Effects of drugs are marketed as highly positive and in most cases as the only possible way to treat some common health condition. But is that really the truth? As you’ll learn soon, those claims, about beneficiary effects of drugs cannot be further from it!
Few weeks ago, I went to my first complete medical exam, where my physician placed focus on the bloodwork, just to see if everything is in order. Before results came, I made a bet with the man sworn to pharmacy drugs and their alleged positive influence on our health. My bet was that they will find something — no matter how ridiculous it might be — just to put me on pharmacy drugs
As I suspected, everything was in prefect order, unusually great looking for my age EXCEPT, and you’re guessing right, triglycerides and cholesterol. Those two were elevated and marked with the sign of the emergency, with triglycerides “dangerously above the normal level,” additionally marked with red color – for immediate treatment!
About “elevated” cholesterol and triglycerides and effects of drugs in the treatment of both
You have 2 types of cholesterol:
- The so-called good cholesterol or HDL (high-density lipoprotein);
- The so-called bad cholesterol or LDL (low-density lipoprotein).
Although, there’s also VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) but it has no proven positive or negative effect on health since it’s absorbed by your body with ease.
Apparently, it’s the LDL that we must be cautious about!
Only, there’s a problem with that hypothesis and the procedure they are using to determine the levels and composition.
The problem with the hypothesis of dangers behind elevated values of LDL is that a single LDL-particle typically carries 3,000 to 6,000 fat molecules and the percentage of cholesterol (vs. all other fat molecules carried by a single particle) is:
A) highly variable,
B) not measured at all (only guessed) by lipid tests,
C) correlates better only when cholesterol concentrations are very high (over 350 mg/dL), and finally,
D) the majority of individuals who suffer heart attacks, strokes and peripheral arterial disease complications have "normal" cholesterol values, i.e. values <200 mg/dL.
So even though there is a section to note the precise level of LDL type of cholesterol, lab simply ignores that field and instead sums both, just to show a higher number.
Now, every person, with the exception of some extremely rare diseases, have higher ratio of HDL so when they deliberately disguise the information, it’s clear that their sole intention is to sell you the pills.
Once you are prescribed with the treatment, it’s most likely that you’ll never stop with it. In fact, the chances are, that you’ll be adding number of new medicaments since your “condition is rapidly deteriorating!”
When you examine the results from my bloodwork, you see a healthy person. With the exception of these two (triglycerides and cholesterol), every other marker is simply perfect.
What about those famous triglycerides?
According to my test results, I “scored” 5.4 while the maximum “allowed” quantity is 1 (that’s number ‘one’, yeah, you heard it right).
I would like someone to show me the test results of an adult male where triglycerides are below 1!
It just doesn’t exist! Ridiculous! And when you point to that irrationality, the good doc will use the same old phrase. He/she’ll say, “It’s not ‘1’. It’s ‘1000’, so we are talking about big issue here. It’s just expressed that way in test results.”
Well, if it’s a freakin’ ‘1000’, then why they are not presenting that result as a thousand? How come everything else can be expressed in thousands but somehow, for the reason unknown, triglycerides may not! It would make it even easier to sell the pills.
Bullshit!
So naturally, you start thinking about the entire deal. What else are they commonly prescribing to people just to make money without even thinking about the possible consequences?
As it turned out, and after a thorough research of the subject, the most of the usually prescribed drugs or “treatments” are useless and pretty much hazardous on the long run. Effects of drugs they are prescribing like there’s no tomorrow are largely unknown until at least 20 years pass by and folks start dropping like flies.
We will now show some facts about effects of drugs you probably weren’t even aware of.
#1 – Cough syrup!
It’s a freakin’ virus, every time. If it had been bacteria, you’d be hospitalized in nanosecond!
And we know for a fact that for the most viruses, we have no defense in form of some vaccination or pills. Our bodies have evolved in such a manner that the immune system is perfectly capable of fighting and eliminating the indigenous viruses – the single most fertile lifeform on the planet Earth and most likely beyond!
Knowing what we know, why the hell are they prescribing the syrup that has the same effect as the glass of water when you’re coughing?
In 2015, in UK alone, the revenues from the sold units of cough syrup reached 400 million pounds(!) even though the research made only a year before, in 2014, involving 5,000 participants, showed no solid evidences of the health benefits or efficiency of the commonly prescribed cough syrups.
None of the 5,000 patients showed any signs of improvement even though they were taking syrup. The healing period lasted the exact same time for those who took syrup and those who “waited out” without any side help in form of the pharmacy drug.
Then again, cough syrup, that contains some forms of antihistamines, may in fact help with cough caused by the allergies, but it probably won’t speed up the healing process.
#2 – Pills for less severe, acute depression
Take a look around you next time you’re out. 60% of the adults are popping anti-depressants. Doctors are prescribing those like candies for the kids. It doubled in sales in last few years even though there are no solid evidences of their efficiency, at least according to Joanna Moncrieff, a Senior Lecturer in psychiatry at University College London and a practicing consultant psychiatrist.
Take a look, if you don’t trust me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV1S5zw096U
It’s a talk…a revealing talk to be honest, known as “The Myth of the Chemical Cure: The Politics of Psychiatric Drug Treatment.”
Dr. Moncrieff claims that anti-depressants have no effect on medium, acute depression and that the difference between taking the actual pill and placebo is negligible.
According to her, it seems that those drugs have some sort of emotional effect, but they are useless at real signs of depression.
When we are talking about depression, it’s vital to distinguish real depression from emotional reaction on some circumstances. Nevertheless, patients expect to receive the prescription from their doctors if they feel down. Furthermore, even some doctors believe that prescription of the anti-depressants is the only thing they can do for the patient.
But when we talk about severe depression, pharmacy drugs do help. Although, there are evidences that suggest how cognitive-behavioral therapy yields positive results on a long run also.
#3 – Dental floss and flossing in general
Professor Damien Wemsley, advisor at the British Council of Dentists, claims that there are no valid benefits from flossing. According to him, ever more researches show that flossing doesn’t make any difference when it comes to dental health.
Some even suggest that flossing is counterproductive because person could accidentally damage the tissue, making a wound, which subsequently provides the “entrance” for all kinds of microorganisms in our bloodstream.
#4 – Calcium pills for weak bones
Many people are popping calcium pills to improve the bone density and prevent fractures. However, two studies show how there are no real evidences suggesting that calcium pills actually help in that matter.
Dr. Klaus Witte, from Leeds, UK, suggests that if you consume adequate quantities of milk, yogurt and cheese, you don’t need to take any extra calcium. He even suggests that all the studies done to this date show how taking the calcium pills is useless and meaningless.
If you fall into the category of people who suffer from vitamin D deficiency, taking extra calcium won’t do you any good because it’s vitamin D that helps body to absorb the calcium. Furthermore, the excessive intake of calcium may cause the sedimentation of that mineral in your bloodstream, increasing the chances for heart attack and/or stroke.
David Reid, professor of rheumatology at National Osteoporosis Society says that daily intake of 700 mg of calcium is more than enough and you get that amount through regular diet, which includes dairy products.
#5 – Acupuncture for back pains
Acupuncture is not a recommended course of therapy anymore for back pains. There is no difference between acupuncture and placebo whatsoever. And while it looks exotic and perhaps a neat new experience, workouts are still the best remedy for painful back!
#6 – Fish oil for your heart
Pharmacy drug brand, Omacor, is a popular addition to diets, because it contains omega-3 fatty acids and it’s frequently recommended to people with heart problems.
But Sundip Patel from London Bridge hospital points to the research conducted in 2012, that included close to 68,000 people who took Omacor and placebo during the period of 2 years. Those who took actual drug showed no better results from those taking the placebo.
Yes, they are heavily marketing omega-3 fatty acids for their beneficiary effect on our heart and body in general. What they “miss” to say is that the story about omega fatty acids is all about the balance. It means that the optimal positive effect is only possible when your diet consists of both omega-3 and omega-6 in more or less perfect balance.
The problem is: it’s relatively simple to produce high quantities of omega-3 and distribute it on the open market. Omega-6 is much harder to be obtained and/or synthesized and you won’t find many pharma products that contain both of these acids. In fact, you won’t find any because you can only get it through a diverse and balanced diet.
When diet comprises of at least small part of commercially produced refined oils from the extractions of: Viper’s Bugloss plant (Echium plantagineum), flax seeds, perilla plant (Perilla frutescens) and Moldavian dragonhead plant (Dracocephalum moldavica), along with fish and fish oil — the primary source of these two essential fatty acids — you don’t have to worry about anything here. The intake of both is optimal.
Ultimately, even the diet that contains flax seeds and other sources rich in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in their natural form presents an adequate nutrition in terms of these EFAs.
#7 – Antibiotic for the ear pain
One out of four children will have an ear infection until they reach 10. In most of these cases, doctors will prescribe antibiotic treatment. However, two out of three ear infections are caused by the virus, which renders antibiotics completely useless. An ear infection, caused by some kind of virus, most commonly is self-healed (body’s own defense system deals with it) and patients are advised to take painkillers during the healing period. That’s the proper treatment!
#8 – Aspirin for normal heart function
Aspirin, or its active substance, acetyl-salicylic acid, is lately heavily marketed as the heartbeat regulator. Pharma is trying to present this everyday pill as something that will ensure the normal heart function.
Is it like that?
According to cardiologist Klaus Witte, irregular heart function is common menace but it won’t be “fixed” with the Aspirin. The active substance of the Aspirin can prevent — to some extent — blood clots, but rhythm of your heart has nothing to do with it!
#9 – Fiber rich diet for irritated intestines and problems with digestion
It’s not only least helpful but also counterproductive. Over exaggerating with fibers, in cases where patient’s intestines are already messed up, will most likely worsen the symptoms and increase discomfort.
You see, fibers are known for their ability to entice the normal function of your intestines. And you really don’t want excessive bowel movements when suffering from irritated intestines or any other kind of digestion troubles for that matter. It’s all about the balance at the end.
#10 – Paracetamol for back pain and arthritis
13 studies have been conducted so far on this subject and not one has shown any connection between paracetamol and back pains or arthritis! Furthermore, experts in the field warn that excessive intake of paracetamol could potentially cause liver damage.
As professor Philip Conaghan said, patients are telling their doctors for years that paracetamol hasn’t been helpful at all, but it seems like nobody is listening to them.
The practice and feedback show how non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs are far more efficient in treating these two health conditions but most people cannot take them for any extended period of time due to the side effects of drugs commonly prescribed by medical specialists. Again, regular workout and muscle strengthening show the most promising results in treatment.
There are many more “commonly prescribed” drugs that have no effect. And yet, even though doctors are well aware of that fact, they are still “selling” them to poor people who don’t know what to do. Naturally, they trust the man who took the oath.
As it turns out, not everything they suggest is good for you. One simply cannot disregard the thought appearing in one’s mind how the bulk of them have some interest in the entire deal. Otherwise, why would you prescribe antibiotic for viral infection, right?
It’s up to you. You can either believe everything they tell you, or you can conduct additional research — which you should do anyway — and then decide whether the prescribed course of treatment is right for you.
