Click, click, click. Nowadays you are unable to turn on the television without a commercial appearing, for some new pharmaceutical drug that will cure whatever condition or disease that your body maybe suffering from at the moment. Drug manufacturers commonly advertise on television and in various other media to encourage people to “Ask your doctor if (drug name) is right for you.” If you pay close attention, you will realize that nearly half the ad time is consumed by a long list of the possible side effects and adverse reactions that can accompany taking the drug. The possibilities usually include everything from minor fatigue to death.
Who’s In Charge?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for the approval of pharmaceutical drugs on sale in the US. However, their methods for approval are based on the scientific studies carried out by the drug companies. The FDA carries out no independent testing. The FDA usually approves a drug if its benefits outweigh its dangers. Assuming the drug companies’ studies have been well-conducted and state that a drug is relatively safe, no drug is 100% free from side effects for everyone, even drugs that are categorized as “natural.” The person’s age, weight, gender, overall health and genetic profiling will all contribute to how an individual responds to a drug.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal problems, as most drugs are processed through the digestive tract. These problems generally include nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Although dizziness may not seem like a dangerous side effect, it can be extremely dangerous for elderly people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slips and falls among the elderly are the number one cause of injury-related death. A quarter of all elderly people who fall and break a hip die within six months of the injury.
It is estimated that around 4.5 million Americans visit their doctor or the ER every year due to adverse reactions from prescription drugs. These adverse side effects are also suffered by an extra 2 million people each year who are already in hospital being supervised by the medical professionals. The CDC gave an estimate that 82% of Americans are consuming at least one drug, and 29% are consuming five or more drugs.
As It Reads On the Box
A simple comparison between the natural health and the pharmaceutical health paradigm can easily be observed by looking at a few common terms when listing warnings
- Adverse reaction: An unintended reaction to a drug that is often detrimental to the recipient.
- Side effect: An unwanted effect of a drug that is not part of the intended activity of the drug.
- Drug interaction: The result of two or more drugs reacting with each other in ways that are unexpected and/or harmful.
- Medical error: An inappropriate treatment, or the right treatment that was performed incorrectly.
The Chiropractic Warning Label
- Chiropractic is so safe and natural that even newborns and the elderly benefit.
Quite simply, Chiropractic may create the restoration and revitalization of your health. Beware some may experience Optimal Health!
For Your Health,
Dr. Frederick Savard
