Daily Drugs - To Med. or Not to Med.

Take action now to avoid our parents' overmedicated approach to health

Adults  who have watched overprescribed parents fill up pillboxes each week and make endless runs to the pharmacy are searching for ways to avoid that scenario for as long as possible. That means making lifestyle changes now and sticking to them for the rest of our healthy lives.                        

 "We are not willing to settle for the aging pictures our parents painted," says Beth Reardon, director of integrative nutrition at Duke University's Duke Integrative Medicine. "Our genetic blueprint is no longer our destiny. We are aging much differently, both mentally and physically, than our parents. We don't want pills to remind us that our bodies are tired, which we hear as 'failing us.'"

Choose the Right Doctor and Get to Work

  If your doctor believes pills are an automatic part of aging, consider making a change. Find one who is willing to create a reasonable plan to help you stay healthy on your own, through changes in lifestyle. It may take some effort, but when you find someone who shares your goals, the benefits can be significant. "People are looking for something different from their relationship with their physicians," Reardon says. "Some don't want 'a pill for an ill.' They want to address the cause, not the condition."

We can make huge strides toward boosting health and minimizing the need for pills at any age by choosing healthier foods, committing to a consistent exercise program with an appropriate intensity and engaging in stress-reduction techniques like yoga or tai chi.

"Many midlifers are more open-minded and willing to tap into the healing power of their own bodies as compared to generations past," Reardon says, citing increased interest among her patients in organic, whole foods and mind-body practices like acupuncture, Reiki and therapeutic massage. Wearable health monitors and fitness trackers like the Fitbit Force can also help more of us meet our goals.

Know the Real Risks and Rewards of Medication

 If we agree that we all want to avoid taking daily statins, insulin, diuretics, ACE inhibitors or beta blockers, we must also acknowledge that for some of us, medication may be the most appropriate treatment.

 "You have to pay attention to your family history," Coates says. "While diet and exercise programs are essential, you might need to be on some medications. The goal for most of us is trying to minimize them and find the middle ground."  You can make an informed decision working with a doctor you trust who doesn’t reflexively dispense prescriptions.  "In some cases, the chance of benefit is high and there's a downside to avoiding meds. But there are a lot of people taking meds for which the absolute chance of benefit is pretty low, so it's reasonable for them to avoid meds."

Source: Caring.com

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