Managing disease is a business. Managing disease is profitable. Managing disease is also to some extent, driven by greed. There is a reason that few diseases are ever cured. Chris Rock said it best in his stand-up years back. “The money is in the medicine.” So, why would there be a desire to cure folks when all that money will disappear. If people stay sick, heartless folks keep making money.
So, why? Bob, I will take “GREED” for $200! Sick people are profitable. A cured patient is no longer a revenue stream! Big pharma and segments of the medical “industry” have a financial incentive to manage the symptoms of a disease, rather than eliminate it!
I mean, it is simple mathematics. Developing a one-time cure that eradicates a disease is far less profitable that the multitude of drugs you might have to take for decades. Treatment guidelines can be influenced by research that pharmaceutical companies have funded! It is a sad situation.
I was so happy when I saw a cardiologist recently. I know. That sounds weird, but it was an appointment I had waited for since March. Unlike many, my blood pressure was dropping too low, which can be just as dangerous, especially on the highway at 60 mph when your legs start to feel like Jello.
It was my first visit with this doctor, but I was pleasantly surprised when she actually started by asking me about my lifestyle. She asked about my dietary habits, my exercise routine, and overall lifestyle. I was both shocked and relieved. While she did say, you have a bit of a leaky valve which is likely genetic and a tad scary, (I have had a murmur my whole life) she also suggested my blood pressure issues and palpitations may be related to mineral deficiencies. I have only had one other doctor who asked questions like those.
Nutritional therapy, exercise programs, and other non-drug interventions are rarely, if ever promoted or suggested. It is easier to whip out that prescription pad. (I know! It’s all digital now, but you get the point!)
Our current healthcare system is basically an “endless treatment” model designed to keep us JUST HEALTHY ENOUGH to stay living and loyal customers, thereby creating a long-term revenue stream for insurers, drug companies, and even hospitals. Big pharma spends millions lobbying and donating to political campaigns in order to help shape the laws in their favor including drug pricing and insurance coverage. What a racket! Don’t get me started on insurance. It is truly a criminal enterprise!
While I am sure some of my issues are probably related to long-term and chronic stress, the truth is that things can get a little out of whack as we age. Stress only makes it worse. But it could be as simple as a magnesium deficiency which can be eliminated through dietary changes and supplementation and NOT ANOTHER DRUG!
Diet and lifestyle improvement, including stress management, can be life changing. I truly believe that most diseases can be prevented and eliminated through even subtle changes in our daily habits. Small changes can make a big difference. And of course, I’m not referring to all diseases. But let’s quickly talk about another reason so many of us are sick in the first place!
SUBSI-DISEASE – We are what we eat!
By now, unless you’ve been living under a rock or in complete denial, we all know that diet and lifestyle play a huge role in determining whether you are healthy or unhealthy. (And of course genetics, but that’s not what this post is about.) Poor dietary choices come with a huge price tag! It might not appear that way on the surface because the food that is bad for us is subsidized by our tax money. Cheap food now and a bunch of expensive prescriptions later! It is a vicious cycle.
Bad food is cheaper because of subsidies! They should call them “Subsidisease.” Consuming bad food is making and keeping us sick! And while cheaper to purchase because it is subsidized, there are hidden costs that tragically won’t stay hidden for long. Consuming it might save you some money today, but trust and believe, the bill is coming, and you’ll pay with both your health, (our most valuable asset) and your wallet! You are either going to pay now, or pay later, but you will for damn sure pay! The current system was designed to produce, not health, but corporate profits!
Remember the food pyramid? Those USDA nutritional guidelines and recommendations. Not sure I’m taking nutritional advice from the government, especially in the current climate. What is ironic is the foods that they recommend on that pyramid are not the foods that they subsidize. Those subsidies help keep the prices of certain types of products low and affordable. But the top two, corn and soybeans are then used to make highly processed junk food!
What is being supported is nutrient-deficient products, that I don’t even want to refer to as food! Sadly, most Americans filling up on these empty calories disguised as food and it’s making us fatter and sicker. You may as well be eating Styrofoam. (And NO, that is not a dietary suggestion!) Numerous studies have linked these subsidies to increasing obesity which has resulted in one of the biggest health issues in this country. The associated medical costs for this crisis affect all our pockets!
How about making fruits and veggies affordable? Nope, the foods that are healthiest are considered “specialty crops.” Consuming healthy foods should not be considered special.
The current system doesn’t make fruits and veggies affordable. So, why recommend that we fill out plates with fruits and veggies and funnel our tax dollars into high fructose corn syrup? How about incentivizing a healthy diet? Fresh fruit and produce should not be considered a luxury reserved for the wealthy.
I recently had a conversation with a friend involved in handing out free food boxes for those in need at a community center in a small town. She shared the contents with me. It was a box of highly processed plastic containers and canned goods. I get it fills an empty stomach, but with what? Empty calories. Clearly, that is what was donated to the food bank that supplies the boxes, which is a beautiful gesture. I get the whole shelf-life thing. On the surface, it’s a good thing to feed the hungry, but how wonderful it would be to feed folks real food. Folks are being fed, but still nutritionally starved. There must be a better way, which is a whole other post for sure.
As for me, I’m optimistic my issue will be corrected by addressing potential deficiencies and a few other lifestyle adjustments. I have no desire to be among those that are just “managing” a disease or lining the pockets of healthcare and big pharma CEOs. I mean, how big of a yacht does one need?
In the end, if we all do better, we will all benefit.
What’s the saying? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Really loved this post. I followed my current pcp to another health system because she asks the important questions like these.