943 When Less Is More in Medical Care
The People's Pharmacy
Joe and Terry Graedon
4.6 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 26 April 2014
⏱️ 58 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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The new guidelines brought forth by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology call for a large proportion of senior citizens to take statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs, almost regardless of their cholesterol levels. We speak with Rita Redberg, MD, editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, about whether that is a wise approach.
Often, doctors and patients alike seem to assume that using all the medical tests, tools and techniques at our disposal is a good thing. But for several years, a series of articles in the highly respected medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine (formerly the Archives of Internal Medicine) have been focusing attention on situations where Less Is More. The outspoken editor of the journal has also written essays for the popular press about the risks of over-utilizing some diagnostic technology and medications. In addition to statins, she reviews the often unrecognized risks of CT scans.
Does a diagnosis of appendicitis necessarily mean a rush to surgery? New research suggests that other approaches may be viable for some children.
Call in your questions and comments at 888-472-3366 or email radio@peoplespharmacy.com between 7 and 8 am EDT.
Guest: Rita Redberg, MD, MS, is professor of medicine at the UCSF School of Medicine in San Francisco and editor in chief of JAMA Internal Medicine. Her medical specialty is cardiology.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, I'm Joe Graydon. |
| 0:02.0 | And I'm Terry Graydon. |
| 0:03.4 | This podcast of the People's Pharmacy is brought to you by Squatty Potty Toilet Stools. |
| 0:09.0 | They create healthy toilet posture for fast, easy elimination. |
| 0:12.8 | Learn more about toilet posture and health at Squattypotty.com. |
| 0:17.0 | That's S-Q-U-A-T-Y-P-O-T-Y.com. |
| 0:27.1 | New guidelines suggest that 13 million more Americans should be taking statins to prevent heart disease. |
| 0:37.8 | Are you one of them? |
| 0:39.3 | This is the People's Pharmacy with Terry and Joe Graydon. |
| 0:47.7 | The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have issued controversial recommendations about cholesterol lowering medications. |
| 0:59.1 | If doctors followed the new guidelines, most people over 60 would be prescribed statins when cardiologist urges restraint. |
| 1:06.3 | A diagnosis of appendicitis has traditionally led to emergency surgery. |
| 1:11.9 | A new study has doctors rethinking this reflex. |
| 1:15.4 | Coming up on the People's Pharmacy, we'll find out if Internet use is a benefit or a hazard for mental health. |
| 1:21.7 | And we'll take your calls and questions. |
| 1:25.8 | First, this news. |
| 1:30.3 | In the People's pharmacy health headlines, |
| 1:33.3 | sugar may be an unexpected contributor to death from heart disease. |
| 1:37.3 | For decades, Americans were told to reduce the amount of fat in their diets. |
| 1:42.3 | Food companies compensated for the loss of flavor in low-fat |
| 1:45.4 | foods by adding sugar. Over the last several decades, sugar consumption has increased substantially. |
| 1:52.3 | Now, an epidemiological study called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey |
... |
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