
We're Medication Nation.
More than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a new study revealed Tuesday.
The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol - problems linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
"Honestly, a lot of it is related to obesity," said Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer at Medco, which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.
Medco's data show that last year, 51% of American children and adults were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition, up from 50% the previous four years and 47% in 2001. Most of the drugs are taken daily, although some are needed less often.
A lot of this is the succesful marketing of the idea to both doctors and patients that these drugs are necessary and a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, and that any behavior outside a narrow norm needs to be treated as a disease.
Agreed.
I really do think that some of these people are needlessly medicated.
I rarely take meds....most have too many side effects.
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