Can you be your own best doctor?

This week I am offering you a philosophical answer to a reader’s question about how to know the “real answer” about whether to take a certain medication or not, because I am not a doctor. This question is something we all struggle with when making a decision about whether to take any medication or undergo many medical treatments offered or not. Most people are fearful of the complications or consequences of a disease.

We are all individuals and as such often not who the medical profession treats! The medical field and drug companies treat populations because that’s where the research on and money for the medication or procedure comes from! The money to produce the medication or procedure does not come from preventing the problem. For example, kidney dialysis has terrible costs, both to the individual and society. Dialysis costs roughly $30,000 per year, compared to taking a pill every day, which costs more than dietary changes that might prevent the problem. However, the medical profession and drug companies gain no matter what. The medical complications from which people who have diseases suffer usually come from a combination of heredity and how much the environment (including the doctors who treat us) affect our health.

Another answer to my reader’s question lies in his or her own knowledge of:

1) His or her own heredity, whether the organs, and blood vessels are stronger than the average person’s, and to what extent damages have already occurred from years of not knowing what was happening to those organs. We then run into the question of whether or not doing another intensive inexpensive medical procedure, a body scan, or whatever test would tell a doctor if a patient were susceptible to the problem.

2) How long were his or her organs suffering, and was it enough to do damage to the body?

3) How compliant can a person be to take a medication as the people who were in a supervised drug trial were able to do?

4) At this time, does this person have the time, effort, money and insurance to keep up the recommended procedure? Will that change?

These are questions that we all should or do all wrestle with when our health deteriorates, or we or our doctors think it will and medical intervention is sought. Each of us needs to look at the answers to the four questions above and make the best decisions for ourselves since we are the ones who live with the consequences of our decisions. All of us and none of us are experts — including our doctors, the drug companies and the HMOs!

Always check with your physician before making any changes in your lifestyle behaviors. Please e-mail me with your suggestions, questions and comments on Healthy Living at [email protected].