A silent epidemic in the U.S. is now imperiling our health and threatens to bankrupt our health care system: over-medication. One-fifth of all adults took three or more prescription drugs in the past month and 40 percent of people over age sixty-five take five or more daily. This book—the first of its kind—tackles the epidemic overuse of prescription drugs.
The first half of this book describes the dangers of taking too many drugs, including drug-drug interactions, adverse side effects, medication errors, unnecessary medications, and side effects that mimic a new illness.
The second part discusses the benefits and harm caused by many of the most popular drugs used to treat diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, osteoporosis acid reflux, depression and chronic pain. It tells which drugs are really needed and whether or not they cause side effects.
Finally, readers will learn how to discuss their concerns about too many medications with their health care providers, simple ways to make positive lifestyle changes, and when to consider alternative healing approaches.
Combining stories of those who have suffered ill effects from taking too many drugs with data from cutting edge medical findings, Do You Really Need That Pill? helps readers realize they can choose different solutions to their health problems.
ABOUT JENNIFER JACOBS
Jennifer Jacobs, MD, MPH is a family practice physician specializing in integrative medicine. She is also a clinical assistant professor in epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine. She received her MD degree from Wayne State University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington.
She has served on the advisory board of the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine, co-founded the special interest group of the American Public Health Association on Complementary and Alternative Health Practices, and has published numerous research studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, such as Pediatrics, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, and the European Journal of Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Jacobs has served on the editorial advisory boards of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and as an advisory board member of the monthly magazine Natural Health. Dr. Jacobs divides her time between the Pacific Northwest and Tucson, Arizona.
