Did you know that your risk of dying during a recession actually goes down? As a correlate, a reader pointed me to some fascinating research done in Israel a decade ago. It turns out that the death rate in Israel DROPPED when doctors went on a three month strike.
How could that be? How can fewer people die when there is less access to physicians? One scientist believes he has an explanation. Pharmaceuticals and their side effects are killing us.
That's an interesting theory. So I decided to look at any association between recessions and doctor strikes as well. I figured a patient not going to a doctor because they can't afford it is the same as not going to a doctor because they are on strike. And Voila. There it was. Mortality decreases as unemployment increases. Your risk of dying decreases during a recession. How About That.
So America, I bet you weren't expecting that. Lose your job and your health improves. Is it because of decreased access to physicians and their medications, interventions and therapies that bring harm? Perhaps having insurance can actually kill you by providing an all expense paid trip to pharmaceutical heaven. Perhaps HAVING access to doctors and medications and all the procedures we do is actually doing you more harm than good.
Or perhaps the decline in death is entirely the result of adjustments in lifestyle. Indicating that things you do for yourself mean more than any possible intervention you have with your doctor.
Perhaps that's the key. Because people change the way they live. And that, fellow readers is why I am constantly saying that you can do more for your own health than all the doctors, hospitals, catheters, endoscopes and medications in this universe.
Stay away from doctors, eat right, don't smoke, exercise and you can live like you are in a recession 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
My guess is at this point people stop overmedicating and go to medicines that are essential. And my doctors always want to know why I refuse medicines to alleviate symptoms--because the outcomes are going to be worse than the illness. I'd rather live with a certain level of disablity and pain than drastic drug-induced illness.
ReplyDeleteAhhh yes, as they say, "An Apple a day keeps the doctor away; a Big Mac a day brings the doctor your way."
ReplyDeleteI sent you to Israel article but taking it one step further is brilliant. The difference between the two cases is that presumably there is no lifestyle changes when the doctors go on strike so it in this case doctors are saving lives by not working. Now if doctors could only convince CMS for new ICD codes of "not working, on strike" so that they can be compensated for saving patient lives.
David MD
HH, I just had another thought. It has been said that wearing seat belts is a form of "enabler" that "encourages" people to drive faster and less safely. Perhaps the knowledge of having access to health care where people know/think they can have their risky behavior "fixed" actually encourages people to live riskier lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteIn the field of infertility it has been said that people's over-reliance on the "miracles" of Assisted Reproductive Technology, IVF, etc. lets them think they can wait longer than they might otherwise to have children because they think they can avail themselves of the technology.
David MD
Perhaps another way of looking at it is that the life of luxury is a life deviating away from health and well-being.
ReplyDelete