Welcome to
"Health for a Lifetime"
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I'm your host Don Mackintosh
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and today we're going to
talk about medications...
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Are they a panacea?
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Is there a pill
for every problem?
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Or are there concerns that
we should have when we talk
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about medications?
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Joining us today is a
specialist in internal medicine
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Dr. David DeRose
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Currently, you're practicing at
the Lifestyle Center of America
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which is really
preventive medicine,
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which is another
specialty that you have...
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And so, this idea of
medication, as an internist,
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and I've been a
nurse for many years,
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I know that internal medicine
specialists give a lot of
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medication - a very highly
technical field many times in an
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ICU, CCU... those settings,
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and in preventive
medicines, many times physicians
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that are practicing those,
they try and stay away from them
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Where do you fall on this?
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Well it actually
is a very contextual
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question... like you mentioned.
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In the intensive care
unit, we're often dependent
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on medications and
there are life or death issues
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that hinge on whether the right
medications are prescribed.
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I have nothing against using
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medications in the
intensive care setting.
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But, when it comes
to the common things
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that people see
their physicians for,
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we're often using medications,
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as you and I have
talked about before, Don,
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in SUCH a way that
we're causing, I believe,
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a misplaced
focus in our country.
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And people's minds -
they're thinking that DRUGS
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are the SOLUTION when really
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the solution is
addressing lifestyle issues.
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So we need to look at
what we can do ourselves
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to prevent, stop or
reverse conditions we have
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rather than what
someone ELSE can package for us,
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and then just hope...
Well, that's gonna do it!
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That should be the first line.
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And if the lifestyle is
NOT delivering the endpoints
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that we need to ACHIEVE,
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THEN medications
may well be appropriate.
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Let me give you a
couple of examples...
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Blood pressure and
diabetes, 2 very common problems
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that people come to us at
the Lifestyle Center of America
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With high blood pressure, if
lifestyle is NOT getting your
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blood pressure in
a reasonable control,
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and by that, I like to see that
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systolic number
optimally below 140...
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and the diastolic
number into the low 80s.
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If you're not into
that level of control,
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you're running a significantly
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increased risk of
stroke and heart attack.
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And you would be better
off taking a medication for
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the short-term EVEN
if, in the LONG-TERM,
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LIFESTYLE is going
to help address it.
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After all, if somebody is
carrying an extra 100 pounds,
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they can't lose
it in a week, right?
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Not normally. No,
even in our program, Don,
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I think the
record there, 19 days,
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I think one guy
actually lost 50 pounds.
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In 19 days? Yeah,
but this is real unusual.
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He had a rare condition where
he was retaining a lot of fluid
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So a lot of that
was just fluid weight.
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But the point I'm
making is we don't change our
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bodies overnight with lifestyle;
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medications may be
necessary to decrease risk.
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Another example with diabetes...
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High blood sugars put a toll on
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many organs; one of
them is the kidneys.
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Early on when people come
through our program at the
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Lifestyle Center of
America, we check their
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indicators of kidney damage.
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We check a very
sensitive measurement
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called "microalbumin"
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It's looking for how much
of a tiny amount of protein
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is in the urine.
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If there's an
elevated amount, this shows
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that early kidney
changes are occurring.
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We don't want to
play games with that.
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We don't want to say,
"Well, you know, lifestyle,
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when you lose these 200 pounds
and you stick with this diet
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for 2 years, your blood
sugar will probably be fine"
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No, we want to say...
"Look-it, if your blood sugar
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is not under
control with lifestyle,
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after 2 weeks or
so on our program,
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we're going to have
you leave on medication. "
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So you actually, sometimes,
PUT people on medication.
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Sometimes I put
people on medication.
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But your IDEAL is to get
them off that eventually.
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Yeah, the
FOUNDATION is LIFESTYLE.
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Medication may be used in the
short-term if it's necessary;
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in the long-term if that's
the only option we've got.
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So you're not saying... Go home
and throw out all my medications
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but WISELY consider what you
really need for the short-term
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with somebody who
knows what they're doing.
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That's exactly the
message we're giving.
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I think the average
American is not aware
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of all of the problems
there are with medications
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on an individual basis.
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We've talked before
about societal problems...
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We've talked about this
misplaced focus that the
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drug marketing and the
drug emphasis has led to.
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We've talked about
societal problems like
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antibiotic resistance
and how that has fed into
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this culture of indiscriminate
use of antibiotics.
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But Don, there are some
REAL problems when it comes
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to the INDIVIDUAL when it comes
to using medication. Like what?
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Let me tell you one
of them... Allergies
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Allergies FROM
medications... From medications
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A very common cause of
allergies is medications.
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It can be anything
from skin reactions to
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serious life-threatening
reactions like anaphylaxis...
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...A shock
condition - can kill a person.
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Stop breathing, blood pressure
drops down to next to nothing...
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And you can DIE!
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The leading drug in anaphylactic
reactions on a recent review
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that I look at was penicillin.
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Another study looked at
the experience in another
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Western nation with
drugs and liver injury;
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sometimes fatal injury.
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The leading drug that emerged
in that study was erythromycin.
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and this is because
they're allergic to it,
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and the liver
reacts? These are toxicities
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In the case of the liver
problem with erythromycin,
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it wouldn't
necessarily be allergic.
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It's because it goes to
that organ and it's supposed to
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eliminate it from the body and
it has problems doing that...
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That can be one
scenario, or the liver can be a
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target for the
drug for other reasons.
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To attack it because it
has disease-type things there,
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or it thinks it
does, something like that.
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There is a variety of mechanisms
why drugs have toxicity.
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One.. is an allergic mechanism.
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Okay, so that is sometimes
involved in some of these things
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and there are drugs
that can cause, what we call,
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"autoimmune liver problems"
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They can cause an autoimmune
hepatitis from a drug.
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But, these immune system
allergy-related phenomena
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are ONE side of the picture,
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but then there are other
side effects from the drugs
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that different tissues
can be targets for that drug;
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the tissue, the
nature of that tissue,
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whether it's the
kidney, whether it's the liver,
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whether it's MUSCLE - it doesn't
have to be involved in the
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elimination of the drug.
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Muscle is a target for some of
the cholesterol-lowering drugs,
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and some people
who are susceptible to
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these drug side effects
get problems in the muscle
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because of the drug.
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Are there any
common side effects that we
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have that we can prevent?
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Clearly... One way, the BEST
way to prevent any drug-related
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side effect is not
to use the medication,
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and because these
side effects are rare,
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I mean, they are often in
the 2% - 5% range, less than 1%
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People say, "Well, I
take medications all the time,
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I never have side effects"
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But the list of
side effects is growing,
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and the list of
concerns is growing.
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And Don, often in the
life history of a drug,
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we become aware of side effects
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that we were unaware of
at another point in time.
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Take for example... aspirin
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MOST parents know today...
you don't give it to your kids
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because of Reye syndrome.
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Whether it's
influenza or chickenpox...
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certain viral illnesses,
if you give the kid aspirin,
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they can get FATAL
brain and liver problems
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called Reye syndrome.
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But back in the 80s,
before, we didn't REALIZE that!
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And so ASPIRIN - has it
now become more dangerous?
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NO, it was always
dangerous in these situations,
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but we didn't REALIZE it.
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We're NOW starting to raise
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concern about many common drugs.
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Antidepressants...
a number of them,
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concerns coming out
in the medical literature
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they may increase the
risk of breast cancer.
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Does that mean we throw
out the antidepressants?
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NO... but we don't just say,
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"Well look-it, ANY
antidepressant for the
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rest of your
life... that's fine"
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Calcium channel blockers,
a category of drugs used
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for high blood
pressure and heart conditions...
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There's some
indication that these drugs
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may be associated with increased
risk of intestinal bleeding
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which can lead to
hospitalizations and even DEATH!
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So, we're saying, "Well, is
all the evidence there yet?"
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"Is this dyed-in-the-wool
medical science and fact?"
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No, not yet... but
the concerns are growing.
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And Don, here's
the real shocker...
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Growing epidemic in our country
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE!
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Which means... what?
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I'm glad you're
pinning me down on it
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because I always try
to let patient's know
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I wish we had a
different term for this...
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You know, you
hear "heart failure"
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...you think the person has
one foot in the grave, right?
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Heart failure... we use
that terms medically, of course,
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when the heart has more
work to do than it's able.
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And so congestive
heart failure is a condition
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where the person's
heart is just not able to pump
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as much as the body needs,
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and typically fluid
will back up into the legs,
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maybe back up into the lungs...
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But here's the real shocker...
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Some recent research is
suggesting that the common class
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of drugs called "nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs"
00:10:03.03\00:10:06.13
...these are drugs like
over-the-counter Nuprin,
00:10:06.16\00:10:08.89
ibuprofen, Motrin, Clinoril,
a whole host of these drugs,
00:10:08.92\00:10:15.20
Advil, naproxen, Naprosyn
00:10:15.23\00:10:17.81
All these drugs that we just
00:10:17.84\00:10:20.14
TAKE for any
kind of ache or pain,
00:10:20.17\00:10:23.34
they may be actually
contributing to heart failure.
00:10:23.37\00:10:26.17
Preliminary
studies... it's not fact yet,
00:10:26.20\00:10:30.18
but when you start
seeing these concerns, Don,
00:10:30.21\00:10:32.08
I HAVE TO ASK... and I
have to tell my patients,
00:10:32.11\00:10:34.51
"Look, when you take
these things that you think are
00:10:34.54\00:10:37.22
innocuous, they may be
just as innocuous as aspirin was
00:10:37.25\00:10:41.21
in its relation
to Reye syndrome.
00:10:41.24\00:10:42.91
The were only innocuous
in the perception of the
00:10:42.94\00:10:45.71
consumer and the
physician because we had
00:10:45.74\00:10:48.17
NOT recognized the linkage
with health problems yet.
00:10:48.20\00:10:51.73
But isn't that what
they're supposed to do
00:10:51.76\00:10:53.42
when they produce these drugs?
00:10:53.45\00:10:54.82
Isn't this why they have
the FDA and all these different
00:10:54.85\00:10:57.38
companies that are
watch groups that look over
00:10:57.41\00:11:02.18
medication and whatnot?
00:11:02.21\00:11:03.58
You know, I have to tell
you, Don, I'm thankful that we
00:11:03.61\00:11:05.94
are fairly careful
as far as what drugs
00:11:05.97\00:11:08.29
are released on the market.
00:11:08.32\00:11:09.69
We do fairly well, FAIRLY
well; I'm not going to say we're
00:11:09.72\00:11:13.10
perfect at not releasing drugs
00:11:13.13\00:11:16.44
that cause sudden
toxicity in lots of people.
00:11:16.47\00:11:20.94
We're pretty
careful about that...
00:11:20.97\00:11:22.63
but all you have to do...
00:11:22.66\00:11:24.69
Most people if they've
been on prescription drugs
00:11:24.72\00:11:26.94
they've gotten a call at
some time, from their physician
00:11:26.97\00:11:30.01
saying, "You know
this antiarrhythmic,
00:11:30.04\00:11:32.31
this drug for your heart rhythm
problem - just off the market,
00:11:32.34\00:11:34.82
more people using it are dying
than it is actually saving. "
00:11:34.85\00:11:38.90
Or, "People are
dying from this pain pill,
00:11:38.93\00:11:41.87
and you're on it,
we need to stop it. "
00:11:41.90\00:11:44.42
Or, "This drug for your diabetes
has caused some liver deaths,
00:11:44.45\00:11:47.98
and this drug is
now off the market. "
00:11:48.01\00:11:51.13
And so people that have
been on many medications
00:11:51.16\00:11:53.07
and taking them
for a period of time,
00:11:53.10\00:11:55.08
this is where we especially
need to be concerned...
00:11:55.11\00:11:57.29
They know that these
drugs slip off the market
00:11:57.32\00:12:01.39
because what
happens is over time, Don,
00:12:01.42\00:12:03.97
we REALIZE the problem.
00:12:04.00\00:12:05.62
It's a bigger study
that goes on when everybody
00:12:05.65\00:12:07.93
starts taking it.
That's exactly right
00:12:07.96\00:12:09.77
And let me ask this...
00:12:09.80\00:12:11.86
Is it true also they may do a
test on a particular medication
00:12:11.89\00:12:15.27
but then once you start taking
it with the other medications
00:12:15.30\00:12:17.87
you've already been
taking, you've got a new mix
00:12:17.90\00:12:20.02
or a new blend
that they never studied!
00:12:20.05\00:12:21.83
This is another huge issue.
00:12:21.86\00:12:23.33
Another huge issue is this
whole area of drug interactions.
00:12:23.36\00:12:26.77
And the more drugs we use,
the more we increase the risk
00:12:26.80\00:12:30.97
of interactions and it's
not just limited to DRUGS!
00:12:31.00\00:12:33.61
You know as we're talking
about drugs and medications,
00:12:33.64\00:12:35.59
whenever I TALK about
medications, I know there are
00:12:35.62\00:12:38.71
people listening to me and they
say... "Yeah, see - look quick
00:12:38.74\00:12:41.07
...quick send this out
because we're selling these
00:12:41.10\00:12:43.15
nutrient supplements and quick
... have them watch Dr. DeRose
00:12:43.18\00:12:46.69
and hear what he's saying about
all the side effects of drugs.
00:12:46.72\00:12:50.81
Because they need our
supplement? That's right!
00:12:50.84\00:12:52.95
But supplements have
their problems too...
00:12:52.98\00:12:56.26
not only with toxicities
but with drug interactions;
00:12:56.29\00:12:59.07
these are REAL concerns!
00:12:59.10\00:13:00.72
And now physicians are
being URGED to take not just a
00:13:00.75\00:13:04.10
careful medication
history on their patients,
00:13:04.13\00:13:06.70
but to find out what
herbs they're taking;
00:13:06.73\00:13:09.50
what supplements they're taking.
00:13:09.53\00:13:11.19
Some of these things
are FAR from innocuous
00:13:11.22\00:13:13.39
especially because we
take them in huge amounts.
00:13:13.42\00:13:16.06
What types of herbs and
supplements do you especially
00:13:16.09\00:13:20.63
CAUTION people to avoid?
00:13:20.66\00:13:22.70
Well maybe it's better
expressed when we talk about
00:13:22.73\00:13:25.91
what other drugs
a person may be on.
00:13:25.94\00:13:27.90
Let me give you a classic one...
00:13:27.93\00:13:29.30
And that's the anticoagulant,
the blood thinner,
00:13:29.33\00:13:31.80
warfarin or Coumadin.
00:13:31.83\00:13:33.61
A very common drug
and it does have some
00:13:33.64\00:13:36.53
VERY important benefits.
00:13:36.56\00:13:38.24
People that have had serious
problems with blood clots,
00:13:38.27\00:13:40.86
people that have
serious heart rhythm problems,
00:13:40.89\00:13:44.17
even though they feel well,
like atrial fibrillation which
00:13:44.20\00:13:47.19
is a quivering of the chambers
in the upper part of the heart
00:13:47.22\00:13:51.13
Coumadin..
warfarin could actually
00:13:51.16\00:13:53.76
decrease the risk of a stroke.
00:13:53.80\00:13:55.17
The clots don't
form... Yeah, clots don't form
00:13:55.21\00:13:57.59
in that quivering
chamber and then flick off
00:13:57.62\00:14:00.00
and go to the brain;
so a very useful drug
00:14:00.04\00:14:03.41
But this DRUG, if
you're changing what you are
00:14:03.45\00:14:06.79
taking into your mouth, even if
you make healthy dietary changes
00:14:06.82\00:14:10.21
you've got to be careful if
you start taking supplements
00:14:10.24\00:14:12.84
you've got to be very careful,
00:14:12.87\00:14:14.24
in fact, you shouldn't do
it without telling your doctor.
00:14:14.27\00:14:16.34
This is something
we're very mindful of at the
00:14:16.37\00:14:18.45
Lifestyle Center of
America because we have people
00:14:18.48\00:14:20.61
start eating a
better diet when they come.
00:14:20.64\00:14:22.28
That means more
green leafy vegetables...
00:14:22.31\00:14:24.63
and that actually
typically increases the need
00:14:24.66\00:14:28.06
for warfarin or for Coumadin
00:14:28.09\00:14:30.37
if people are going to
keep their blood just as thin
00:14:30.40\00:14:32.53
because the green
leafy vegetables have
00:14:32.56\00:14:34.40
lots of vitamin K which works
00:14:34.43\00:14:37.31
AGAINST these
blood-thinning medications.
00:14:37.34\00:14:39.73
So it's not as simple as
saying "NO" to medicines,
00:14:39.76\00:14:41.65
you're saying - you increase
their blood thinner because
00:14:41.68\00:14:44.96
they have increased their
other plant-based medication
00:14:44.99\00:14:48.31
if you will, the
green leafy vegetables...
00:14:48.34\00:14:49.83
And so you really need
to have the input of someone
00:14:49.86\00:14:52.67
that's really
been looking into this.
00:14:52.70\00:14:54.24
When you're on medications,
you DON'T want to play games!
00:14:54.27\00:14:57.98
If you've got
serious medical problems,
00:14:58.01\00:15:00.31
you don't want to
just treat yourself.
00:15:00.34\00:15:02.36
I'll tell you, there is a
fellow that came into my office
00:15:02.39\00:15:05.21
...not an uncommon
story, with BAGS of supplements.
00:15:05.24\00:15:08.35
One of these individuals
said, "Look-it, I'm stopping all
00:15:08.38\00:15:11.58
these things because I
think it's contributing
00:15:11.61\00:15:13.47
to some of the
problems I've been having,
00:15:13.50\00:15:15.43
and that's NOT
an underestimation.
00:15:15.46\00:15:17.94
We've been talking
with Dr. David DeRose
00:15:17.97\00:15:20.38
We've been
talking about medication.
00:15:20.41\00:15:22.21
It's not a
panacea... They are needed.
00:15:22.24\00:15:24.86
You need the information
that you can gain from people
00:15:24.89\00:15:28.22
that have studied this and made
this their lifework many times,
00:15:28.25\00:15:32.61
but just good
common sense as well.
00:15:32.64\00:15:34.91
One of the things that
the doctor has been saying is
00:15:34.94\00:15:37.05
look for ways to
meet the objectives
00:15:37.08\00:15:39.00
WITHOUT medication
and don't just start
00:15:39.03\00:15:41.11
medication without
really thinking it through
00:15:41.14\00:15:43.00
whether it's prescription
or over-the-counter.
00:15:43.03\00:15:45.14
When we come back
we're going to further
00:15:45.17\00:15:47.46
look at this issue
and I'm going to be asking
00:15:47.49\00:15:50.05
the doctor about over
dosage and different other
00:15:50.08\00:15:53.47
situations that
you may have heard of
00:15:53.50\00:15:55.40
or maybe have
experienced yourself...
00:15:55.43\00:15:57.73
And we hope that you can
join us when we come back.
00:15:57.76\00:16:01.72
Have you found yourself wishing
00:16:03.05\00:16:04.42
that you could
shed a few pounds?
00:16:04.45\00:16:05.82
Have you been on a
diet for most of your life,
00:16:05.85\00:16:08.32
but not found anything that
will really keep the weight off?
00:16:08.35\00:16:11.06
If you've answered "yes"
to any of these questions,
00:16:11.09\00:16:14.05
then we have a
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00:16:14.08\00:16:16.98
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Dr. Aileen Ludington
00:16:17.01\00:16:19.87
have written a
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00:16:19.90\00:16:21.97
"Reversing Obesity Naturally"
00:16:22.00\00:16:24.10
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00:16:24.13\00:16:27.08
Here's a medically sound
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00:16:27.11\00:16:29.69
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00:16:29.72\00:16:32.89
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00:16:32.92\00:16:35.76
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00:16:35.79\00:16:37.56
Dr. Diehl and Dr. Ludington
have been featured on 3ABN
00:16:37.59\00:16:41.10
and in this booklet, they
present a sensible approach
00:16:41.13\00:16:43.91
to eating, nutrition
and lifestyle changes
00:16:43.94\00:16:46.55
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00:16:46.58\00:16:48.34
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00:16:48.37\00:16:50.57
Call or write today
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00:16:50.60\00:16:52.54
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00:16:52.57\00:16:54.30
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00:16:54.33\00:16:57.33
It's ABSOLUTELY free of
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00:16:57.36\00:17:02.32
We've been talking
with Dr. David DeRose
00:17:03.08\00:17:04.92
We've been
talking about medication.
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.67
What is the wise way
to utilize medication?
00:17:06.70\00:17:09.87
What are harmful ways?
00:17:09.90\00:17:11.27
What are ways that
we need to be cautious,
00:17:11.30\00:17:13.31
or things we should avoid
when dealing with medication.
00:17:13.34\00:17:16.83
Doctor, another question
that comes to mind here...
00:17:16.86\00:17:20.21
You know, some people
maybe are perpetuating the very
00:17:20.24\00:17:24.90
conditions they want to avoid.
00:17:24.93\00:17:26.81
Is this true... when
they take medications?
00:17:26.84\00:17:28.49
This is a VERY
interesting question.
00:17:28.52\00:17:30.21
A classic example has to
do with headache preparations.
00:17:30.24\00:17:33.77
This is true of over-the-counter
headache medications
00:17:33.80\00:17:36.46
as well as prescription drugs.
00:17:36.49\00:17:37.86
Usually very high
in caffeine, right?
00:17:37.89\00:17:39.39
That's exactly right
and that's the CATCH!
00:17:39.42\00:17:41.62
Many people have
caffeine withdrawal headaches.
00:17:41.65\00:17:44.76
And so what do they
take to get rid of their
00:17:44.79\00:17:46.65
caffeine withdrawal headache?
00:17:46.68\00:17:48.23
Well they take their pain
pill that has CAFFEINE in it!
00:17:48.26\00:17:51.58
And there are some
people in our country,
00:17:51.61\00:17:53.55
it's not the
majority, I don't think,
00:17:53.58\00:17:55.51
that are avoiding caffeine...
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.32
Because they're concerned about
00:17:57.35\00:17:59.04
caffeine withdrawal
headaches... Yeah, not too many!
00:17:59.07\00:18:01.12
But here's what
happens though...
00:18:01.15\00:18:02.52
even in those people,
the drug ITSELF can be
00:18:02.55\00:18:05.45
perpetuating the condition.
00:18:05.48\00:18:07.08
You see, they take
caffeine to get rid of the
00:18:07.11\00:18:09.50
caffeine withdrawal headache,
00:18:09.53\00:18:11.16
and then when the
caffeine level drops,
00:18:11.19\00:18:13.49
the caffeine
withdrawal headache recurs,
00:18:13.52\00:18:15.65
and then they take the caffeine-
containing headache pill.
00:18:15.68\00:18:17.45
Boy, that's a pretty
sneaky way to get your
00:18:18.31\00:18:21.07
medication to be needed, right?
00:18:21.10\00:18:23.37
Well, I don't want
to speculate on motives!
00:18:23.40\00:18:28.79
But definitely there
are patients who get into a
00:18:28.82\00:18:31.57
vicious cycle
where the medication
00:18:31.60\00:18:33.79
is contributing to the problem.
00:18:33.82\00:18:35.19
Headache is a classic example
00:18:35.23\00:18:36.60
with these caffeine-containing
preparations.
00:18:36.63\00:18:38.81
So, if you're taking
something for headache,
00:18:38.84\00:18:40.33
make sure and
look at it and say...
00:18:40.36\00:18:41.77
"Hey, does it have caffeine?"
00:18:41.80\00:18:43.17
It usually says, right
on the side whether or not
00:18:43.20\00:18:44.60
it has caffeine, doesn't it?
00:18:44.63\00:18:46.00
Labeling generally
will disclose that,
00:18:46.03\00:18:48.03
and talk with your physician...
00:18:48.06\00:18:49.43
If you're being
prescribed a prescription
00:18:49.46\00:18:51.27
caffeine-containing pill,
00:18:51.30\00:18:53.51
you may need to make a break
with the caffeine for a while
00:18:53.54\00:18:56.55
with the guidance of
your physician if you are
00:18:56.58\00:18:58.86
being prescribed
something I say that.
00:18:58.89\00:19:00.60
If you are just taking
over-the-counter stuff,
00:19:00.63\00:19:02.08
it's usually safe to
make that break on your own.
00:19:02.11\00:19:04.40
Now maybe some people
are taking some medications
00:19:04.43\00:19:06.78
and they're having
side effects that they don't
00:19:06.81\00:19:08.73
see as side effects, so
they just don't even KNOW
00:19:08.76\00:19:10.92
they're having side effects!
00:19:10.95\00:19:12.32
Is that true and,
if so, what are those?
00:19:12.35\00:19:15.43
Well you know,
we've talked a lot, Don,
00:19:15.46\00:19:17.35
about side effects that
kind of creep up on you.
00:19:17.38\00:19:20.59
For example, we mentioned
the calcium channel blockers,
00:19:20.62\00:19:23.72
and the risk of
bleeding perhaps;
00:19:23.75\00:19:25.60
increased risk of
congestive heart failure with
00:19:25.63\00:19:28.25
certain pain-relieving drugs,
00:19:28.28\00:19:30.16
or even the increased
risk of breast cancer with
00:19:30.19\00:19:32.15
certain antidepressants...
00:19:32.18\00:19:33.55
Well what kind warning signs do
people have with these things?
00:19:33.58\00:19:35.69
I mean, before you have a
big bleed in your intestine,
00:19:35.72\00:19:40.18
a big bleeding problem, do
you have little blood spots
00:19:40.21\00:19:43.49
that you'd find in
your stool? No, not usually
00:19:43.52\00:19:46.30
Before you have breast cancer,
do you start feeling your
00:19:46.33\00:19:49.54
breast tingling
because of the - ... No
00:19:49.57\00:19:51.58
No, I mean, so often
these things creep up on you.
00:19:51.61\00:19:54.95
One of the scariest
ones to me actually, Don, is
00:19:54.98\00:19:57.51
"tardive dyskinesia"
00:19:57.54\00:19:59.01
What in the
world does that mean?
00:19:59.04\00:20:01.38
Well, I'll tell you, if
you've visited a nursing home
00:20:01.41\00:20:05.79
you've likely seen
people with tardive dyskinesias.
00:20:05.82\00:20:08.27
They're usually... Well,
what they are is uncontrolled
00:20:08.30\00:20:12.50
movements, often kind
of lip-smacking or twisting
00:20:12.53\00:20:15.94
movements of the face and
00:20:15.97\00:20:17.58
yeah, it can affect
the hands and other things.
00:20:17.61\00:20:20.36
These are
uncontrollable movements;
00:20:20.39\00:20:22.06
it's usually irreversible
and they're associated with
00:20:22.09\00:20:24.53
major tranquillizers...
00:20:24.56\00:20:25.93
And unfortunately,
many times in these
00:20:25.96\00:20:27.54
extended care facilities, people
are on large amounts of these.
00:20:27.57\00:20:31.06
Now people say, "Well you
know, I feel sorry for grandma,
00:20:31.09\00:20:34.41
that she's on these medications
but she's not aware of anything
00:20:34.44\00:20:37.67
so, it's sad but we understand
you gotta keep her sedate. "
00:20:37.70\00:20:43.09
Here's the issue...
00:20:43.12\00:20:44.60
These same class of medications
are used by healthy young people
00:20:44.63\00:20:48.47
For example, "Reglan" a drug
00:20:48.50\00:20:51.64
that is used to
regulate intestinal function,
00:20:51.67\00:20:53.98
or "Compazine" a drug that's
00:20:54.01\00:20:55.38
used to treat nausea
and other problems...
00:20:55.41\00:20:58.22
These DRUGS are
used often FREQUENTLY
00:20:58.25\00:21:01.38
and sometimes
repetitively by people,
00:21:01.41\00:21:03.31
and they are in this same
class of major tranquillizers.
00:21:03.34\00:21:06.92
They're not being
prescribed for mental reasons.
00:21:06.95\00:21:09.80
But they can cause
these tardive dyskinesias,
00:21:09.83\00:21:12.20
and the problem is, Don, people
often don't have any warning.
00:21:12.23\00:21:14.72
It just comes up on them and...
00:21:15.65\00:21:17.29
And then it's irreversible! Yeah
00:21:17.32\00:21:19.43
So the message
is... BE AWARE THAT DRUGS
00:21:19.46\00:21:22.96
CARRY WITH THEM SIDE EFFECTS,
00:21:22.99\00:21:24.36
and DON'T just say,
"What's the next pill I can take
00:21:24.39\00:21:26.89
for this problem?"
00:21:26.92\00:21:28.29
Ask your doctor, when he
or she is prescribing a drug,
00:21:28.32\00:21:31.19
say, "Look-it,
there are other options"
00:21:31.22\00:21:33.85
"Is there anything I
can do with my lifestyle?"
00:21:33.88\00:21:36.11
"Any changes I can
make in my diet that may
00:21:36.14\00:21:38.60
help me avoid this drug
right now or down the road?"
00:21:38.63\00:21:42.03
So, what you've
said is 2 things...
00:21:42.06\00:21:44.22
You said... When
you take medications,
00:21:44.25\00:21:45.87
or change medications or think
about doing something different
00:21:45.90\00:21:49.33
in that area,
TALK to your physician.
00:21:49.36\00:21:51.61
But now, what
you are saying is...
00:21:51.64\00:21:53.01
Don't just
LISTEN to your physician
00:21:53.04\00:21:55.16
...I want to put you on
this next medication, but say,
00:21:55.19\00:21:58.08
"WHY... is there any way
we can avoid drugs altogether"
00:21:58.11\00:22:01.92
and ask that question,
is that what you're saying?
00:22:01.95\00:22:03.86
That's the message
I try to give people.
00:22:03.89\00:22:05.26
It's a re-education
because what we're trying to say
00:22:05.29\00:22:08.45
is we've got to move from
this mentality as a society.
00:22:08.48\00:22:11.90
If I have a problem...
I've got to take a drug.
00:22:11.93\00:22:14.18
There are problems for society,
00:22:14.21\00:22:15.97
we've talked about this before
with antibiotic resistance.
00:22:16.00\00:22:18.55
There are problems
for the individual,
00:22:18.58\00:22:19.95
whether it's allergy,
whether it's other side effects,
00:22:19.98\00:22:22.71
and these are real issues
that we need to talk about.
00:22:22.74\00:22:25.19
What about poisoning?
00:22:25.22\00:22:26.59
Well poisoning is an
issue that most people say...
00:22:26.62\00:22:30.02
"Oh, it's not
really a danger for me"
00:22:30.05\00:22:32.31
We've alluded to this in some
of our discussions before, Don,
00:22:32.34\00:22:35.91
but most people may be
aware that alcohol is something
00:22:35.94\00:22:39.81
dangerous when
there are kids around.
00:22:39.84\00:22:41.80
Most people are aware that
prescription drugs should be
00:22:41.83\00:22:44.81
kept out of the
hands of children,
00:22:44.84\00:22:46.48
but they don't realize that
when you keep powerful drugs
00:22:46.51\00:22:50.76
in your medicine cabinet,
they may be at risk for YOU.
00:22:50.79\00:22:53.89
If you get down,
if you get depressed,
00:22:53.92\00:22:56.18
YOU may be tempted to reach for
00:22:56.21\00:22:58.32
that bottle of sleeping pills
and maybe just try to end it all
00:22:58.35\00:23:04.32
...And so this is
a real consideration.
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.18
Some of these medications
can be toxic when taken
00:23:06.21\00:23:09.23
in large amounts and
can be life-threatening.
00:23:09.26\00:23:11.19
Medications and accidents...
00:23:11.22\00:23:13.66
You know, a lot of people,
when you talk to them about
00:23:13.69\00:23:15.57
accidents, you say - Well what
kind of drugs cause accidents?
00:23:15.60\00:23:17.41
Well they say, "Illicit
drugs, it's these drug abusers"
00:23:18.10\00:23:21.85
"Boy, if someone is
driving wildly on the road,
00:23:21.88\00:23:24.19
they're probably
taking cocaine or heroin. "
00:23:24.22\00:23:26.52
Actually if you look at the
statistics - workplace injuries,
00:23:26.55\00:23:30.71
it's not illicit drugs
that are causing the problem.
00:23:30.74\00:23:33.34
It's things like
alcohol and prescription drugs.
00:23:33.37\00:23:36.22
Many of the drugs that
we've been tempted to think
00:23:36.25\00:23:40.93
are innocuous
and I say "tempted"
00:23:40.96\00:23:42.80
I think most people realize
that medications are not as
00:23:42.83\00:23:46.55
squeaky-clean as we
may like to believe.
00:23:46.58\00:23:50.12
And so... take for
example anti-allergy pills...
00:23:50.15\00:23:53.42
Cold and flu preparations...
00:23:53.45\00:23:55.49
These drugs with antihistamines
often can impair performance.
00:23:55.52\00:24:00.58
Very interesting study on the
00:24:00.61\00:24:02.17
drug
"diphenhydramine or Benadryl"
00:24:02.20\00:24:04.30
VERY INTERESTING!
00:24:04.33\00:24:05.70
I was just going
to ask about that...
00:24:05.73\00:24:07.10
Yeah, yeah... you were
going to ask about Benadryl.
00:24:07.13\00:24:08.50
You've probably seen
some of the research that has
00:24:08.53\00:24:10.73
come out lately
because people who
00:24:10.76\00:24:13.47
have NO APPARENT performance-
limiting effects from this drug
00:24:13.50\00:24:20.07
Benadryl or diphenhydramine
which creeps into
00:24:20.10\00:24:22.59
all kinds of
over-the-counter preparations,
00:24:22.62\00:24:24.70
their performance, when
it's measured, is impaired!
00:24:24.73\00:24:27.45
Behind the wheel,
they don't drive as well.
00:24:27.48\00:24:30.34
And if you talk about leading
causes of accidents on the job,
00:24:30.37\00:24:34.28
it's not some guy on a
scaffold up at 500 feet,
00:24:34.31\00:24:38.90
it's people behind the wheel,
00:24:38.93\00:24:40.42
and it's often
these common drugs!
00:24:40.45\00:24:42.20
Whether it's
Benadryl or something else,
00:24:42.23\00:24:43.80
it's impairing our
cognitive abilities,
00:24:43.83\00:24:46.88
decreasing our mental faculties.
00:24:46.91\00:24:49.49
And I know it says it right
on the package many times that
00:24:49.52\00:24:51.93
these things can,
in fact, happen...
00:24:51.96\00:24:53.61
But most people just
don't seem to get the message.
00:24:53.64\00:24:56.99
Well you know what?
00:24:57.02\00:24:58.39
We don't rely on what
the message says, Don.
00:24:58.42\00:25:01.92
You know what we rely
on? Our personal experience.
00:25:01.95\00:25:04.17
I FEEL FINE!
00:25:04.20\00:25:06.36
Same with the person who
says "I can handle my alcohol"
00:25:06.39\00:25:08.87
Even a LITTLE BIT of alcohol
00:25:08.90\00:25:10.79
measurably impairs performance.
00:25:10.82\00:25:13.02
It's the same with
many of these medications.
00:25:13.05\00:25:15.04
It's almost as though
there are really some kind of
00:25:15.07\00:25:17.83
maybe even moral
issues that are associated
00:25:17.86\00:25:21.98
with how we choose
to take medications,
00:25:22.01\00:25:24.16
and maybe how we, as a
country, manufacture them.
00:25:24.19\00:25:27.00
You know a lot of
people would say this is
00:25:27.03\00:25:28.91
this is taking
the issue too far,
00:25:28.94\00:25:30.67
but I've got to think of
the example of our Lord...
00:25:30.70\00:25:34.89
As He was on the
cross on that dark Friday,
00:25:34.92\00:25:38.34
He was offered an
over-the-counter pain reliever,
00:25:38.37\00:25:41.76
and what did He do?
00:25:41.79\00:25:43.16
"I don't want it"
He didn't want it.
00:25:43.19\00:25:44.56
Now WHY not?
00:25:44.59\00:25:45.96
He wanted to be fully
aware about what was happening.
00:25:45.99\00:25:48.03
That's right... He didn't want
to suppress His mental faculties
00:25:48.06\00:25:52.93
How does God
communicate with us?
00:25:52.96\00:25:55.18
Through our mind.
00:25:55.21\00:25:57.11
And so JESUS, as He's there,
00:25:57.14\00:25:59.15
I mean - what kind of
pain was He dealing with?
00:25:59.18\00:26:02.18
On a spiritual
level, on a physical level,
00:26:02.21\00:26:04.64
and what do we pop pills for?
00:26:04.67\00:26:06.45
I'm NOT saying we can
never use a pain pill.
00:26:06.48\00:26:08.98
I've been in situations where
00:26:09.01\00:26:11.06
I, myself, have
even taken a pain pill.
00:26:11.09\00:26:13.27
Not typical, very
unusual but I was in a serious
00:26:13.30\00:26:16.62
auto accident once and I
did take some pain pills.
00:26:16.65\00:26:20.44
And there are situations
in life where medications
00:26:20.47\00:26:24.34
may be the BEST
response we know...
00:26:24.37\00:26:26.55
But too frequently,
we resort to these things
00:26:26.58\00:26:30.99
when there are
better alternatives,
00:26:31.02\00:26:32.53
and they would
keep our minds clear
00:26:32.56\00:26:34.81
for God's communication.
00:26:34.84\00:26:36.76
Reminds me of another
story in Scripture about
00:26:36.79\00:26:39.38
the first tempter in the
Bible that being the serpent,
00:26:39.41\00:26:42.43
who said... take some of
this and you'll feel better,
00:26:42.46\00:26:45.52
your mood will change,
you'll get high, so-to-speak.
00:26:45.55\00:26:49.95
I mean it's a beautiful analogy!
00:26:49.98\00:26:51.79
...Because Satan was
telling Adam and Eve to deviate
00:26:51.82\00:26:54.91
Deviate from
God's lifestyle program.
00:26:54.95\00:26:57.96
Deviate from this
perfect plan He gave in Genesis.
00:26:57.99\00:27:00.97
It included everything there,
not just relationship with God
00:27:01.00\00:27:04.20
but diet, exercise,
fresh air, sunshine.
00:27:04.23\00:27:06.96
It was all there -
these health-giving,
00:27:06.99\00:27:09.39
life-giving benefits and
Satan said, "No take THIS"
00:27:09.42\00:27:13.38
I'm not trying to say all drugs
are a temptation from Satan
00:27:13.41\00:27:16.95
...you know, we've
got to give that message.
00:27:16.98\00:27:19.15
But we have to be
wise. We gotta be wise!
00:27:19.18\00:27:21.23
So you're not saying throw
everything out. Definitely not
00:27:21.26\00:27:24.11
But you're saying - be
wise about what you use,
00:27:24.14\00:27:26.21
why you use it, how you use it
and consider all these issues.
00:27:26.24\00:27:29.83
We've been talking
with Dr. David DeRose
00:27:29.86\00:27:31.83
He is a physician at the
Lifestyle Center of America
00:27:31.86\00:27:34.75
He helps people UNTANGLE
their medication difficulties
00:27:34.78\00:27:38.00
with the common illnesses
that afflict Americans,
00:27:38.03\00:27:41.33
heart disease and diabetes
00:27:41.36\00:27:43.29
and other things
also are addressed there.
00:27:43.32\00:27:46.35
We hope that you have
enjoyed the program today,
00:27:46.38\00:27:48.82
and we hope that you'll be
wise in using your medications
00:27:48.85\00:27:51.85
and directing and leading
your family in that regard...
00:27:51.88\00:27:54.98
And we hope that you
do consult with those
00:27:55.01\00:27:57.03
who really can help
you if you have questions.
00:27:57.06\00:27:59.05