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Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Why do we Neglect the Most Potent Intervention?
While reading up on the Spanish Study into alcohol and heart disease we were pleased to see an article that looks at the role of exercise as a preventative health measure, and more importantly, it asks why exercise is not prescribed.
In a recent paper Emmanuel Stamatakis from University College London and Richard Weiler, a General Practitioner, ask why is exercise not prescribed as a standard method of preventing heart disease?
continued below ....“Despite a large volume of evidence supporting its cardio-protective properties and its numerous other established health benefits, physical activity is not a serious prescription option for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, health services increasingly focus on pharmacological prevention without considering properly the long-term consequences of medication. Ethical and feasibility considerations suggest that evidence on the protective value of physical activity may needs to be evaluated using criteria different to those applying to pharmacological trials. The collateral health benefits of physical activity prescription support its use as standard option in preventive health.”
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Do we rely far to heavily on the pharmaceutical industry? Hospitals in China often prescribe exercise, breathing exercises and other “alternative” methods to help patients improve their health. Some western doctors argue that this is simply because they often do not have the medicine to treat people properly. However, if regular exercise and breathing exercises can ward off cardiovascular disease and lung conditions, then surely this is better for the patient? Why do we always try the pharmacological options before using a bit of common sense?
By prescribing medicine early on in a heart condition the message from the doctor to the patient is clear – we can cure you with drugs. This does not encourage people to do anything extra to improve their lifestyle and fitness that may help in their recovery and boost their long term health.
Why is healthy eating and exercise not prescribed by doctors? If they are so good at preventing and even treating some medical conditions, why are they ignored in favor of a daily concoction of pills?
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