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1) The definition of bone density takes as the reference point the
density of a teenage Caucasian girl. Naturally, any one above that age
will have proportionately less bone density making over diagnosis a rule
rather than exception-disease mongering at its best.
2) Why don’t we urge people in cold countries to spend more time in the
sun to avoid Vit. D deficiency?
3) If women take less salt in their diet right from younger days they
could reduce calcium loss and bone rarefaction to a great extent. This
looks difficult, thanks to the preserved junk food with lots and lots of
salt added to lengthen the shelf life.
4) A few simple exercises, if practised regularly, could avoid elderly
falls significantly. There is no effort in that direction officially.
5) Why are we getting worked up about drug treatment guidelines only?
Drugs rarely do as much as the simple measures mentioned above do.
6) Do we not encourage alcohol abuse with an excuse that small
quantities of alcohol prevent heart attacks? Where is the unequivocal
proof? If one reads the editorial in the British Heart Journal 1981
January issue, the “learned” professor writes that “ time has come for
cardiologists to encourage small doses of alcohol use in society for
preventing heart disease instead of just advising only patients with CAD
who come to us?” or something to that effect. Is there anything more
damaging than this?
7) There is proof to show that even small doses of alcohol could damage
cerebellar cells as also those of the heart. Sudden death syndrome is as
common with alcoholic cardiomyopathy as it is with coronary disease. Isn’t
that the reason why Gorbachev banned Vodka which led to his downfall?
8) Conflicting interests in a mild expression for the Herculean
efforts by the drug lobby to sell their wares to hapless patients even if
they are aware of the drug dangers. BUSINESS CALLED MEDICINE. by L VAN
DUSEN in the Canadian Medical Association journal 157:1212, 1724-1725
gives the reader a graphic picture of what goes on behind the scenes in
the medical care world [commonly called the Health (S)care arena]
Yours ever,
bmhegde
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
28 November 2008
BM Hegde
Editor in Chief Journal of the Science of Healing Outcomes.
It is customary to ignore what should be done in favour of what pleases us.
Dear Fiona Godlee,
1) The definition of bone density takes as the reference point the
density of a teenage Caucasian girl. Naturally, any one above that age
will have proportionately less bone density making over diagnosis a rule
rather than exception-disease mongering at its best.
2) Why don’t we urge people in cold countries to spend more time in the
sun to avoid Vit. D deficiency?
3) If women take less salt in their diet right from younger days they
could reduce calcium loss and bone rarefaction to a great extent. This
looks difficult, thanks to the preserved junk food with lots and lots of
salt added to lengthen the shelf life.
4) A few simple exercises, if practised regularly, could avoid elderly
falls significantly. There is no effort in that direction officially.
5) Why are we getting worked up about drug treatment guidelines only?
Drugs rarely do as much as the simple measures mentioned above do.
6) Do we not encourage alcohol abuse with an excuse that small
quantities of alcohol prevent heart attacks? Where is the unequivocal
proof? If one reads the editorial in the British Heart Journal 1981
January issue, the “learned” professor writes that “ time has come for
cardiologists to encourage small doses of alcohol use in society for
preventing heart disease instead of just advising only patients with CAD
who come to us?” or something to that effect. Is there anything more
damaging than this?
7) There is proof to show that even small doses of alcohol could damage
cerebellar cells as also those of the heart. Sudden death syndrome is as
common with alcoholic cardiomyopathy as it is with coronary disease. Isn’t
that the reason why Gorbachev banned Vodka which led to his downfall?
8) Conflicting interests in a mild expression for the Herculean
efforts by the drug lobby to sell their wares to hapless patients even if
they are aware of the drug dangers. BUSINESS CALLED MEDICINE. by L VAN
DUSEN in the Canadian Medical Association journal 157:1212, 1724-1725
gives the reader a graphic picture of what goes on behind the scenes in
the medical care world [commonly called the Health (S)care arena]
Yours ever,
bmhegde
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests