Cure the treatment

What a great column by Gary Crooks on Aug. 26, “Maintenance required soon.”

Our health care system is excellent for “truly needed” treatment and surgeries.

However, the system is frightening for the way it treats general health conditions. As Crooks’ column states, “no one wants to touch the issue of overtreatment.” Every symptom means multiple tests and RX drugs. Then there are all the “yearly” tests for the stuff you “might” have and the big yearly “hype” for flu season, cancer season and heart disease season.

Government statistics show that iatrogenic disease (disease caused by medical treatment) is the third major cause of death in the U.S. (JAMA article) and that adverse reactions to prescription drugs are responsible for more that 300,000 deaths a year.

It might be time to work on the real problem, iatrogenic disease, and not spend so much money on the “what ifs.”

We are initially responsible for our overall health. Look at your lifestyle, diet and exercise and distance yourself from all the negative medical “hype.” Positive thinking has much to do with our physical and emotional health. It’s time to work together for change!

Kathy Blanch

Spokane