PODCAST #20 1-1-08

WELCOME TO THE 20th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Health and medications:

A new study of nearly 1,500 men and women found that those who exercised for 30 minutes or more at least twice a week in their 40s and 50s had a 60% lower risk of developing dementia. An active lifestyle after age 60 also is protective.

Most Americans are over medicated and when drugs are needed they often take the wrong ones. Vioxx was taken off the market because it was found to cause heart attacks and strokes. Vioxx provided no better relief from arthritis then older, safer much less expensive anti-inflammatory drugs.

The majority of doctors prescribe medications because they think it is in their patient’s best interests. There has been a large change in the way that our medical knowledge is provided. Prior to 1980 most clinical research was publicly funded. Now most is funded directly by the drug and other medical industries. The drug industries primary mission is to maximize the return on investments for their investors.

Ninety percent of clinical trials now are now funded by the pharmaceutical and related industries. Seventy five percent of the published clinical research is also funded by the pharmaceutical and related industries. When a pharmaceutical company sponsors a study, the odds are five times greater that the findings will favor its product.

The drug and medical industries fund 70% of continuing education lectures and seminars, which are among the activities that doctors are required to attend to maintain their licenses. Where ever doctors turn for drug information the drug companies rule.

The government is not doing its part to regulate the drug industry. In fact the government is on the take. When it comes to the food and drug administration (FDA). The FDA is responsible for monitoring the safety of food and drugs. The FDA is underfunded by the government and the FDA supplements its income with money from the drug industry. That is certainly a conflict of interests. Also one of the biggest contributors to congress are the drug companies.

Many drugs are prescribed because of drug company influence. Anti-hypertensive drugs are used to treat high blood pressure. Norvasc was the second most commonly prescribed drug for older adults in 2003. It cost $500 to $700 a year. A study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute found that diuretics that cost about    $ 30 a year  are as good as or better than Norvasc in protecting against complications of high blood pressure.

Diet and exercise are the two most important things to do for health and long life. The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research followed 25,000 men who had undergone Physical exams for 10 years. The men whose exercise endurance (as measured on a treadmill) was in the lowest 20% of the group were at a much higher risk of dying then those with high total cholesterol levels (above 240). Showing that exercise is more important than cholesterol levels.

That’s all for PODCAST #20. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of February 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin