Major-Do List: 4 More Prescribing Treatments And Tests
What doctors do is important. Equally important: what they do. To keep patients healthy, avoid unnecessary treatment (and secondary), and save money on health care, a panel of doctors, encourages internists, specialists in family medicine and pediatricians to follow the top five lists medical prohibitions. Some of these tests and procedures - and beaded approaches are preferable.
Back pain
Do not perform imaging tests within the first six weeks, except in special cases.
Back pain
Do not perform imaging tests within the first six weeks, except in special cases.
"The vast majority of back pain will disappear by itself," says Shannon Brownlee, author of overtreated: Why too much medicine that makes us sick and poor. "A picture back will not help you heal faster, but it may mislead doctors into thinking that something is wrong, which can lead to costly and unnecessary surgery." Of course, sometimes the tests and treatments are unavoidable (say, if you also have problems with urination), so make sure your doctor listens carefully to all of your symptoms, says Jerome Groopman, MD, co-author of the next Your Mind Medical: How to decide what is good for you. "A really good doctor does not follow a cookbook," says Dr. Groopman.
Bone density screening
Do not do a bone density test routine for women under 65 and men younger than 70 years.
The standard test, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), measures the mineral content in bones, but "for premenopausal women, routine screening is a big scam," said Brownlee. "He led often osteoporosis drugs, which are very controversial at best for this age group. At this age, you do not need a DEXA scan to tell you what you need to do to prevent osteoporosis. "
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(ECG) screening
Do not make an annual test, if the risk is small.
"If you do not have symptoms and are at low risk for heart disease, the odds are pretty good that the test is wrong, if they say they do not have a problem," says Brownlee. Still, a doctor will almost certainly be forced to follow the more invasive tests that carry the risk of injury or even death.
Sinus infection
Do not give antibiotics for most cases of sinusitis with mild or moderate.
"Antibiotics are not" anti-everything sort of bug, "drugs," says Brownlee. "I do not work against viruses, and most sinus infections are caused by viruses." Furthermore, the overprescribing of these drugs can produce a new variety of stubborn bacteria that antibiotics can not fight - can cause more serious problems such as sinusitis. Do not ask the tough stuff unless it has a serious sinus problem or symptoms lasting more than a week or more and then worse.
Bone density screening
The standard test, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), measures the mineral content in bones, but "for premenopausal women, routine screening is a big scam," said Brownlee. "He led often osteoporosis drugs, which are very controversial at best for this age group. At this age, you do not need a DEXA scan to tell you what you need to do to prevent osteoporosis. "
PLUS: 8 Old Wives Tales': what should you believe
(ECG) screening
Do not make an annual test, if the risk is small.
"If you do not have symptoms and are at low risk for heart disease, the odds are pretty good that the test is wrong, if they say they do not have a problem," says Brownlee. Still, a doctor will almost certainly be forced to follow the more invasive tests that carry the risk of injury or even death.
Do not give antibiotics for most cases of sinusitis with mild or moderate.
"Antibiotics are not" anti-everything sort of bug, "drugs," says Brownlee. "I do not work against viruses, and most sinus infections are caused by viruses." Furthermore, the overprescribing of these drugs can produce a new variety of stubborn bacteria that antibiotics can not fight - can cause more serious problems such as sinusitis. Do not ask the tough stuff unless it has a serious sinus problem or symptoms lasting more than a week or more and then worse.
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