The years I’ve spent finding out the medical business have made me respect how usually financial ideas can permit one to grasp its advanced and contradictory conduct.
For instance, I consider most of the inconsistencies in medical ethics (e.g., “moms have an absolute proper to abort their youngsters” and “moms can’t refuse to vaccinate their youngsters as a result of it endangers their little one’s life”) may be defined by merely acknowledging that no matter makes cash is deemed “moral.”
Gross sales Funnels
The gross sales funnel idea is essential to understanding the trendy medical business. This methodology includes initially focusing on a broad viewers after which steadily narrowing right down to dearer services or products for the captured prospects. There are sometimes two overlapping gross sales funnels in drugs:
The primary funnel includes prescribing innocuous medicine to many individuals after which promoting more and more costly prescription drugs to deal with problems. For instance, this usually happens with medicines given to ladies, resulting in dangerous penalties.
Be aware: Sources for the above graph may be present in this text in regards to the risks of SSRI antidepressants.1
The second funnel includes framing preventative drugs as screening people for potential well being dangers after which utilizing these outcomes to justify promoting medical providers like drug prescriptions. As these screenings develop into normalized, the business expands the vary of providers provided, usually resulting in overdiagnosis and overtreatment. For example, pointers for “protected” blood stress and levels of cholesterol have been constantly lowered,2 therefore placing extra individuals on medicines.
Be aware: The folly of this strategy is highlighted by a trial that discovered eradicating on common 2.8 non-essential medicine from the aged at one facility triggered their 1-year demise charge to go from 45% to 21%.3
DEXA Scams
One frequent method mass screenings are performed is by giving many sufferers X-rays after which funneling these with irregular imaging into being handled. For instance, girls over 50 get mammograms each two years to detect breast most cancers early. Nonetheless, research present these screenings usually lack total profit as a result of fast-growing cancers are often not caught early, whereas false positives are frequent and continuously result in dangerous therapies.
Be aware: Many medical specialists depend on repeatedly performing the identical billable service (e.g., vaccinating a baby, performing a feminine pelvic examination, or studying a mammogram).
One other frequent common screening apply for girls is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, which measure bone density as an indicator of bone energy. The outcomes are in comparison with the typical bone density of a 30-year-old, producing a T-score. Medical college students study {that a} T-score of 0 to -1 is regular, -1 to -2.5 signifies osteopenia, and -2.5 or worse signifies osteoporosis, prompting pressing therapy.
Nonetheless, contemplating pure age-related bone density loss, most people may have decrease bone density than a 30-year-old. Thus, the present strategy to managing osteoporosis acknowledges inevitable bone loss with age and focuses on prevention, as regaining bone density later in life is difficult.
How dependable are DEXA scans? Outcomes fluctuate considerably based mostly on machine, operator, and measured bones, with research displaying a 5% – 6% distinction4 in bone density. This variation can alter T-scores by 0.2 – 0.4, resulting in misdiagnoses of osteoporosis.
Is repeated scanning needed? A research of 4124 older girls5 discovered no further helpful info gained from repeating DEXA scans over 8 years. But, pointers advocate scans each 1-2 years, with Medicare protecting one each 2 years, regardless of prices starting from $150 to $300 per scan.
Do DEXA scans precisely predict fracture danger? Whereas typically predictive, research present discrepancies between scan outcomes6 and noticed bone energy beneath a microscope. Moreover, scans usually underestimate energy loss in intentionally weakened bones.
Be aware: I lately realized from Dr. Mercola {that a} sooner and extra correct methodology of diagnosing bone energy (which doesn’t expose sufferers to ionizing radiation) is starting for use in Europe.7 REMS expertise works by sending ultrasound waves8 into the bone after which analyzing the spectrum created to evaluate the well being of the bones.
As this presentation exhibits, it precisely predicts bone density, and moreover, predicts bone energy. In brief, this can be a dramatically superior strategy to Dexa scans, however it faces stiff resistance in the USA due to how closely invested many already are in performing Dexa scans. For these , extra info may be discovered at EchoLight’s web site.9
Be aware: This remark was affirmed in an NPR article.10
Bisphosphonates
As soon as osteoporosis is recognized, the preliminary therapy usually includes beginning a bisphosphonate, which can proceed for 3-5 years relying on the administration methodology. A wide range of elements affect the event of bone.
Two of a very powerful ones are the cells that construct bone up (osteoblasts) and the cells that break bone down (osteoclasts). Bisphosphonates, (e.g., Fosamax or Actonel), focus in bones and inhibit osteoclasts,11 resulting in elevated bone density by shifting the steadiness in the direction of bone constructing. Nonetheless, this strategy faces two main points:
• Bisphosphonates are related to quite a few negative effects,12 comparable to abdomen irritation, extreme muscle and bone ache, flu-like signs, osteonecrosis of the jaw,13 uncommon hip fractures, atrial fibrillation, hypocalcemia, fatigue, and kidney issues. Remarkably, the American Dental Affiliation even cautioned its members14 to keep away from engaged on sufferers who’re taking bisphosphonates.
• Bisphosphonates disrupt the physique’s pure bone-building course of, ensuing within the preservation of “outdated bone” reasonably than selling wholesome bone formation.
Be aware: Along with the bisphosphonates, there are different problematic osteoporosis medicine which additionally goal the osteoclasts.
Bone Reworking
One of many key adaptive processes within the physique is its response to stresses and hundreds positioned upon it. An often-overlooked marvel of the physique is its continuous reshaping of bones to bear hundreds optimally. Whereas we seldom take into consideration this course of, its significance turns into obvious in sure situations. Take into account house journey: astronauts, disadvantaged of gravity’s weight alerts, expertise fast bone loss,15 posing severe fracture dangers upon returning to Earth.
On this bone-building ballet, osteoclasts play an important but underappreciated position. They sculpt bones to resist gravity’s calls for, however when blocked by medicine like bisphosphonates, bones develop into denser but extra brittle and fewer versatile.
This underscores a typical problem in drugs: specializing in treating numbers (e.g., reducing ldl cholesterol) assuming it equates to well being enchancment. Research usually assess advantages by worth adjustments (e.g., vaccine-induced antibodies), overlooking precise affected person outcomes (e.g., in Pfizer’s COVID vaccine research,16 antibody manufacturing did not correlate with decreased deaths).
In brief, I might posit that whereas bisphosphonates could also be efficient at bettering a DEXA rating, they aren’t essentially good at bettering bone well being.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Bone metabolism is intricately linked to numerous key physique processes, making it difficult to pinpoint the first determinants of bone well being. Nonetheless, a number of elements stand out:
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Mobility — Sedentary existence contribute to osteoporosis, highlighting the significance of weight-bearing actions in bone well being.17 Strolling is especially helpful and if completed usually all through life dramatically improves bone well being. |
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Hormones — In a earlier article, I mentioned the extreme risks of medicine like Lupron which work by disabling the physique’s manufacturing of intercourse hormones. Probably the most frequent negative effects noticed from them is a major weakening of the bones. In flip, hormonal loss accompanying growing old additionally weakens the bones. |
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Irritation — Persistent inflammatory situations enhance the chance of osteoporosis by activating bone-dismantling processes.18 |
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Amino acids — Since one of the important elements of bone well being is the elasticity collagen imparts to them (as this permits bone to bend and yield to outdoors forces reasonably than shattering) collagen well being is critically necessary for bone well being. In fashionable society, we are sometimes poor in these amino acids due to widespread abdomen acid deficiency19 (which impairs our skill to metabolize protein into amino acids) and us predominantly consuming softer cuts of meat which lack the collagen constructing amino acids present in harder elements of meat (e.g., gristle). Be aware: Colleagues comparable to Dr. Mercola have discovered consuming 30g – 40g of collagen every day sourced from beef knee joints is an optimum amino acid repletion protocol and in a brief time frame considerably improves bone well being (together with usually bettering quite a lot of associated elements comparable to one’s peak and one’s metabolic well being). |
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Minerals — Dietary consumption of minerals comparable to boron and manganese20 is essential for bone energy, and deficiencies can impair bone well being. Elements like abdomen acid deficiency21 and soil depletion contribute to mineral deficiencies. Be aware: The widespread deficiency of manganese within the inhabitants is partially resulting from it being chelated from the soil by glyphosate (Roundup).22 Manganese serves a necessary position in constructing collagen, so when it’s poor, it continuously creates systemic ligamentous laxity,23 and in flip hypermobile sufferers comparable to these with EDS (who are usually extremely delicate and prone to pharmaceutical accidents) discover a major enchancment of their ligamentous energy after just a few months of appropriately dose manganese.24 |
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Water fluoridation — Whereas fluoride will increase bone density, it could compromise bone well being and performance. Some research hyperlink fluoride to osteomalacia and elevated fracture danger.25 |
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Pharmaceutical medicine — Drugs like glucocorticoid steroids26 (e.g., prednisone) and opioids can weaken bones27 and enhance fracture danger. Be aware: Glucocorticoid induced bone loss is so extreme it’s really one of many few authorised indications for bisphosphonate therapy.28 |
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Environmental toxins — Publicity to toxins like organophosphates, bisphenol A, nicotine, and heavy metals inhibits bone formation and contributes to osteoporosis.29 |
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Parathyroid adenomas — These tumors trigger extreme secretion of parathyroid hormone, resulting in calcium depletion from bones, bone loss, and a variety of signs. Surprisingly, regardless of being a well known situation, parathyroid adenomas are continuously missed. Figuring out persistently elevated blood calcium ranges can function a key indicator, prompting additional investigation right into a parathyroid adenomas. |
Be aware: Chinese language Drugs has related the age-related lack of the kidney’s vitality to bone loss for 1000’s of years. Many attribute this to the kidneys essential position in regulating vitamin D and the blood ranges of the minerals bone consists of (e.g., calcium).
I think their regulation of the physiologic zeta potential (the decline of which is a key explanation for growing old) can be key. That’s as a result of zeta potential30 governs the tendency for blood to stream freely or clump collectively, and the exhausting exterior bone blood vessels should move by makes them extra prone to their blood provide changing into interrupted (e.g., from the bone transferring misplaced).
Conclusion
It is fascinating to understand that bone is way over only a structural part; it is a dwelling tissue with its personal dynamic conduct. After I’ve had the chance to deal with bone immediately, comparable to throughout orthopedic surgical procedures, it is evident how totally different it’s from the lifeless bones we sometimes encounter. Sadly, this expertise is uncommon, main many to see bone as inert and unchanging.
The factors I’ve mentioned on this article are based on the significance of recognizing bone’s vitality and understanding how our interactions with it form our well being and longevity. Historic medical traditions, like Chinese language drugs, appreciated this side of bone well being. They noticed it as integral to total well-being, acknowledging its interconnectedness with the physique’s techniques.
By embracing this angle, we will acquire new insights into bone well being and its significance for holistic healthcare. It is my hope that this text sheds gentle on the dynamic nature of bones and encourages a deeper understanding of their position in our well being journey.
Writer’s be aware: That is an abridged model of an extended article on the topic which discusses the above factors in additional element and plenty of others comparable to our different most well-liked approaches for bettering bone well being. That article and its further references may be learn right here.
A Be aware From Dr. Mercola Concerning the Writer
A Midwestern Physician (AMD) is a board-certified doctor within the Midwest and a longtime reader of Mercola.com. I respect his distinctive perception on a variety of subjects and I am grateful to share them. I additionally respect his want to stay nameless as he’s nonetheless on the entrance strains treating sufferers. To seek out extra of AMD’s work, be sure you take a look at The Forgotten Facet of Drugs on Substack.
