Certainly, such conditions are especially challenging, as they have few (if any) readily-obtainable objective diagnostic criteria (ie, lab, imaging, physical exam findings) upon which to rely.
The crux of the matter is often cost. It is usually the case that Drug B (the one being pushed in the ad campaign) is vastly more expensive than Drug A (which is often generic). The issue should be, is Drug B so superior to Drug A as to justify the difference in price? Because third-party payers are typically involved, this can be a very difficult question to answer. And to make matters worse, the pt often isn’t concerned with the cost/benefit ratio (again, because of the involvement of third-party payers).
These two things are not mutually exclusive. And I can assure you, pts ask for specific drugs. Further, Big Pharma would not spend >$5B/year if it did not increase sales of the targeted drugs.
That’s no lie. And it’s the sad reason that we’ll never change our healthcare system. Treatment is profitable while prevention is not. The article that said that antidepressant use was up also said that 25% of people who reported using the drug in the past month had been on antidepressants for 10 years or longer.
Some of the ads seem to target current users. They flat out state, “If you’re getting treatment for ______ then you should talk to your doctor about ______.” Others just leave it open ended and rattle off a bunch of symptoms that their drug treats.
I think there’s a combination of marketing used. Both designed to get new customers for their product. I still think it’s sad and unfortunate that a lot of people are medicated and that’s the end of the line. Just take this pill for the rest of your life. It’s too bad that part of the process doesn’t include some therapy/counseling/coaching. But we all know that wouldn’t be covered by insurance.
Confession: Buying a PS4 might have been the best inadvertent diet purchase I’ve ever made. Instead of avoiding doing chores by eating, or getting bored and eating, or simply eating. I now eat, do some housework, and then distract myself with video games. It’s fun and effective.
Is that what Canada has? If so then I’ve heard some horror stories about that too. For example, if you get _____ disease and you’re 74 years old, then you might not be worth treating (compared to a 37 year old with the same disease), so you just die.
I only know our system here so that could be a myth.
Can’t speak for Canada but I’ll say that the NHS here in the UK is, though not without its flaws, a national treasure, and certainly worth the relative few flashpoint stories you hear in the tabloid press. Of course plenty of conservatives here want to privatise it to death, but doing so overtly would be political suicide.
Yeah here in the US it’s a god given right to own mah gunz, but healthcare is a privilege that must be paid for. The logic is “since some dudes didn’t write it down on a piece of paper two and a half centuries ago, it’s not a right” because our education system is so fucking abysmal that no one has any critical thinking skills anymore, and don’t look past the propaganda bull shit to realize any increase in taxes would be off put by no more paying for insurance bills, co-pays, or premiums.
With out going all political - I’m a uk citizen who’s seen USA medical care.
In the states ppl dont appreciate that other 1st world countries pay that same tax as you. But get health care free.
You are being screwed. Honestly I looked at cost of living in Washington state. Blow that.
Also - when my 11 week old son needed life saving treatment the surgeon who operated was a world respected expert in operating on children under 18 months old. I earn good wake in the uk, but I’d never be able to afford a surgeon like that private. Sorry lads - the USA system is daf “dumb as …”
The longer I do this the less I care about what people do around me in the gym and the more I care about how hard the do it. Oddly, I’ve come to have more time and respect for someone doing a dumb-as-shit session or program who’s giving it everything they have than someone doing a decent or good program and simply not putting their best into it.
Aight confession time. Tweaked my back slightly today going over the top with my RDLs trying to impress a couple of “leg day everyday” girls that go to my gym who happen to be stunning.
Very hot here today (40c or 104f) so gym which is a brick garage with a metal door was like a sauna. It is 9pm and still 34c so not much chance to cool down post workout. I am watching tv and have very Betty Swollox
The pharma advertising thing is a good point. In the UK it’s basically illegal to buy ads for anything that needs a prescription (also, you can’t buy TV ads for your political party, each one gets a fixed number of free spots depending on how many candidates they stand). I am always astonished by US TV’s constant badgering to go and demand this or that powerful chemical from your doctor right now.
Am I the only one that has “the shirt”? That shirt that fits just right for your work outs? Mine is a 3/4 sleeve, super light and comfortable tee that falls just right for my shoulder workouts. The confession being that I make sure it’s clean for my shoulder days more often than not, so that I can make the best impression possible haha
