To Your Health
October, 2023 (Vol. 17, Issue 10) |
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The Wrong Meds
By Editorial Staff
Seniors don't just tend to take a considerable number of medications; they also tend to take many medications that don't have a good cost-benefit profile. In other words, they're not worth the risk.
That dangerous reality is underscored by a recent review that analyzed nearly 100 studies representing 371 million older adults from 17 countries. Among those 371 million seniors, potentially inappropriate medications were being taken an eye-opening 36.7% of the time.
If you think underdeveloped countries accounted for that percentage, note that while Africa did top the list at 47%, North America came in fifth at 29%. And things seem to be worse, not better, with the researchers stating: "Use of [potentially inappropriate medications] among older patients has become increasingly prevalent in the past 2 decades." The most commonly misused medication by older adults, per the study: benzodiazepines, most often prescribed for anxiety / depression. (Brand-name drugs in this class include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, etc.)
Medication is rarely the best option – and it's never the best option when proven, safe, nondrug alternatives exist. That's where your chiropractor comes in – by offering natural, drug-free care your body needs – and reducing dependence on medication your body definitely doesn't need.
