Article Library
The Value of Subtraction
Previously, we discussed the assumption that always treating is best when faced with a health issue. Often, a treatment provides a tangible solution for both patients and healthcare providers. Yet, treatment may not be in the patient’s best interest at all times. There may be value in simply waiting or doing nothing. As we will see, another option may be to subtract a root cause rather than add a new intervention.
Preventing Frailty in Older Adults
Frailty is a prevalent and debilitating condition that affects many adults over the age of 65. Approximately 21% of older adults living in a house or apartment experience a physical or cognitive decline that limits their ability to carry out activities independently. Consequently, those with frailty have a reduced quality of life and poorer health outcomes. Preventing frailty starts early in life, through measures that promote mobility, adequate nutrition, and strong social connections.
The Impact of Obesity in Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm caused by quivering of the upper chambers, or atria, of the heart. Normally, the two atria receive blood from the lungs or the body. When the atria contract, blood flows from the upper chambers to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles. In atrial fibrillation, the quivering prevents blood from flowing properly.
The Issue With Always Treating
The author starts with a story about President Garfield. Garfield was shot in the back with a pistol in 1881. The bullet stopped by his pancreas, and miraculously, the president survived.
Stress and the Immune System
The body always seeks balance, or homeostasis. Cortisol is needed in just the right amount. The hormone is synthesized by the adrenal glands, which are small glands that sit on top of both kidneys. An area of the brain called the hypothalamus initiates a series of steps that ultimately causes the release of cortisol by the adrenal glands.
The Importance of the Patient Care Environment: Ventilation
Nightingale emphasized that the environment influenced healing. The core principles of the Environmental Theory, or canons, include ventilation, clean water, proper nutrition, natural light, minimal noise, and clean bedding. These canons highlight the close relationship among the patient, environment, health, and nurse.
When Medications Harm
Medications seem to work miracles when people are not feeling well or have a certain condition to treat. Have a headache? Pain? Nausea? Diarrhea? Diabetes? Depression? Urinary problems? Obesity? Arthritis? High blood pressure? Heartburn? Medications are advertised to help the symptoms of any ailment. Yet what happens when drugs that have been marketed for years are pulled from shelves due to medical harm?
Too Much Information
Returning to the discussion of health assumptions that drive too much medical care, let’s review the fourth assumption in Less Medicine More Health by Dr. H. Gilbert Welch. The fourth assumption is that getting more information is always the right choice.
Melanoma and the Importance of Sunlight
With summer fast approaching, people are inclined to spend time outside in the brilliant sunshine. Throughout many decades, caution has been heeded to avoid too much sun and apply sunblock for skin protection. Although a plethora of health literature gives warnings about the sun and its cause for melanoma, many research findings show evidence of the sun’s benefit for the skin.
Overdiagnosis of Melanoma
When health screening takes place, there should also be evidence that the screening leads to better survival. In the example of melanoma, the incidence of disease has risen over the past decades, while the mortality rate has remained stable. The issue is well-depicted by the National Cancer Institute website for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER)
The Role of Inflammation in Obesity
White adipose tissue stores energy and regulates certain metabolic functions [2]. Metabolism describes the process by which the body breaks down nutrients to use for energy. Regulating inflammation is one of the functions of adipose tissue. Certain molecules are released that contribute to or inhibit the inflammatory process.
Choices With Screening
The third assumption is that sooner is always better. This chapter examines screening, which is defined as searches for abnormalities without any presence of disease symptoms
Factors and Considerations in Endometriosis
In endometriosis, the endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the structure. Common sites affected include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the gastrointestinal tract [2]. Other organs that may be involved are the lung, heart, and central nervous system. We will explore common symptoms, theories about the condition, and options when faced with endometriosis.
Fixing Problems Is Not Always Best
The second assumption is that fixing the problem is always the best choice.
Health Implications: The Lurking Quandaries with Dairy
Often people assume age or genetics are the culprits of health issues. For instance, “My mother was obese, and therefore I am obese.” Yet only rarely are these to blame for disease. Normal aging patterns should not cause sickness. Most conditions occur because of lifestyle habits, such as eating. Consuming an optimal diet of whole food plant-centered nutrition allows the body to thrive. Disease may be halted, prevented, and/or reversed. One of the biggest offenders of illness and weight gain in the Western diet may surprisingly be dairy.
Accepting Risks
An important piece of making health decisions is avoiding too much medical care. In the book Less Medicine More Health: 7 Assumptions that Drive Too Much Health Care [1], Dr. Gilbert Welch presents seven assumptions that drive not only healthcare, but also public policy. We will consider these assumptions and how this knowledge can avert overdiagnosis and provide meaningful care. The first assumption is that all risks can be lowered.
Avoiding Overdiagnosis
Knowing the kinds of questions to ask your healthcare provider can put you in the driver’s seat so that you can make informed decisions about your care.
The Whole Food Way of Losing Weight
Developing a healthier lifestyle is often an effective strategy that avoids weight cycling, fad diets, and calorie counting. Instead of focusing on losing weight, paying attention to the quality of health may be the key. One significant aspect is nutrition.
In Pursuit of Reference Ranges
Reference ranges are important tools for clinicians to use to compare a patient’s test results against a certain standard and guide decisions