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A critical part of a patient’s history is an up-to-date chart regarding prescription, or Rx drug, and over-the-counter drug, or OTC, use. Many types of Rx and OTC drugs mask symptoms and knowing what patients are consuming can help make a correct assessment regarding chiropractic care. With that being said, drug abuse has reached epidemic levels.
A recent survey conducted by USA Today, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Kaiser Family Foundation questioned nearly 1,700 individuals at the start of 2010. Nearly 33 percent asked their doctors about an Rx drug they had seen advertised on television. Over 80 percent of the time, these patients were prescribed some kind of drug. Nearly 45 percent were given the drug in question and the rest were given a prescription for something similar. These findings indicate a rise in requests for specific medications from 75 percent only five years before. The Kaiser Foundation’s president believes that these findings show that advertising certain medications is very effective. Large drug companies spent nearly $5 billion for advertising in 2006 versus $2.6 billion only four years prior.
Some patients will have insurance that covers most prescriptions and treatments, but there are some illnesses that aren’t covered that patients are willing to pay out of their own pockets for treatment. Some of these conditions are headaches, back issues, anxiety, insomnia, arthritis, high blood pressure, allergies, depression, and digestive issues. Some of these illnesses can be directly related to deficiencies created by specific Rx drugsthat were prescribed for something else. For example, general gastrointestinal upset can be caused by dopamine agonists. To treat such problems, try chiropractic care of the T5 to T9 region for stomach upset, the T10 to T11 area for urinary issues, and the L1 to L3 region for constipation to help provide relief for patients.
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