Issue Date: June 24, 2007
One secret to good health: Follow directions
With prescription drugs, this simple step can be the key to success.
The prospects for a long, healthy life are much greater today than they were for our grandparents. It's said that "60 is the new 40," which indicates how much we have improved our longevity as a nation. There are many reasons for this, but one of the biggest factors has been advances in modern medicine. Infections that once were fatal now can be cured with powerful antibiotics. There's a long list of health problems that we can control with the proper medication.
People with health conditions that don't have overt symptoms often forget that they need chronic therapy.
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In fact, according to a 2006 report from AARP, 84% of adults 45 and older who were surveyed take at least one prescription or non-prescription drug. When this many people take medicine, you can imagine that some will be more compliant than others. I'll admit it: I'm as guilty as anyone. Part of my regimen is to take a baby aspirin every day (I have a family history of heart disease). I understand aspirin's benefit, but it still took me months to get the habit down pat. Let's explore some reasons people fall short when it comes to compliance:
"Symptomless" problems. People with health conditions that don't have overt symptoms often forget that they need chronic therapy. But those whose conditions become symptomatic when not treated do not have trouble remembering. For example, treating cholesterol requires developing a routine as a reminder, but the pain of a headache provides its own signal for treatment.
Side effects. When medication makes people feel poorly, they're less likely to stick with it. And even if side effects don't actually occur but a person is fearful of having them, compliance often drops off.
Trouble reading labels can keep some from taking pills.
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Sight. Those of us with normal vision take for granted the ability to read and open medicine bottles. But for people with impaired vision, such a simple task becomes a nightmare.
Social problems. Other factors that interfere with proper compliance include illiteracy, a language barrier, problems with access to the doctor or pharmacy, a lack of funds, and poor social or family support.
Next week in HealthSmart: I'll discuss how to avoid the pitfalls of compliance.
Contributing Editor Tedd Mitchell, M.D., is president and medical director of the renowned Cooper Clinicin Dallas. He writes HealthSmart every week.
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