Is it insanity?

While browsing through a magazine Grandma brought with her, I expected to see advertisements, but not this many. Out of 218 pages, almost half of them were paid advertisements. I counted 134 advertisements..........and the advertisements for medications were usually 2 pages and sometimes 3 pages long! With the sad understanding that many medical professionals are in the business of treating symptoms instead of promoting good health through prevention, I wasn't entirely surprised. I decided to read the details of one of the advertisements for a medications.

Eventhough not surprising, I still find it shocking what some people are willing to risk and put up with just for the sake of a quick fix. Maybe they just don't have a full understanding of the ramifications or they don't understand them. So, what are people willing to put up with? This particular medication can cause serious effects including low calcium levels in your blood, severe kidney problems, severe jaw bone problems, bone, joint or muscle pain, and unusual thigh bone fractures. This medication can cause allergic reactions, such as hives or, in rare cases, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. And, the most common side-effects include flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle or joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

After reading the long list of side effects for just that one medication, I decided to read more about some of the others. Many side effects listed were the same and then the list just kept on growing as side effects others listed included kidney failure, liver damage, chest pains, digestive problems, heartburn, groin pain, numbness or tingling in fingers, toes or around the mouth, cancer, lump or swelling in neck and the list goes on and on. Is that insane, or what?

Too many times, I have also seen the rows of medication in people's medicine cabinets. Many of which are to “take care” of the side effects of other medications they are taking. It can become quite an insanity. So not only are people taking medication that have effects, some of which can even be deadly, but they then are taking more medications because of what the first medications are doing to them. What a viscious cycle!

There are lifestyle choices one can make to have and maintain good health. There is a time and place for medications, but prevention is the best medication.