With the availability of information constant and instant, many people are taking their health into their own hands, doing research and self-medicating.
There is no question that the information age has brought new ways of doing things; you might say it’s both a blessing and a curse.
Sometimes we have a tendency to go overboard and may over-think or second guess.
Sometimes our self-diagnoses exasperate our physicians.
1. “All Carbs are Bad Carbs”
Just like not all fats are bad, not all carbs are bad. You need fruits and vegetables for a variety of reasons. If you’re concerned about what to eat, learn about the carbohydrates and daily values that are appropriate for you. Processed foods are less desirable than fresh foods. There is a place for whole grains (like quinoa) in most people’s diets. You shouldn’t categorically define any nutrient type; rather, learn the differences and make healthy choices.
2. “I Googled It”
“…information is not knowledge or understanding, both of which require objectivity, balance, the view from altitude and interpretation. Our culture routinely equates information access with understanding, and that is a very costly mistake in health care. A lot of time and energy is devoted these days into talking patients ‘out of love’ with misinformation,” says Director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center David L. Katz, MD, MPH. Information is a good thing but reading one book doesn’t make one an expert. Your physician is still better educated about the human body (biology) than the average lay person. Give her/him the benefit of the doubt. Discuss and learn.
3. “I Need Antibiotics”
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Four out of five Americans will take at least one antibiotic each year. Most of those antibiotics aren’t necessary. Don’t go to your doctor’s office and demand a prescription for an antibiotic; it is not indicated for every illness or condition. When medications are over-used, they lose their effectiveness. Viruses don’t respond to antibiotics and most people in good health can fight everyday illness without pharmaceuticals (which, in turn, develops natural resistance).
The world now finds itself in a state in which bacteria are adapting to the drugs we concoct to kill them. We want to use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary, for the individual and the world population. Keeping normal, regular vitamin C intake, a healthy diet, and an active lifestyle will keep you prepared to fight off any illness. There are natural remedies that have been found as effective as antibiotics for many “superbugs”.