Very interesting article in Newsweek

August 20, 2011

LINK<http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/08/14/some-medical-tests-procedu\

res-do-more-harm-than-good.html>

My conclusion is if people would eat healthier and at a more normal weight

there would be less testing/medications, etc. I also think when people are

overweight/obese we assume they must be unhealthy, which isn't always the

case either.

Thoughts????

*Some of the article:*

" That less health care can lead to better health and, conversely, that more

health care can harm health, runs counter to most patients’ conviction that

screenings and treatments are inherently beneficial. That belief is fueled

by the flood of new technologies and drugs that have reached the market in

the past two or three decades, promising to prevent disease and extend life.

Most of us wouldn’t think twice if our doctor offered a test that has the

power to expose a lurking tumor, or a clogged artery, or a heart arrhythmia.

Better to know—and get treated—than to take any risks, the reasoning goes.

In fact, for many otherwise healthy people, tests often lead to more tests,

which can lead to interventions based on a possible problem that may have

gone away on its own or ultimately proved harmless. Patients can easily be

fooled when a screening test detects, or an intervention treats, an

abnormality, and their health improves, says cardiologist Lauer of

the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In fact, says Lauer, that

abnormality may not have been the cause of the problem or a threat to future

health: “All you’ve done is misclassify someone with no disease as having

disease.” "

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://goog_1331050751>

*Blog*<http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

Join me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/TheFrugalDietitian?ref=ts>

* " If it works and research proven, it wouldn't be called Alternative " *

August 20, 2011

I read the article this AM. Too many tests, like TMI get ignored. Tests without

follow-up are useless; healthy life styles can be the follow-up. Frequently what

happens is a medication is prescribed, then to justify the medication, a

diagnosis is added to the chart. While I think monitoring is a good

intervention, I see little monitoring of med effects. Raphaela

>

LINK<http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/08/14/some-medical-tests-procedu\

res-do-more-harm-than-good.html>

>

> My conclusion is if people would eat healthier and at a more normal weight

> there would be less testing/medications, etc. I also think when people are

> overweight/obese we assume they must be unhealthy, which isn't always the

> case either.

> Thoughts????

>

> *Some of the article:*

>

> " That less health care can lead to better health and, conversely, that more

> health care can harm health, runs counter to most patients' conviction that

> screenings and treatments are inherently beneficial. That belief is fueled

> by the flood of new technologies and drugs that have reached the market in

> the past two or three decades, promising to prevent disease and extend life.

> Most of us wouldn't think twice if our doctor offered a test that has the

> power to expose a lurking tumor, or a clogged artery, or a heart arrhythmia.

> Better to know—and get treated—than to take any risks, the reasoning goes.

>

> In fact, for many otherwise healthy people, tests often lead to more tests,

> which can lead to interventions based on a possible problem that may have

> gone away on its own or ultimately proved harmless. Patients can easily be

> fooled when a screening test detects, or an intervention treats, an

> abnormality, and their health improves, says cardiologist Lauer of

> the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In fact, says Lauer, that

> abnormality may not have been the cause of the problem or a threat to future

> health: " All you've done is misclassify someone with no disease as having

> disease. " "

>

> --

> Ortiz, MS, RD

> *The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://goog_1331050751>

> *Blog*<http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

> Check out my blog: mixture of deals and nutrition

> Join me on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/TheFrugalDietitian?ref=ts>

> * " If it works and research proven, it wouldn't be called Alternative " *

>

August 20, 2011