Continued...
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED)
ED is an interesting ‘epidemic’ that exemplifies the ‘confusion’ of the profile change. The question is: Is impotency a real change in our species or is it an invention of the companies that profit from the drugs, or both? I think both. It provides an excellent example of my conclusion that this all encompassing profile change has 2 distinct drivers. For example, we know that ED is a result of diabetic nerve damage that is part of the true epidemics of Diabetes, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, inactivity, and other profile change features, as well as drugs that treat these. Chemicals in plastics subtly and insidiously feminize men by acting on their female hormone receptors. However, many men who suffer ED symptoms from nerve damage relevant to these diseases don’t get any relief from ED drugs at all. Furthermore, much of the demand for these ‘lifestyle enhancement’ drugs is generated by the direct public marketing of the drugs.
Once established, the marketing demand itself generates more unnecessary patient visits and more inappropriate diagnoses. In other words, it’s much like the
Field of Dreams 1989 movie premise-‘If you build it he will come’ (no pun intended). The point is that each patient visit for which the drug is requested adds to the statistics of this ‘disorder’. The skewed statistics then define the ‘epidemic’ and the companies can then use these stats to further justify reimbursements for their outrageously priced products. In essence, by marketing to the public the drug companies have enhanced the 'epidemic’ to increase demand for their drugs.Joel Lexchin wrote a beautiful exposé on Pfizer’s tactic to promote Viagra in 2006.
Bigger and Better: How Pfizer Redefined Erectile Dysfunction. PLoS Med 3(4): e132 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030132 An excerpt follows.Viagra for Any Degree of ED--
To make Viagra into a lifestyle drug, Pfizer needs to convince men that it is the first choice for therapy for any degree of ED, whatever the genesis of the problem. However, drug therapy may not always be the most appropriate treatment option. The National Health and Social Life Survey data indicate that emotional and stress-related problems such as a deteriorating social and economic position generate elevated risk of experiencing sexual difficulties. In these cases, Viagra may be less important than counseling or help in finding a new job. These possibilities are never mentioned on the Viagra Web site. Here is a sample of the questions and answers on the "About ED" portion of the Web site:Question: "I don't have ED because the problem doesn't happen often. Does this mean that VIAGRA is not for me?"
Answer: "Even if erection problems happen only once in a while, VIAGRA can help. You should know that most men with ED only experience problems some of the time. In one study, VIAGRA helped 87% of men with mild-tomoderate ED have better erections versus 36% of men taking a sugar pill" (http://www.viagra.com/faqs/faqs2.asp).
In case the message is missed, there is a couple on the Web page where the man looks to be in his mid-to-late 30s.
Pfizer reinforces its message with direct-to-consumer magazine ads, such as one featuring a virile looking man around 40 saying, "A lot of guys have occasional erection problems. I chose not to accept mine and asked about Viagra."
The marketing tactics of drug companies is successfully driving the mainstream and encouraging what I term
the religion of drugs. In the past doctors have been the prime targets of their elaborate marketing schemes. As more and more physicians question the tactics and see through the fallacy of the logic, Big Pharma turns to direct patient marketing.Again they are successful, both through their marketing and political lobbying efforts. Unfortunately, this scenario is not restricted to lifestyle enhancement drugs. It is a successful ploy in the pushing of many drugs including excessive psychotropic drugs with what I view as often tragic consequences. This is the second driver of our profile change.
To your health and your happiness
–James Ferrel M.D
This is a small excerpt from Dr. Ferrel’s innovative wellness book Neogenesis. Neogenesis is a timely book that helps the reader understand the factors influencing good health and empowers them to take charge. This powerful book is available for free to download when you join the complimentary Wellness Community at:
http://www.lifedynamix.com/community
James A. Ferrel M.D., CNC is a board certified family physician and a certified nutritional consultant who specializes in preventative and environmental medicine. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
Comments:
Sorry comment function is deactivated because of 1,000's of spam messages...you are welcome to comment to Dr. Ferrel on the wellness community at:http://www.lifedynamix.com/community/JFerrel