Posts Tagged ‘medical devices’

The focus on health and wellness seems foreign to our health care providers. Pharmaceuticals are becoming available for every cough and sneeze and now for every pre-cough and sneeze. What is going on?  The orthopedic market is growing more and more profitable every day as younger patients seek new hips. The orthopedic market is a $28.6 billion dollar giant. One of the faster growing segments is in the 45 to 55 age range. This industry is on track to keep pace with demand.

People are asking for knee and hip replacement at a younger age and the industry is seeing two or more replacements in a lifetime. What is wrong here is very few of us thought that our parents were going to get a hip replacement at the ages of 45 to 55. The monetary benefit to the orthopedic industry from this new medical procedure is worrisome, considering this is now a growing trend. Obesity accounts for a good part of this windfall for the medical device industry.

From a vaccine for every condition possible, and remotely possible, our children have become pin cushions for a very profitable industry. Ritalin and other drugs for attention-deficit could stunt growth, and has been found to have no benefits after three years. Almost every drug that enters the market place and stays on the selves long enough turns out to have problems.

For a country that is supposed to have good sanitation, and be so much cleaner than the world our parents and grandparents lived in, all germs are now to be feared. We are programmed to be fearful of every germ that may be on our counter tops. Who is doing the marketing I want to hire them. Faster than a speeding bullet you are pelted with doomsday information on how your health is in danger from touching any surface not disinfected with the new antibacterial products.

The cost of drugs probably is due to the advertising expense of this industry. To read scientific studies that proved honey is better than cough syrup in suppressing night time coughing by children, should have you rethinking the whole nine yards of American medical advice. Researchers said buckwheat honey performed better than the common cough syrup ingredient dextromethorphan.

When the nation turns its attention from disease, to wellness it will become healthier, and wealthier. The healthcare costs are reduced for both business and the state. Employers are beginning to get the message and so are insurance companies. Better health of individuals may help keep companies health plans under control. Once the focus on health and wellness becomes our personal responsibility we will have gained a way to control our own life.