Patients can change lifestyle

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Dec, 2004  by Daniel Blodgett

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Editor:

I found the interview with Jonathan Bernstein, MD in BookCorners (Aug/Sept 2004) to be very objectionable because he basically says that patients are unable to change their lifestyle. Therefore he proposes putting them all on 4 different types of drugs to "prevent disease." This is totally disempowering to people and makes them passive recipients of drug technology. Drug technology has little to do with true health and vitality.

In addition, he is incorrect in stating that statin drugs are safe and have a side effect profile similar to placebo. A local Fresno MD and nationally known cardiologist, John Nelson MD, has 4,000 patients and is basically a lipid management specialist. He monitors liver and muscle enzymes every 3-6 months in these patients in order to find the many people who develop problems. Using statins OTC is a recipe for disaster.

As a holistic physician, I see many new patients who have stopped statin drugs due to significant reactions to these medications. Although many studies show a lowering of cardiovascular death from use of statins, the overall death rate does not go down. This implies the drugs are so toxic that death rates go up due to other effects of these drugs.

The way to prevent or reverse heart disease is already known from numerous studies and from well established principles of good health: Eat a whole food diet high in green vegetables. Exercise regularly and keep weight to an ideal level. Practice a form of stress reduction daily. Never smoke. If you have high-cholesterol or inflammation or metabolic syndrome, consult an experienced holistic practitioner to assist in correcting these. If we as practitioners condone ongoing unhealthy lifestyles in our patients, they will continue to expect that just taking a pill will make up for all their unhealthy behavior.

Daniel Blodgett, MD

Board Certified in Family Practice and Holistic Medicine

Oakhurst, California USA

energyhealermd@sierratel.com.

COPYRIGHT 2004 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group