009-10. That's good news, as the overuse and misuse of antibiotics is contributing to antibiotic resistance worldwide and limiting our arsenal to fight infections.

 

Sinus infection? Antibiotics won't help

 

The prescription drug death epidemic is a big problem. Consumption of pain medications called opioid analgesics increased 300% between 1999 and 2010, and death rates in people age 15 and older involving these drugs more than tripled between 2000 and 2010.

 

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/14/50-of-americans-take-prescription-drugs/

[Sho Nuff 719]

Yes...acid reflux is a biotch and the prescription stuff works best.

[cyclone24 1,814]

I dont....but i honestly probably could take something for ADD.

 

Crazy how many people are on something though......

[MTSkiBum 1,594]

Raw data can be found on page 40 of the following PDF

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus13.pdf#092

 

 

It looks like cholesterol lowering drugs are the main reason that prescription drug use is up.

[Sho Nuff 719]

Raw data can be found on page 40 of the following PDF

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus13.pdf#092

 

 

It looks like cholesterol lowering drugs are the main reason that prescription drug use is up.

Fat america cant give up the crappy food...taking a pill is easier.

[edjr 5,567]

Bullsh1t

[penultimatestraw 473]

Fat america cant give up the crappy food...taking a pill is easier.

These data shouldn't surprise anyone, though I suspect many will blame the "pill-pushers" rather than the populace:

Chronic diseases and conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.

• As of 2012, about half of all adults—117 million people—have one or more chronic health conditions. One of four adults has two or more chronic health conditions.1
• Seven of the top 10 causes of death in 2010 were chronic diseases. Two of these chronic diseases—heart disease and cancer—together accounted for nearly 48% of all deaths.2
• Obesity is a serious health concern. During 2009­–2010, more than one-third of adults, or about 78 million people, were obese (defined as body mass index [bMI] ≥30 kg/m2). Nearly one of five youths aged 2–19 years was obese (BMI ≥95th percentile).3

If you don't want to take meds, try altering your behavior:

Health risk behaviors are unhealthy behaviors you can change. Four of these health risk behaviors—lack of exercise or physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and drinking too much alcohol—cause much of the illness, suffering, and early death related to chronic diseases and conditions.

• In 2011, more than half (52%) of adults aged 18 years or older did not meet recommendations for aerobic exercise or physical activity. In addition, 76% did not meet recommendations for muscle-strengthening physical activity.7
• About half of US adults (47%) have at least one of the following major risk factors for heart disease or stroke: uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled high LDL cholesterol, or are current smokers.8 Ninety percent of Americans consume too much sodium, increasing their risk of high blood pressure.9
• In 2011, more than one-third (36%) of adolescents said they ate fruit less than once a day, and 38% said they ate vegetables less than once a day. In addition, 38% of adults said they ate fruit less than once a day, and 23% said they ate vegetables less than once a day.10
• More than 42 million adults—close to 1 of every 5—said they currently smoked cigarettes in 2012.11 Cigarette smoking accounts for more than 480,000 deaths each year.11 Each day, more than 3,200 youth aged 18 years or younger smoke their first cigarette, and another 2,100 youth and young adults who smoke every now and then become daily smokers.11
• Drinking too much alcohol is responsible for 88,000 deaths each year, more than half of which are due to binge drinking.12, 13 About 38 million US adults report binge drinking an average of 4 times a month, and have an average of 8 drinks per binge, yet most binge drinkers are not alcohol dependent.14

This is not to say some medications aren't prescribed inappropriately - antibiotics and pain meds top the list.

[JT 137]

First 35 years of my life I took all kinds of drugs, none of them prescription. Maybe an allergy pill a couple times a year, antibiotics for respiratory infections (which were the indicator of my future issues).

 

I now take about 30 pills daily. Basically, there's 8-10 that are designed to prevent my body from rejecting my lungs. The other 20 are for the potential side effects of the first 8-10.

 

That said, I find that my physicians are very cautious about turning to more drugs. They spend a considerable amount of time working to fine tune and balance what I have to take, adjusting dosage, timing, etc. Granted, my specialist is my primary care physician, so I don't know if that same attitude prevails among general practicioners.

 

When it came time to start overseeing what Mom and Dad were doing, we were initially shocked at how many meds they were on. I think that's typical of that generation who never questioned a doctor. We got them to some new MDs and they took fewer pills and felt better for it. In many cases, they were taking superfluous medicines that should have been discontinued when new ones were prescribed.

[Phurfur 70]

Raw data can be found on page 40 of the following PDF

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus13.pdf#092

 

 

It looks like cholesterol lowering drugs are the main reason that prescription drug use is up.

I went in for my 10 year check up about 6 months ago. My cholesterol was 290, I explained to my Dr that my family has a history of high cholesterol but also longevity, he prescribed Statins to get that number down anyway. There was no mention of diet change. I did not take the pills but changed my diet. When I went back in six week my cholesterol had dropped to 240 which is extremely low for my family. My Dr told me to keep doing what I was doing.

 

My wife has been on statins for years, her cholesterol has been 230. She went in for her yearly physical about 8 weeks ago and her cholesterol had dropped to 191 just from the tag along effects from my diet change. ( no more butter, mostly provolone and mozzarella cheeses, only an occasional egg, etc.) Her Dr. told her that she wanted to keep her on statins because her bad cholesterol is still high. She is still on statins.

[smashmouths@blf 33]

I don't think this information is surprising. Scientists/Doctors continue to find ways to help all sorts of ailments. I have high blood pressure and take medication for it. High BP has run in my family for many years. Both of my grandfathers died because of heart failure. If a drug can help you then take it. I think this trend will continue.

[penultimatestraw 473]

I went in for my 10 year check up about 6 months ago. My cholesterol was 290, I explained to my Dr that my family has a history of high cholesterol but also longevity, he prescribed Statins to get that number down anyway. There was no mention of diet change. I did not take the pills but changed my diet. When I went back in six week my cholesterol had dropped to 240 which is extremely low for my family. My Dr told me to keep doing what I was doing.

 

My wife has been on statins for years, her cholesterol has been 230. She went in for her yearly physical about 8 weeks ago and her cholesterol had dropped to 191 just from the tag along effects from my diet change. ( no more butter, mostly provolone and mozzarella cheeses, only an occasional egg, etc.) Her Dr. told her that she wanted to keep her on statins because her bad cholesterol is still high. She is still on statins.

You can check this website to determine your 10 year risk of vascular disease: http://my.americanheart.org/professional/StatementsGuidelines/PreventionGuidelines/Prevention-Guidelines_UCM_457698_SubHomePage.jsp

Unless your HDL is extremely high, I bet it will recommend medical therapy in addition to lifestyle modification.

 

Many doctors forego the dietary change talk because people rarely comply - your doc probably knows you are a stubborn old man and didn't want to waste his breath. But congrats on making some changes, as any improvement is a step in the right direction.

 

But if you are only consider your family history of longevity when making medical decisions, why go to the doctor at all?

[Phurfur 70]

You can check this website to determine your 10 year risk of vascular disease: http://my.americanheart.org/professional/StatementsGuidelines/PreventionGuidelines/Prevention-Guidelines_UCM_457698_SubHomePage.jsp

Unless your HDL is extremely high, I bet it will recommend medical therapy in addition to lifestyle modification.

 

Many doctors forego the dietary change talk because people rarely comply - your doc probably knows you are a stubborn old man and didn't want to waste his breath. But congrats on making some changes, as any improvement is a step in the right direction.

 

But if you are only consider your family history of longevity when making medical decisions, why go to the doctor at all?

1. This is the first time I have seen this Dr.

2. My mother is 88 and her cholesterol has been between 280 and 320 for decades.

3. When my grandmother died at 93 her cholesterol was 313 .

4. Like it or not your genes are by far the largest determining factor in your health and longevity. Most of us need very little medical intervention in our lives.

5. Until medicine gets away from this one size fits all mentality I really don't has have much use for it except for emergencies and a check up every 10 years. Since I am over 60 I plan on check ups every 5 years going forward.

6. No one on either side of my family have ever had CV problems

 

Thanks for the input, I will take it into consideration.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I take an anti depressant every day. I also have Ativan for periodic acute anxiety, which I rarely take.

 

Yesterday, at work, I realized that I accidentally took two Ativan instead of my two anti depressants. It was not a fun ride.

[penultimatestraw 473]

1. This is the first time I have seen this Dr.

2. My mother is 88 and her cholesterol has been between 280 and 320 for decades.

3. When my grandmother died at 93 her cholesterol was 313 .

4. Like it or not your genes are by far the largest determining factor in your health and longevity. Most of us need very little medical intervention in our lives.

5. Until medicine gets away from this one size fits all mentality I really don't has have much use for it except for emergencies and a check up every 10 years. Since I am over 60 I plan on check ups every 5 years going forward.

6. No one on either side of my family have ever had CV problems

 

Thanks for the input, I will take it into consideration.

I know genetics are a big part of health and disease, but not all of it. What you should care about is modifiable factors which can improve your health. I'll ask again: if your genetics are so overwhelmingly important, why go to a doctor at all?

 

Also, the bolded statement is ludicrous. Unless you define "very little" as a significant amount.

[StopTalkingCheerleader 9]

Never has before this year. Now I'm on Xanax, allergy meds, ambien, thyroid meds for hypo, and found out last week I'm anemic.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Never has before this year. Now I'm on Xanax, allergy meds, ambien, thyroid meds for hypo, and found out last week I'm anemic.

I hope the Xanax and Ambien are short term - both are addictive, and neither is intended for long term use.

[kilroy69 994]

I take something for acid reflux. I walked myself into the hospital a few years back because I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Turns out it was acid reflux. Now I just watch what I eat and take the meds when I start to feel it coming on.

[StopTalkingCheerleader 9]

They are highly addictive wish is why I'm doing a sleep study on the 28th. I mean it is 3:30am, I'm still awake and kids wake up in 3-4 hours , brilliant!