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Resolve to Take Your Medicine |
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THURSDAY, Jan. 1 (HealthDayNews) -- New Year's resolutions about health usually involve a promise to stop smoking, exercise regularly or eat better.
Most folks don't think about a resolution that can have just as important health benefits: a promise to take their medications regularly.
"In chronic conditions, such as asthma and hypertension, many patients take less than half of their medications on a regular basis," says Dr. Bruce Bender, head of pediatric behavioral health at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.
"This poses a serious health risk," Bender says. "It frequently leads to serious exacerbations of their disease, up to and including death. Among asthma patients, it is the single greatest cause of emergency room visits."
Bender believes people often avoid taking their medication because of doubts surrounding themselves or the medical care they are receiving.
People with chronic diseases frequently feel hopeless about modern science's ability to treat their ailments. Others deny the significance of their condition and believe taking their medications is an unnecessary chore.
Those folks should confront their doubts and concerns, write them down and take them up with their doctor, Bender says. "When patients come in with organized and relevant questions, they are more likely to leave with the answers they need to inspire confidence and resolve their doubts," he says.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about following a prescription medicine regimen.
(SOURCES: National Jewish Medical and Research Center, news release, December 2003)
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