San Diego Chiropractor

Do you take prescription medications?  If so, do you take them instead of simply eating healthy and exercising?  This is a tough question to answer – often we are reluctant to simply admit that we sacrifice our very health for our indulgences and lack of self control.  Research indicates, however, that this is exactly what we are doing.

The patients of my San Diego Chiropractic Clinic are not quite as heavily prescribed as the general public.  This is probably because the average patient with a chiropractic mindset looks to alternative, natural methods to improve health.

According to a September 2011 document released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics the percentage of Americans on prescription drugs in any given month is a whopping 47.2% – which is up from 39% when this same research was performed in 1994.  This organization also predicted that for the first time in our history that half of our population will be on some kind of prescription drug before the end of 2012.

Too Many Meds

More bad news about prescription drugs:

1)      As of 2008, 20.8% of our population is on three or more prescription drugs.

2)      As of 2008, 11% of our population is on five or more prescription drugs.

3)      As of 2008, 25.3% of children under the age of 18 are on at least one prescription drug.

4)      As of 2008, 53% of all American women are on at least one prescription drug.

5)      As of 2008, 90% of all Americans over the age of 65 are on at least one prescription drug.

6)      As of 2008, 65% of all Americans over the age of 65 are on three or more prescription drugs.

7)      As of 2008, over 36% of all Americans over the age of 65 are on five or more prescription drugs.

Is This What We Are Becoming?

The drug industry has US sales of over $300 billion dollars annually, which is more than enough to keep these trends going (after all, they are in it for the money!).

Prescription medications have their place and are often necessary in emergency medical situations, but I am afraid that they often find their way into our lives because as a nation we eat too much fat, sugar and processed foods that are of almost no nutritional value.  Add to this a general lack of interest in exercise compounded by some outright unhealthy habits like smoking and alcohol consumption and you have a perfect storm for creating an unhealthy population that requires the help of prescription medications in order for their bodies to function.  It is indeed a sad state of affairs.

Here is to a healthier 2012!

Dr. Jones

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(619) 280-0554