LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Diuretics

OLDER AND CHEAPER MEDICINES MORE EFFECTIVE FOR BLOOD PRESSURE – (01-05-04)

by

Misperceptions About Beta-Blockers and Diuretics

This is another one of those times that I have to throw up my hands in utter disbelief and confusion. It is now well accepted and proven that the older, cheaper meds for blood pressure are just as effective and safe as the new fancy-dancy expensive ones. And yet, clinicians are not getting the message. The same is happening with antibiotic overuse. There is such a disconnect between research and clinical practice as to be incredulous. I cannot believe that clinicians (and yes, I am generalizing here…) are so oblivious to what is in the medical literature. The only answer is that they never crack a medical journal and all their “continuing ed” comes from the drug companies. I know this reasoning is the only one that makes sense but I just find it hard to swallow–I believe most clinicians have only the based interests for their patients at heart.

Misperceptions About beta-Blockers and Diuretics. A National Survey of Primary Care Physicians – J Gen Intern Med, Vol 18, Is.. –

Read entire article here

COMPARISON OF NEW DRUGS NOT IN US BUDGET – (03-22-04)

by

Federal funding for comparative drug studies not in US budget

Isn’t that interesting? We have seen several editorials comparing the added cost of newer, more expensive drugs that are no more effective or safer than drugs currently in use.

The recent ALLHAT study stunned many by showing that the old approach of diuretics for high blood pressure where just as effective as the much more expensive calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors. So, at the drug companies’ “urging,” the government has decided they don’t have the money to compare the cost and efficacy of newer drugs to older ones. If it wasn’t our money feeding into the Medicare drug mess it would almost be entertaining…bmj.com Marwick 328 (7440): 603 –

Read entire article here

DOES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DRUG CAUSE CANCER?

by

As if we didn’t have enough problems with the toxic world we live in. There are a very large number of chemicals that we are unconsciously exposed to. Many of these are well documented to cause problems. Many cause cancer. But what about the drugs we knowingly take in? Maybe we assume they are safe and won’t cause cancer.

 But what if they do? I know there are times that I sound like a broken record. It sometimes seems that I hammer on pharmaceutical approaches to disease and how damaging it can be. My goal, however, is to enlighten my patients to just how dangerous and wrong a society based almost exclusively on drugs to fix problems is. At the same time offer solutions to the problems for which my patients are taking the drugs.

All too often patients don’t want to make significant lifestyle changes. I think this is because they mistakenly believe that the drug they are going to take is going to actually help them prevent the chronic disease they are concerned about (i.e. statins for preventing a heart attack or stroke). This is rarely the case. Rather, many of our drugs do little to change the long term outcome; worse, they increase the risk for what we are trying to prevent or increase the risk of another condition.

In this case, several drugs used for management of blood pressure (angiotensin II receptor blockers, diuretics) increased the risk of cancer in general. Considering that another popular class of drugs for high blood pressure, the beta-blockers, increase the risk of stroke and diabetes, it doesn’t leave many drug options to control blood pressure that are safe. Thiazide diuretics have also been shown to increase the risk of stroke.

Luckily, many studies have found natural ways to lower your blood pressure.  These include:

  • Berry intake has been shown to lower blood pressure
  • Cocoa and tea have been shown to lower blood pressure
  • Biofeedback using the Resperate has been shown to lower blood pressure
  • Switching from daiy to non-GMO, organic soy milk

Of course, these are in addition to an overall anti-diabetic lifestyle that avoids refined carbs, omega-6 fatty acids and cuts overall calories while increasing activity levels.