December 16, 2024 • 30 mins
A bonus of the Afterburn, Our review hosts, Ava and Jake, break down their thoughts on the documentary "First, Do No Pharm," which explores critical aspects of healthcare and begins with insights on statins and the impact of lifestyle changes on heart health. The Choosing Wisely campaign and the dangers of ultra-processed foods, while also addressing pharmaceutical misconduct, including the Vioxx scandal and concerns over Aduhelm in Alzheimer's treatment. The episode delves into critical thinking, bias in medical research, and strategies for reclaiming health, emphasizing patient empowerment and preventive care in today's medical system.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back, everybody, for another deep dive.
Yeah.
Today, we're gonna be looking at some stuffthat, that could be a little bit controversial.
Yeah.
We've got excerpts from this video about thepharmaceutical industry and medical practices.
Okay.
And, you know, there's always a lot of talkthese days about, you know, potential conflicts
of interest Yeah.
And biases within health care.
(00:22):
This video really seems to get into, you know,like, the nitty gritty of it.
Right into the heart of it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So so what struck you watching this?
Well, one of the things that I found moststriking is how much it echoed a warning from
president Eisenhower.
Oh, wow.
Way back in 1961
Okay.
In his farewell address, he actually cautionedagainst public policy becoming the captive of a
(00:47):
scientific technological elite.
Wow.
Captive of a scientific technological elite.
Mhmm.
That that sounds pretty intense.
Yeah.
It does a little bit, doesn't it?
It?
Yeah.
And, you know, I think that
How did that how did that play into what we'relooking at in this video?
Well, the video explores whether we're reallygetting objective unbiased medical advice or if
there's this really undue influence frompowerful industries and, you know, especially
(01:11):
pharmaceuticals.
Okay.
And the way they really get into this is theytell the story of a guy named Tony Royal.
Okay.
Tony Royal.
Yeah.
What happened to him?
So Tony had a heart attack, and he wasprescribed statins
Okay.
Which is, you know, pretty standard treatmentin that kind of situation.
And, initially, the statins really helped him.
They got him through that, you know, acutephase of his heart attack.
(01:33):
Right.
But long term, he started experiencing somepretty nasty side effects.
You know?
Oh, god.
Fatigue, erectile dysfunction, brain fog.
Wow.
So, like, really debilitating stuff.
Yeah.
His quality of life really took a hit.
Oh, that's terrible.
Yeah.
And so this is where the whole concept ofnumber needed to treat comes in or NNT as it's
(01:54):
often called.
Right.
And this is, you know, I think, a reallyimportant thing to consider when you're
evaluating any medical treatment Okay.
But particularly ones that have potential sideeffects.
Yeah.
For sure.
Kind of.
So, yeah, I've heard of NNT, but I'm not sure Itotally understand it.
Okay.
Well, so, basically, what it tells her is howmany people need to take a drug for one person
(02:15):
to actually benefit.
Oh, okay.
Like, for example, for statins and heart attackpatients
Okay.
The NNT to save one life is 83.
Wow.
So 83 people need to take the drug for oneperson to actually
See a benefit of of not dying.
Yeah.
And to prevent another heart attack, it's 39.
(02:36):
K.
So
So that's still
Still a lot of people.
Quite a lot of people.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Taking a medication and maybe not seeing a hugebenefit from it.
Yeah.
So it's it's more complex than just, like, takethis pill.
It'll help you.
Yeah.
It is.
More to consider than that.
Exactly.
You need to weigh up the potential benefitsagainst the potential risks.
Right.
And given Tony's side effects and therelatively low statistical benefit for someone
(02:57):
in his situation, you know
Okay.
He decided to explore other options.
That makes sense.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So what did he do instead of the statins?
He did a complete lifestyle overhaul
Okay.
Focusing on diet and stress management.
Right.
He went for this kind of combination of aketogenic and Mediterranean diet
Mhmm.
And, you know, incorporated stress reductiontechniques Oh.
(03:18):
To his routine.
Wow.
So, like, really taking taking ownership of hishealth.
Yeah.
He really did.
And I think that really highlights a key pointthat this video keeps coming back to,
which is the
power of lifestyle interventions.
Yeah.
They're often overshadowed, you know, by thisfocus on medication.
For sure.
But as Tony's story shows, they can beincredibly effective.
Yeah.
For sure.
(03:38):
Yeah.
So why do you think if if lifestyle changes canbe so beneficial, why aren't they given more
attention?
Well, that's a question that the video reallygrapples with.
Okay.
And they feature this cardiologist named AsimMalhotra
Yeah.
Who was actually involved in a campaign calledchoosing wisely.
Okay.
The idea was to promote lifestyle changesalongside medication.
(03:59):
But when Malhotra started publicly questioningthe overuse of statins and advocating for
lifestyle interventions as a primary approach
Uh-huh.
He faced significant pushback.
Pushback from who?
It's not entirely clear, but the video suggeststhat some of the resistance came from people
and institutions with ties to thepharmaceutical industry.
(04:20):
Interesting.
It highlights, for example, that the RoyalCollege of Physicians
Okay.
Received a significant amount of funding fromPfizer, the maker of Lipitor, which is a very
widely prescribed statin.
Wow.
That that does raise some eyebrows for sure.
Yeah.
It does.
It makes you wonder if some of these medicalrecommendations are truly objective or if
(04:40):
there's financial incentives at play.
Yeah.
That's a very valid concern.
Yeah.
And I think it's something that the videoencourages us to think critically about.
You know?
Right.
It's not about dismissing all medications ordistrusting all doctors.
Right.
It's about being aware of the potential forbias and seeking out a variety of perspectives.
Right.
It's about being an informed patient.
Yeah.
Exactly.
(05:01):
Yeah.
And and this this also reminds me of somethingelse that was mentioned in the video.
This whole idea of the demonization ofsaturated fat
Yeah.
And and the rise of ultra processed food.
Yes.
Absolutely.
So tell me more about that.
Well, so the video discusses how Asim Malhotraearly in his career actually challenged this
idea that saturated fat was the main culprit inheart disease.
(05:22):
Interesting.
You know, he argued that sugar was a muchbigger problem.
Okay.
And he pointed to the rise of ultra processedfoods as a major contributor to the obesity
epidemic.
So he was really going against the grain evenback then.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He was.
What how does the video define ultra processedfoods?
Well, they use this thing called the Innoviafood classification system.
(05:44):
Okay.
And it's basically a way to clarify what theymean by that term.
Okay.
And so think about it this way.
An apple is unprocessed.
Right.
Apple sauce is processed.
Right.
And an apple flavored fruit roll up is ultraprocessed.
Okay.
Right?
Got it.
So it's really about how much a food has beenaltered from its original state.
Right.
Ultra processed foods are basically thesemanufactured edible substances
(06:08):
Okay.
That are just loaded with, you know, addedsugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial
ingredients.
Okay.
That makes sense.
Yeah.
And how how common are these foods in theaverage person's diet?
Well, according to the video, they make up awhopping 57% of calorie intake in Britain.
57%.
That's crazy.
Yeah.
That's more than half of what people areeating.
(06:28):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a really shocking statistic.
It is.
It makes me wonder how how is that affectingour health?
Yeah.
For sure.
And and speaking of, you know, excessivemedicalization
Right.
The video also mentions this, the BritishMedical Journal's Too Much Medicine campaign.
Yeah.
Too much medicine.
Tell me about that.
Yeah.
So this campaign raises concerns about thepotential overmedicalization of our society.
(06:51):
Okay.
And one of their key focuses is this expansionof predisease categories.
Predisease?
Yeah.
Like prediabetes and prehypertension.
And
you're not even sick yet.
You're not sick yet, but you're on the road toit.
Right.
You're at risk.
And so instead of addressing the underlyingcauses of these conditions
Right.
We're often really quick to medicate peopleRight.
(07:13):
Who might never actually develop the full blowndisease.
It's like we're medicalizing risk itself.
Yeah.
It is.
That's a little scary.
It is a bit, and it ties into this broaderquestion that the video is exploring.
Okay.
Are we relying too heavily on pharmaceuticalsas this first line solution
Right.
And kind of, you know, neglecting theimportance of these lifestyle factors that we
(07:36):
were talking about.
Yeah.
For sure.
So we're putting out the fire, but we're notreally addressing why the fire started.
Exactly.
Right.
And, you know, to illustrate this point, thevideo goes into a really powerful example of
pharmaceutical misconduct.
Okay.
The Vioxx scandal.
Oh, yeah.
I remember hearing about that.
Yeah.
So John Abramson, a family physician,discovered that this prominent article
(07:58):
published in the New England Journal ofMedicine about Vioxx was really misleading.
Oh, wow.
It downplayed the drug's severe adverse events,and it actually highlighted these relatively
minor gastrointestinal benefits.
Okay.
So they were downplaying the risks andhighlighting the minor benefits.
Yeah.
Basically.
What why would they do that?
Well, it turns out that the journal hadreceived a substantial amount of money from
(08:21):
Merck, the maker of Vioxx, through reprintsales.
Oh.
So they were essentially profiting frompromoting a drug that was later found to be
really harmful.
Wow.
That's a blatant conflict of interest.
Yeah.
It is.
Yeah.
What happened to Merck after that?
Well, they ended up facing 1,000,000,000 ofdollars in fines and settlements.
Okay.
But here's the kicker.
(08:41):
None of the executives involved faced anypersonal accountability.
Wow.
And even though the FDA was aware of thismisleading information, they didn't take any
action to correct it.
That is unbelievable.
It is It makes you think, like, if that couldhappen with Vioxx, what else could be
happening?
Yeah.
Exactly.
It's like the tip of the iceberg potentially.
(09:02):
Right.
And it just makes you question the wholesystem.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I think that's really what the video wantsus to do.
It uses the Vioxx case as this warning signthat, you know, there were these powerful
forces at play in the health care industry.
Yeah.
And sometimes profit is prioritized overpatient well-being.
It's pretty unsettling, to be honest.
It is.
It's like, are we just pawns in this game?
(09:23):
Yeah.
I think that's a very valid concern.
Yeah.
And I think the video really delves into thiseven further when it starts to examine the
financial ties between pharmaceutical companiesand various players in the medical field.
You know, medical research, medical journals,even medical regulators.
So it's not just about individual doctors beingswayed by pharmaceutical reps.
(09:44):
No.
It's it's a bigger issue.
It's a systemic issue that runs much deeper.
Yeah.
The whole system.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And the video suggests that this financialentanglement creates a system where research is
often biased in favor of drug companies.
Okay.
You know, journals might prioritize profitsover publishing really objective science.
(10:04):
Okay.
And regulators might be hesitant to challengethe industry that's actually funding them.
Right.
It all goes back to the money.
Yep.
Mhmm.
Yeah.
That's pretty bleak.
It's not a very rosy picture, is it?
No.
It's not.
Yeah.
It makes you feel like we're caught in this webof financial interests.
Yeah.
And then the video talks about this guy, Woody.
(10:25):
Right?
Yeah.
Woody.
Tell me about him.
So Woody was prescribed Zoloft for insomnia
Okay.
And he died by suicide just 5 weeks later.
Oh, wow.
That's terrible.
Yeah.
It's a really tragic story.
Did he have a history of depression?
What's really disturbing is that he had noprior diagnosis of depression.
Yeah.
And they were using Zoloft off label forinsomnia.
(10:46):
Wow.
So it wasn't even approved for what he wastaking it for.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And I think that really highlights the needfor, you know, informed consent
Yeah.
And the potential dangers of downplaying sideeffects.
Yeah.
I mean, if his doctor had explained thepotential risks, would he have made a different
decision?
We can't know for sure.
But But it's possible.
It's possible.
(11:06):
Yeah.
And I think his story underscores theimportance of having these really open and
honest conversations with our doctors about thepotential risks and benefits of any medication
we're prescribed.
Yeah.
For sure.
And it also seems connected to this this largerissue of antidepressant overprescription.
Yes.
Absolutely.
That was brought up in the video too.
(11:27):
It was.
And the video expresses a lot of concernantidepressants, particularly for things like,
you know, sleep problems, anxiety pain.
Okay.
And it specifically mentions the case ofparoxetine where data on suicidal thoughts in
young patients was allegedly concealed.
Suicidal thoughts in young patients wasallegedly concealed.
Concealed by who?
It doesn't explicitly say, but it seems to beimplying that the pharmaceutical company
(11:51):
involved may have downplayed or hidden the risk
associated with the drug.
That's really scary.
Yeah.
It's very worrying, isn't it?
It's very worrying,
isn't it?
It's very
with the drug.
That's
really scary.
Yeah.
It's very worrying, isn't it?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it suggests that, you know, we might notalways be getting the full picture when it
comes to the safety and efficacy of certainmedications.
Right.
We don't know what we don't know.
Exactly.
Yep.
And this leads us to another controversial drugthat's discussed in the video.
(12:11):
Okay.
Aduhelm.
Aduhelm.
Yeah.
The Alzheimer's drug.
Yeah.
I remember there was a lot of hype about that.
Yeah.
Was it as effective as they claimed?
Well, the video raises some serious concernsabout Aduhelm.
Okay.
They point out that the drug's efficacy islimited, and the cost is exorbitant.
So not really effective, but super expensive.
Yeah.
Pretty much.
Okay.
And they suggest that the media coverage of thedrug might have been a bit misleading,
(12:34):
potentially overstating the benefits.
So kinda like another case of overpromising andunderdelivering?
Yeah.
I think so.
Yeah.
And the video criticizes the lack oftransparency in the research and approval
process for the drug.
Okay.
Lack of transparency.
How so?
Well, for example, the data didn't include abreakdown by sex
Okay.
Even though women make up 2 thirds ofAlzheimer's patients.
(12:55):
Right.
And, you know, later on, it was found that thedrug's effects were actually less significant
in women, but this information wasn't includedin the drug's labeling.
Wow.
So they had the information and just didn'tinclude it.
Yeah.
That's wild.
It is, isn't it?
Why wouldn't they include it?
Well, the video kind of questions why thiscrucial information wasn't readily available.
(13:15):
Right.
And it suggests that it might be because itcould have hampered the drug's profitability.
So back to profits over people.
Yeah.
I think that's a recurring theme here, isn'tit?
Yeah.
For sure.
Yeah.
It's pretty disheartening.
It is.
But, you know, the video doesn't end on atotally doom and gloom note, does it?
No.
It doesn't.
They talk about doctor Gupta and his work inIndia.
(13:36):
Right?
Yeah.
They do.
Tell me about that.
Well, so they highlight the work of doctorSatish Gupta who's doing this really incredible
work in Mount Abu in India on reversing heartdisease through lifestyle intervention.
Reversing heart disease?
Yeah.
Not just managing it, but actually reversingit.
That sounds almost too good to be true.
It does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
But it's a really powerful testament testamentto the body's incredible capacity for healing
(14:01):
when given the right conditions.
Wow.
So what's the secret to his success?
What's his program all about?
Well, his program focuses on 3 key components,a high fiber vegetarian diet.
Okay.
Brisk walking
Okay.
And a specific form of meditation called Rajyoga meditation.
Wow.
So it's really a holistic approach Yeah.
(14:22):
Addressing diet exercise stress management.
Absolutely.
And what kind of results has he he seen?
Well, the results are pretty astounding,actually.
Okay.
Angiograms, which show images of blood vessels
Right.
Revealed significant regression of blockages inthe coronary arteries of his patients.
Wow.
So their arteries were actually clearing up.
Yeah.
It's pretty remarkable.
(14:43):
That's incredible.
Yeah.
It really highlights the potential of lifestyleinterventions to not just manage disease Mhmm.
But to actually reverse it.
Yeah.
It's like a whole different way of thinkingabout health care, isn't it?
It is.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's so different from what we typicallysee, you know, in western medicine where it's
so often focused on pharmaceuticals.
Yeah.
Exact It
makes you wonder if lifestyle innovations canhave such a profound impact on health.
(15:05):
Yeah.
Why aren't they more widely promoted andintegrated into health care systems?
That's the $1,000,000
Yeah.
It is.
Yeah.
It's like, why are we making this so difficult?
Yeah.
I guess
that's something we can explore further in ournext part.
Let's dive into that.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
It's almost like we've stumbled into this weirdparadox.
Right?
Yeah.
Like, on one hand, we have these incrediblemedical advancements, lifesaving drugs, cutting
(15:28):
edge technology.
Right.
But on the other hand, it often feels likewe're kind of missing the forest for the trees.
Right.
Like, we're overlooking the power of thesesimple fundamental lifestyle changes.
It's like we're so focused on putting out thefire with medication
Yeah.
That we're not even thinking about what startedthe fire in the first place.
Exactly.
(15:49):
Yeah.
And I think this leads us to this reallycrucial question that the video poses
Okay.
Which is, how do we empower ourselves to makeinformed decisions
Right.
In a system that can often feel opaque andpotentially influenced by profit?
Yeah.
That's a big question.
It is Where do we even start?
Well, I think it starts with critical thinking.
(16:10):
You know?
Okay.
We need to be skeptical consumers of medicalinformation.
So we can't just blindly accept everything wehear
I don't think so.
No.
From doctors or from pharmaceutical companies.
Yeah.
Exactly.
So it's about doing our research andquestioning recommendations and really
understanding our options.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And I think part of that involves demandingmore transparency.
(16:32):
Okay.
We need to push for open access to researchdata so that independent scientists can
actually scrutinize the evidence behind drugapprovals.
Yeah.
Remember the statin saga we were talking about?
The broad data from those trials was neverreleased.
It makes you wonder, what are they hiding?
It does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
If a drug company is so confident in the safetyand efficacy of their product Right.
(16:55):
Why wouldn't they just be transparent with thedata?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And I think this lack of transparency alsoextends to the financial ties between
pharmaceutical companies and, you know, variousplayers in the medical field.
Yeah.
We need to be aware of those potentialconflicts of interest
Right.
When we're evaluating medical recommendations.
It's almost like we need a whole new level ofhealth literacy.
(17:17):
I think so.
Not just understanding our bodies, but, like,understanding the system that delivers the
health care.
Yeah.
It's pretty overwhelming.
It can be.
Especially when you're already dealing with,you know, some health concerns.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
It's tough.
But, you know, knowledge is power
Right.
Especially when it comes to our health.
Yeah.
It's about shifting from this passive patientrole to becoming an active participant in our
(17:42):
well-being.
So we're not just along for the ride?
No.
We're in the driver's seat.
What does that look like for the averageperson?
Well, I think it requires open communicationwith our doctors.
Okay.
You know, asking questions, understanding therisks and benefits of different treatment
options
Yeah.
Really advocating for ourselves.
Yeah.
Like, we're our own health care advocates.
(18:02):
Exactly.
And I think that includes advocating for a moreholistic approach to health care.
You know?
Okay.
We need to prioritize lifestyle interventionsalongside these conventional treatments
Right.
Not just default to medication as the first andonly solution.
It's about looking at the whole picture.
Yeah.
(18:23):
Exactly.
Not just treating the symptom.
Yeah.
Think about Tony
Right.
And his amazing recovery after he dished thestatins and embraced a healthier lifestyle.
Yeah.
His story is such a powerful reminder that wehave agency in our health care journeys.
We have the power to make choices.
We do.
Right.
And we can make choices that empower us andsupport our overall well-being.
(18:44):
Yeah.
So it's not just about taking a pill.
No.
It's about all these other factors that playinto our health.
Absolutely.
And we need to be informed about all of it.
Yeah.
Right?
You know, Woody's experience with Zoloft Yeah.
That was just so tragic.
It was.
Really highlights the importance of informedconsent.
Mhmm.
You know?
We need to know what we're getting into.
Yeah.
We have a right to understand all of ouroptions, including alternatives to medication.
(19:08):
Absolutely.
And I think this is especially important inareas where overprescription is a concern Yeah.
You know, with antidepressants being prescribedfor things like insomnia or anxiety.
Right.
The video highlights this case of paroxetine
Yeah.
Where data on suicidal thoughts in youngpatients was allegedly concealed.
It's pretty scary to think that that kind ofinformation could be withheld from us.
(19:32):
It is, isn't it?
Yeah.
It really makes you question.
You know?
Yeah.
Who are we trusting?
It makes you realize that we need to be reallyvigilant advocates for our own health.
Right.
And we can't be afraid to challenge the statusquo Yep.
Or seek out second opinions.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And and that vigilance, you know Yeah.
It also extends to being aware of how medicalresearch is conducted and funded.
(19:54):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The video points out that most statin trials,for instance Yeah.
Are designed by the drug companies themselvesMhmm.
Without even including a lifestyle interventionarm for comparison.
Yeah.
So it's like the game is rigged from the start.
Yeah.
I think that's a really good way to put it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so this bias in research can then influencehow medical information talks about how medical
(20:20):
journals, which are supposed to be these, youknow, unbiased arbiters of scientific
truth Right.
Are often reliant on pharmaceutical advertisingand reprint revenue.
Yeah.
So it's like this whole cycle of influence.
Yeah.
The drug companies fund.
Yeah.
The research the research gets published in thejournals.
The journals rely on the drug companies formoney.
(20:42):
Right.
And then those same journals end up influencingmedical practice.
Exactly.
Yeah.
It all kind of feeds back into itself.
Yeah.
It's a closed loop.
Yeah.
And then you have the Vioxx scandal Yeah.
Where the New England Journal of Medicine madeall this money from reprints of a misleading
article Right.
While so many patients were suffering theconsequences.
Yeah.
It's a huge conflict of interest.
(21:03):
Yeah.
It is.
And if it could happen with, you know, aprominent journal like that
Yeah.
What's happening in other areas of medicalpublishing?
Who knows?
Right?
Yeah.
It's a little scary to think about.
It is.
Yeah.
And the video doesn't stop there either.
Okay.
It goes on to examine the financial tiesbetween the pharmaceutical industry and the
regulatory bodies that are supposed to protectus.
The regulatory bodies?
(21:24):
Yeah.
Like MHRA in the UK.
MHRA.
Okay.
So it stands for the Medicines and HealthcareProducts Regulatory Agency.
Okay.
It's kind of the UK equivalent of the FDA inthe US.
Okay.
And they're responsible for ensuring the safetyand efficacy of medicines.
So they're the gatekeepers?
Yeah.
You could say that.
Okay.
But here's the thing.
(21:44):
The video reveals that the MHRA gets astaggering 86% of its funding from the
pharmaceutical industry.
86%.
Yeah.
That's insane.
It is pretty crazy,
How can they possibly be impartial
Right.
When they're getting almost all of their moneyfrom the industry they're supposed to regulate?
It's a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse, isn't it?
(22:05):
Yeah.
It really is.
Yeah.
And it's not unique to the UK.
Right.
The video also mentions that the FDA in the USgets 65% of its funding from pharmaceutical
companies.
So it's a global problem.
Yeah.
It seems to be this sort of cozy relationshipbetween powerful industries and the
institutions that are supposed to hold themaccountable.
So who's looking out for us?
Yeah.
(22:25):
It's a good question.
Yeah.
And it just underscores the need for greaterawareness and scrutiny.
You know?
Do it.
We can't just assume that the system isdesigned to protect our best interests.
We have to be our own advocates.
I think so.
Right.
Yeah.
We need to be informed, engaged
Yeah.
And willing to advocate for ourselves.
It feels like a lot, though.
You know?
It does, doesn't it?
(22:45):
Like David and Goliath.
Yeah.
What can we, as individuals, really do tochange such a massive system?
Well, I think it's important to remember thateven small actions can have a ripple effect.
You know?
Okay.
We may not be able to overhaul the entiresystem overnight.
Right.
But we can start by making informed choices forourselves, demanding transparency
(23:07):
Okay.
And advocating for a more holistic approach tohealth care.
Yeah.
So it's about reclaiming our health andbecoming informed consumers.
Yeah.
Not just passively accepting what we're toldNo.
But actively engaging in our own health caredecisions.
Exactly.
It's about shifting that power dynamic
Yeah.
You know, from being passive recipients ofhealth care to becoming active participants in
(23:31):
our own well-being.
I like that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But what about medications?
You know?
Yeah.
If the pharmaceutical industry is so driven byprofit Yeah.
Does that mean that we should just avoid allmedications?
Well, I think it's important to remember that,you know, the video
doesn't paint all medications with a broadbrush.
Okay.
It acknowledges
that modern medicine is Okay.
It acknowledges that
modern medicine
has made incredible strides and thatpharmaceuticals have played a vital role in
(23:55):
treating, you know, acute illnesses and savinglives.
Right.
It's not
about demonizing all medications.
Exactly.
It's about being discerning.
Yeah.
Understanding that there's a time and a placefor them.
Yeah.
Right.
The concern is this kind of overreliance onmedication
That
and the potential for profit motives to kind ofovershadow patient well-being.
(24:16):
It's about finding that balance, you know
Right.
Between utilizing the power of pharmaceuticalswhen they're truly necessary
Okay.
But also recognizing the importance ofaddressing the root causes of disease through
lifestyle changes.
It's about using the right tool for the job.
Exactly.
Sometimes you need a powerful drug, butsometimes you just need to change your
(24:37):
lifestyle.
Yeah.
And doctor Gupta is a great example of that.
He is.
You know, his work in Mount Abu
Yeah.
It's a really compelling model for a moreholistic approach.
It is.
Yeah.
His success in reversing heart disease Yeah.
Through lifestyle interventions is reallypowerful.
It is.
You know, it challenges conventional medicalwisdom, which often focuses on managing disease
(24:58):
Mhmm.
Rather than addressing the underlying causes.
Yeah.
It's like he's offering a blueprint for adifferent way of approaching health care.
It's a whole different paradigm.
Yeah.
But why isn't this approach embraced bymainstream medicine?
That's a really good question.
Yeah.
Is it resistance to change?
Is it the allure of quick fixes and theprofitability of medications?
(25:18):
Could be.
Or is it just the powerful influence of thepharmaceutical industry?
I think it's probably a combination of allthose factors.
It's a complex system.
It is.
But the video doesn't just present the problem.
No.
It also offers a path forward.
Yeah.
It does.
What is that?
Well, it calls for this kind of paradigm shiftin health care.
(25:39):
Okay.
A paradigm shift.
Yeah.
One that prioritizes prevention
Okay.
Empowers patients Yeah.
And embraces a more holistic approach towell-being.
So it's about shifting the focus Right.
From treatment to prevention Yeah.
From pills to lifestyle Mhmm.
From passivity to empowerment.
Exactly.
And it's not just about individual choices.
No.
It's about creating a system that supportsthose choices.
(26:01):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
We need patients to become informed advocatesfor their own health.
Okay.
You know, demanding transparency, pushing forlifestyle interventions.
Right.
We need doctors to engage in open communicationwith their patients, you know, considering all
treatment options
Right.
And really prioritizing patient well-beingabove all else.
Yeah.
Putting the patient first.
Exactly.
(26:21):
And then we need a system that facilitatesthese changes.
You know?
Okay.
A system where medical research is unbiased.
Right.
Medical journals prioritize scientificintegrity over financial gain.
Yeah.
And regulatory bodies are truly independentfrom industry influence.
It's a tall order.
It is a tall order, but it's a vision worthstriving for.
You know?
(26:41):
I agree.
Your health is our most precious asset.
Yeah.
For sure.
And it deserves a health care system thatreflects that value.
So after going through all of this, after thisdeep dive, you know, into this video's insights
Yeah.
What's the takeaway?
Yeah.
What's the big takeaway?
For our listeners?
I mean, I know we've we've covered a lot ofground here.
We have.
You know, from from statins to ultra processedfoods to the influence of big pharma.
(27:07):
It's a lot.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What do you think people should be walking awaywith?
Well, you know, it can feel overwhelming.
Right.
For sure.
All of this, I think the core message hereisn't to every doctor or avoid every
medication.
Right.
No.
It's not about that.
Yeah.
It's not It's not black and white.
No.
It's not black and white.
It's about being informed.
It's about empowerment, recognizing that youhave a voice and a right to be an active
(27:33):
participant in your health care decisions.
To take ownership.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And that you have more power than you mightrealize.
I like that.
Yeah.
So where do we go from here?
Well, I think it starts with just being aware.
You know?
Okay.
Being aware of this potential for bias, askingthose questions
Right.
Doing your research, not being afraid to get asecond opinion.
(27:56):
Yeah.
I love that.
Don't be afraid to get a second opinion.
Yeah.
Why not get a third if something doesn't feelright?
Exactly.
We should feel empowered to do that Absolutely.
To advocate for ourselves.
Yeah.
And another thing that, you know, we've talkeda lot about Yeah.
These lifestyle interventions.
I mean, these are really powerful tools.
Yeah.
They are.
Diet, exercise, managing your stress.
Yeah.
(28:17):
These aren't just, like, nice things to do ifyou have time.
Right.
Yeah.
You know?
These are the fundamentals of health.
They're fundamental.
Yeah.
It's funny.
We call them lifestyle interventions.
You know?
Yeah.
But it's just life.
It is just life.
It's eating.
It's moving.
It's, you know, taking care of your mentalhealth.
Exactly.
It's what we should all be doing anyway.
Alright.
Whether we're trying to prevent disease or justlive a good life
(28:37):
Exactly.
It's about taking care of ourselves in aholistic way.
Right.
And I think sometimes the medical system losessight of that.
Yeah.
For sure.
You know, it's so focused on treating symptomswith medications that it's neglecting the
foundations of health.
Right.
It's treating the Band Aid, not the actualwound.
Yeah.
Exactly.
You know, think about Tony
Yeah.
And how much he turned his health around
(28:59):
Yeah.
What a story.
After embracing a healthier lifestyle
Absolutely.
You know, he's really living proof thatsometimes the best medicine doesn't come from a
pill bottle.
No.
It comes from within.
Yeah.
It comes from taking control.
Right.
Yeah.
Becoming an informed advocate and demanding asystem that actually prioritizes your
well-being.
Your well-being as a whole.
(29:19):
Yeah.
And recognizing that true health goes so muchfurther Yeah.
Than just the doctor's office.
It's everything.
It's all of it.
Yeah.
It's your choices.
Yeah.
It's your mindset.
It's your environment.
It's the big picture.
It is.
It's the whole picture.
Yeah.
Yeah.
This video is a wake up call
It is.
Yeah.
For all of us to take back our health.
Yeah.
To demand more from the system Absolutely.
(29:40):
More transparency Transparency.
More accountability Accountability.
Yeah.
It's about questioning the assumptions we haveYeah.
Being critical consumers of information
Yeah.
Being informed.
Informed.
And remembering that we have more power than werealize.
We do have the power.
And it's about shifting the focus.
Yeah.
Shifting it away from the treatment
(30:02):
To prevention.
To prevention.
To lifestyle.
Exactly.
From passivity to empowerment.
It's a journey.
I love that.
Yeah.
It's a journey.
It's not a destination.
It's not a destination.
So well said as you continue on your own healthjourneys.
Yeah.
I'll leave you with one final thought provokingquestion.
Okay.
Hit me.
If lifestyle interventions can have such aprofound impact on our health
(30:25):
Yeah.
Why aren't they more widely promoted andintegrated into our health care systems?
Yeah.
It's the question, isn't it?
Talk about it with your friends Yeah.
Your family, your doctor.
Yeah.
Have those conversations.
Maybe, Just maybe Yeah.
We can create a world where health andwell-being are truly prioritized.
Yeah.
That's a world I wanna live in.
Me too.
Yeah.
(30:45):
And that's it for this deep dive.
Awesome.
Thank you so much for listening.
Thanks for having me.
Stay curious, stay informed, and stayempowered.
Welcome back, everybody, for another deep dive.
Yeah.
Today, we're gonna be looking at some stuffthat, that could be a little bit controversial.
Yeah.
We've got excerpts from this video about thepharmaceutical industry and medical practices.
Okay.
And, you know, there's always a lot of talkthese days about, you know, potential conflicts
of interest Yeah.
And biases within health care.
(00:22):
This video really seems to get into, you know,like, the nitty gritty of it.
Right into the heart of it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So so what struck you watching this?
Well, one of the things that I found moststriking is how much it echoed a warning from
president Eisenhower.
Oh, wow.
Way back in 1961
Okay.
In his farewell address, he actually cautionedagainst public policy becoming the captive of a
(00:47):
scientific technological elite.
Wow.
Captive of a scientific technological elite.
Mhmm.
That that sounds pretty intense.
Yeah.
It does a little bit, doesn't it?
It?
Yeah.
And, you know, I think that
How did that how did that play into what we'relooking at in this video?
Well, the video explores whether we're reallygetting objective unbiased medical advice or if
there's this really undue influence frompowerful industries and, you know, especially
(01:11):
pharmaceuticals.
Okay.
And the way they really get into this is theytell the story of a guy named Tony Royal.
Okay.
Tony Royal.
Yeah.
What happened to him?
So Tony had a heart attack, and he wasprescribed statins
Okay.
Which is, you know, pretty standard treatmentin that kind of situation.
And, initially, the statins really helped him.
They got him through that, you know, acutephase of his heart attack.
(01:33):
Right.
But long term, he started experiencing somepretty nasty side effects.
You know?
Oh, god.
Fatigue, erectile dysfunction, brain fog.
Wow.
So, like, really debilitating stuff.
Yeah.
His quality of life really took a hit.
Oh, that's terrible.
Yeah.
And so this is where the whole concept ofnumber needed to treat comes in or NNT as it's
(01:54):
often called.
Right.
And this is, you know, I think, a reallyimportant thing to consider when you're
evaluating any medical treatment Okay.
But particularly ones that have potential sideeffects.
Yeah.
For sure.
Kind of.
So, yeah, I've heard of NNT, but I'm not sure Itotally understand it.
Okay.
Well, so, basically, what it tells her is howmany people need to take a drug for one person
(02:15):
to actually benefit.
Oh, okay.
Like, for example, for statins and heart attackpatients
Okay.
The NNT to save one life is 83.
Wow.
So 83 people need to take the drug for oneperson to actually
See a benefit of of not dying.
Yeah.
And to prevent another heart attack, it's 39.
(02:36):
K.
So
So that's still
Still a lot of people.
Quite a lot of people.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Taking a medication and maybe not seeing a hugebenefit from it.
Yeah.
So it's it's more complex than just, like, takethis pill.
It'll help you.
Yeah.
It is.
More to consider than that.
Exactly.
You need to weigh up the potential benefitsagainst the potential risks.
Right.
And given Tony's side effects and therelatively low statistical benefit for someone
(02:57):
in his situation, you know
Okay.
He decided to explore other options.
That makes sense.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So what did he do instead of the statins?
He did a complete lifestyle overhaul
Okay.
Focusing on diet and stress management.
Right.
He went for this kind of combination of aketogenic and Mediterranean diet
Mhmm.
And, you know, incorporated stress reductiontechniques Oh.
(03:18):
To his routine.
Wow.
So, like, really taking taking ownership of hishealth.
Yeah.
He really did.
And I think that really highlights a key pointthat this video keeps coming back to,
which is the
power of lifestyle interventions.
Yeah.
They're often overshadowed, you know, by thisfocus on medication.
For sure.
But as Tony's story shows, they can beincredibly effective.
Yeah.
For sure.
(03:38):
Yeah.
So why do you think if if lifestyle changes canbe so beneficial, why aren't they given more
attention?
Well, that's a question that the video reallygrapples with.
Okay.
And they feature this cardiologist named AsimMalhotra
Yeah.
Who was actually involved in a campaign calledchoosing wisely.
Okay.
The idea was to promote lifestyle changesalongside medication.
(03:59):
But when Malhotra started publicly questioningthe overuse of statins and advocating for
lifestyle interventions as a primary approach
Uh-huh.
He faced significant pushback.
Pushback from who?
It's not entirely clear, but the video suggeststhat some of the resistance came from people
and institutions with ties to thepharmaceutical industry.
(04:20):
Interesting.
It highlights, for example, that the RoyalCollege of Physicians
Okay.
Received a significant amount of funding fromPfizer, the maker of Lipitor, which is a very
widely prescribed statin.
Wow.
That that does raise some eyebrows for sure.
Yeah.
It does.
It makes you wonder if some of these medicalrecommendations are truly objective or if
(04:40):
there's financial incentives at play.
Yeah.
That's a very valid concern.
Yeah.
And I think it's something that the videoencourages us to think critically about.
You know?
Right.
It's not about dismissing all medications ordistrusting all doctors.
Right.
It's about being aware of the potential forbias and seeking out a variety of perspectives.
Right.
It's about being an informed patient.
Yeah.
Exactly.
(05:01):
Yeah.
And and this this also reminds me of somethingelse that was mentioned in the video.
This whole idea of the demonization ofsaturated fat
Yeah.
And and the rise of ultra processed food.
Yes.
Absolutely.
So tell me more about that.
Well, so the video discusses how Asim Malhotraearly in his career actually challenged this
idea that saturated fat was the main culprit inheart disease.
(05:22):
Interesting.
You know, he argued that sugar was a muchbigger problem.
Okay.
And he pointed to the rise of ultra processedfoods as a major contributor to the obesity
epidemic.
So he was really going against the grain evenback then.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He was.
What how does the video define ultra processedfoods?
Well, they use this thing called the Innoviafood classification system.
(05:44):
Okay.
And it's basically a way to clarify what theymean by that term.
Okay.
And so think about it this way.
An apple is unprocessed.
Right.
Apple sauce is processed.
Right.
And an apple flavored fruit roll up is ultraprocessed.
Okay.
Right?
Got it.
So it's really about how much a food has beenaltered from its original state.
Right.
Ultra processed foods are basically thesemanufactured edible substances
(06:08):
Okay.
That are just loaded with, you know, addedsugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial
ingredients.
Okay.
That makes sense.
Yeah.
And how how common are these foods in theaverage person's diet?
Well, according to the video, they make up awhopping 57% of calorie intake in Britain.
57%.
That's crazy.
Yeah.
That's more than half of what people areeating.
(06:28):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a really shocking statistic.
It is.
It makes me wonder how how is that affectingour health?
Yeah.
For sure.
And and speaking of, you know, excessivemedicalization
Right.
The video also mentions this, the BritishMedical Journal's Too Much Medicine campaign.
Yeah.
Too much medicine.
Tell me about that.
Yeah.
So this campaign raises concerns about thepotential overmedicalization of our society.
(06:51):
Okay.
And one of their key focuses is this expansionof predisease categories.
Predisease?
Yeah.
Like prediabetes and prehypertension.
And
you're not even sick yet.
You're not sick yet, but you're on the road toit.
Right.
You're at risk.
And so instead of addressing the underlyingcauses of these conditions
Right.
We're often really quick to medicate peopleRight.
(07:13):
Who might never actually develop the full blowndisease.
It's like we're medicalizing risk itself.
Yeah.
It is.
That's a little scary.
It is a bit, and it ties into this broaderquestion that the video is exploring.
Okay.
Are we relying too heavily on pharmaceuticalsas this first line solution
Right.
And kind of, you know, neglecting theimportance of these lifestyle factors that we
(07:36):
were talking about.
Yeah.
For sure.
So we're putting out the fire, but we're notreally addressing why the fire started.
Exactly.
Right.
And, you know, to illustrate this point, thevideo goes into a really powerful example of
pharmaceutical misconduct.
Okay.
The Vioxx scandal.
Oh, yeah.
I remember hearing about that.
Yeah.
So John Abramson, a family physician,discovered that this prominent article
(07:58):
published in the New England Journal ofMedicine about Vioxx was really misleading.
Oh, wow.
It downplayed the drug's severe adverse events,and it actually highlighted these relatively
minor gastrointestinal benefits.
Okay.
So they were downplaying the risks andhighlighting the minor benefits.
Yeah.
Basically.
What why would they do that?
Well, it turns out that the journal hadreceived a substantial amount of money from
(08:21):
Merck, the maker of Vioxx, through reprintsales.
Oh.
So they were essentially profiting frompromoting a drug that was later found to be
really harmful.
Wow.
That's a blatant conflict of interest.
Yeah.
It is.
Yeah.
What happened to Merck after that?
Well, they ended up facing 1,000,000,000 ofdollars in fines and settlements.
Okay.
But here's the kicker.
(08:41):
None of the executives involved faced anypersonal accountability.
Wow.
And even though the FDA was aware of thismisleading information, they didn't take any
action to correct it.
That is unbelievable.
It is It makes you think, like, if that couldhappen with Vioxx, what else could be
happening?
Yeah.
Exactly.
It's like the tip of the iceberg potentially.
(09:02):
Right.
And it just makes you question the wholesystem.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And I think that's really what the video wantsus to do.
It uses the Vioxx case as this warning signthat, you know, there were these powerful
forces at play in the health care industry.
Yeah.
And sometimes profit is prioritized overpatient well-being.
It's pretty unsettling, to be honest.
It is.
It's like, are we just pawns in this game?
(09:23):
Yeah.
I think that's a very valid concern.
Yeah.
And I think the video really delves into thiseven further when it starts to examine the
financial ties between pharmaceutical companiesand various players in the medical field.
You know, medical research, medical journals,even medical regulators.
So it's not just about individual doctors beingswayed by pharmaceutical reps.
(09:44):
No.
It's it's a bigger issue.
It's a systemic issue that runs much deeper.
Yeah.
The whole system.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And the video suggests that this financialentanglement creates a system where research is
often biased in favor of drug companies.
Okay.
You know, journals might prioritize profitsover publishing really objective science.
(10:04):
Okay.
And regulators might be hesitant to challengethe industry that's actually funding them.
Right.
It all goes back to the money.
Yep.
Mhmm.
Yeah.
That's pretty bleak.
It's not a very rosy picture, is it?
No.
It's not.
Yeah.
It makes you feel like we're caught in this webof financial interests.
Yeah.
And then the video talks about this guy, Woody.
(10:25):
Right?
Yeah.
Woody.
Tell me about him.
So Woody was prescribed Zoloft for insomnia
Okay.
And he died by suicide just 5 weeks later.
Oh, wow.
That's terrible.
Yeah.
It's a really tragic story.
Did he have a history of depression?
What's really disturbing is that he had noprior diagnosis of depression.
Yeah.
And they were using Zoloft off label forinsomnia.
(10:46):
Wow.
So it wasn't even approved for what he wastaking it for.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And I think that really highlights the needfor, you know, informed consent
Yeah.
And the potential dangers of downplaying sideeffects.
Yeah.
I mean, if his doctor had explained thepotential risks, would he have made a different
decision?
We can't know for sure.
But But it's possible.
It's possible.
(11:06):
Yeah.
And I think his story underscores theimportance of having these really open and
honest conversations with our doctors about thepotential risks and benefits of any medication
we're prescribed.
Yeah.
For sure.
And it also seems connected to this this largerissue of antidepressant overprescription.
Yes.
Absolutely.
That was brought up in the video too.
(11:27):
It was.
And the video expresses a lot of concernantidepressants, particularly for things like,
you know, sleep problems, anxiety pain.
Okay.
And it specifically mentions the case ofparoxetine where data on suicidal thoughts in
young patients was allegedly concealed.
Suicidal thoughts in young patients wasallegedly concealed.
Concealed by who?
It doesn't explicitly say, but it seems to beimplying that the pharmaceutical company
(11:51):
involved may have downplayed or hidden the risk
associated with the drug.
That's really scary.
Yeah.
It's very worrying, isn't it?
It's very worrying,
isn't it?
It's very
with the drug.
That's
really scary.
Yeah.
It's very worrying, isn't it?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it suggests that, you know, we might notalways be getting the full picture when it
comes to the safety and efficacy of certainmedications.
Right.
We don't know what we don't know.
Exactly.
Yep.
And this leads us to another controversial drugthat's discussed in the video.
(12:11):
Okay.
Aduhelm.
Aduhelm.
Yeah.
The Alzheimer's drug.
Yeah.
I remember there was a lot of hype about that.
Yeah.
Was it as effective as they claimed?
Well, the video raises some serious concernsabout Aduhelm.
Okay.
They point out that the drug's efficacy islimited, and the cost is exorbitant.
So not really effective, but super expensive.
Yeah.
Pretty much.
Okay.
And they suggest that the media coverage of thedrug might have been a bit misleading,
(12:34):
potentially overstating the benefits.
So kinda like another case of overpromising andunderdelivering?
Yeah.
I think so.
Yeah.
And the video criticizes the lack oftransparency in the research and approval
process for the drug.
Okay.
Lack of transparency.
How so?
Well, for example, the data didn't include abreakdown by sex
Okay.
Even though women make up 2 thirds ofAlzheimer's patients.
(12:55):
Right.
And, you know, later on, it was found that thedrug's effects were actually less significant
in women, but this information wasn't includedin the drug's labeling.
Wow.
So they had the information and just didn'tinclude it.
Yeah.
That's wild.
It is, isn't it?
Why wouldn't they include it?
Well, the video kind of questions why thiscrucial information wasn't readily available.
(13:15):
Right.
And it suggests that it might be because itcould have hampered the drug's profitability.
So back to profits over people.
Yeah.
I think that's a recurring theme here, isn'tit?
Yeah.
For sure.
Yeah.
It's pretty disheartening.
It is.
But, you know, the video doesn't end on atotally doom and gloom note, does it?
No.
It doesn't.
They talk about doctor Gupta and his work inIndia.
(13:36):
Right?
Yeah.
They do.
Tell me about that.
Well, so they highlight the work of doctorSatish Gupta who's doing this really incredible
work in Mount Abu in India on reversing heartdisease through lifestyle intervention.
Reversing heart disease?
Yeah.
Not just managing it, but actually reversingit.
That sounds almost too good to be true.
It does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
But it's a really powerful testament testamentto the body's incredible capacity for healing
(14:01):
when given the right conditions.
Wow.
So what's the secret to his success?
What's his program all about?
Well, his program focuses on 3 key components,a high fiber vegetarian diet.
Okay.
Brisk walking
Okay.
And a specific form of meditation called Rajyoga meditation.
Wow.
So it's really a holistic approach Yeah.
(14:22):
Addressing diet exercise stress management.
Absolutely.
And what kind of results has he he seen?
Well, the results are pretty astounding,actually.
Okay.
Angiograms, which show images of blood vessels
Right.
Revealed significant regression of blockages inthe coronary arteries of his patients.
Wow.
So their arteries were actually clearing up.
Yeah.
It's pretty remarkable.
(14:43):
That's incredible.
Yeah.
It really highlights the potential of lifestyleinterventions to not just manage disease Mhmm.
But to actually reverse it.
Yeah.
It's like a whole different way of thinkingabout health care, isn't it?
It is.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And it's so different from what we typicallysee, you know, in western medicine where it's
so often focused on pharmaceuticals.
Yeah.
Exact It
makes you wonder if lifestyle innovations canhave such a profound impact on health.
(15:05):
Yeah.
Why aren't they more widely promoted andintegrated into health care systems?
That's the $1,000,000
Yeah.
It is.
Yeah.
It's like, why are we making this so difficult?
Yeah.
I guess
that's something we can explore further in ournext part.
Let's dive into that.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
It's almost like we've stumbled into this weirdparadox.
Right?
Yeah.
Like, on one hand, we have these incrediblemedical advancements, lifesaving drugs, cutting
(15:28):
edge technology.
Right.
But on the other hand, it often feels likewe're kind of missing the forest for the trees.
Right.
Like, we're overlooking the power of thesesimple fundamental lifestyle changes.
It's like we're so focused on putting out thefire with medication
Yeah.
That we're not even thinking about what startedthe fire in the first place.
Exactly.
(15:49):
Yeah.
And I think this leads us to this reallycrucial question that the video poses
Okay.
Which is, how do we empower ourselves to makeinformed decisions
Right.
In a system that can often feel opaque andpotentially influenced by profit?
Yeah.
That's a big question.
It is Where do we even start?
Well, I think it starts with critical thinking.
(16:10):
You know?
Okay.
We need to be skeptical consumers of medicalinformation.
So we can't just blindly accept everything wehear
I don't think so.
No.
From doctors or from pharmaceutical companies.
Yeah.
Exactly.
So it's about doing our research andquestioning recommendations and really
understanding our options.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And I think part of that involves demandingmore transparency.
(16:32):
Okay.
We need to push for open access to researchdata so that independent scientists can
actually scrutinize the evidence behind drugapprovals.
Yeah.
Remember the statin saga we were talking about?
The broad data from those trials was neverreleased.
It makes you wonder, what are they hiding?
It does, doesn't it?
Yeah.
If a drug company is so confident in the safetyand efficacy of their product Right.
(16:55):
Why wouldn't they just be transparent with thedata?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And I think this lack of transparency alsoextends to the financial ties between
pharmaceutical companies and, you know, variousplayers in the medical field.
Yeah.
We need to be aware of those potentialconflicts of interest
Right.
When we're evaluating medical recommendations.
It's almost like we need a whole new level ofhealth literacy.
(17:17):
I think so.
Not just understanding our bodies, but, like,understanding the system that delivers the
health care.
Yeah.
It's pretty overwhelming.
It can be.
Especially when you're already dealing with,you know, some health concerns.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
It's tough.
But, you know, knowledge is power
Right.
Especially when it comes to our health.
Yeah.
It's about shifting from this passive patientrole to becoming an active participant in our
(17:42):
well-being.
So we're not just along for the ride?
No.
We're in the driver's seat.
What does that look like for the averageperson?
Well, I think it requires open communicationwith our doctors.
Okay.
You know, asking questions, understanding therisks and benefits of different treatment
options
Yeah.
Really advocating for ourselves.
Yeah.
Like, we're our own health care advocates.
(18:02):
Exactly.
And I think that includes advocating for a moreholistic approach to health care.
You know?
Okay.
We need to prioritize lifestyle interventionsalongside these conventional treatments
Right.
Not just default to medication as the first andonly solution.
It's about looking at the whole picture.
Yeah.
(18:23):
Exactly.
Not just treating the symptom.
Yeah.
Think about Tony
Right.
And his amazing recovery after he dished thestatins and embraced a healthier lifestyle.
Yeah.
His story is such a powerful reminder that wehave agency in our health care journeys.
We have the power to make choices.
We do.
Right.
And we can make choices that empower us andsupport our overall well-being.
(18:44):
Yeah.
So it's not just about taking a pill.
No.
It's about all these other factors that playinto our health.
Absolutely.
And we need to be informed about all of it.
Yeah.
Right?
You know, Woody's experience with Zoloft Yeah.
That was just so tragic.
It was.
Really highlights the importance of informedconsent.
Mhmm.
You know?
We need to know what we're getting into.
Yeah.
We have a right to understand all of ouroptions, including alternatives to medication.
(19:08):
Absolutely.
And I think this is especially important inareas where overprescription is a concern Yeah.
You know, with antidepressants being prescribedfor things like insomnia or anxiety.
Right.
The video highlights this case of paroxetine
Yeah.
Where data on suicidal thoughts in youngpatients was allegedly concealed.
It's pretty scary to think that that kind ofinformation could be withheld from us.
(19:32):
It is, isn't it?
Yeah.
It really makes you question.
You know?
Yeah.
Who are we trusting?
It makes you realize that we need to be reallyvigilant advocates for our own health.
Right.
And we can't be afraid to challenge the statusquo Yep.
Or seek out second opinions.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And and that vigilance, you know Yeah.
It also extends to being aware of how medicalresearch is conducted and funded.
(19:54):
Yeah.
Yeah.
The video points out that most statin trials,for instance Yeah.
Are designed by the drug companies themselvesMhmm.
Without even including a lifestyle interventionarm for comparison.
Yeah.
So it's like the game is rigged from the start.
Yeah.
I think that's a really good way to put it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so this bias in research can then influencehow medical information talks about how medical
(20:20):
journals, which are supposed to be these, youknow, unbiased arbiters of scientific
truth Right.
Are often reliant on pharmaceutical advertisingand reprint revenue.
Yeah.
So it's like this whole cycle of influence.
Yeah.
The drug companies fund.
Yeah.
The research the research gets published in thejournals.
The journals rely on the drug companies formoney.
(20:42):
Right.
And then those same journals end up influencingmedical practice.
Exactly.
Yeah.
It all kind of feeds back into itself.
Yeah.
It's a closed loop.
Yeah.
And then you have the Vioxx scandal Yeah.
Where the New England Journal of Medicine madeall this money from reprints of a misleading
article Right.
While so many patients were suffering theconsequences.
Yeah.
It's a huge conflict of interest.
(21:03):
Yeah.
It is.
And if it could happen with, you know, aprominent journal like that
Yeah.
What's happening in other areas of medicalpublishing?
Who knows?
Right?
Yeah.
It's a little scary to think about.
It is.
Yeah.
And the video doesn't stop there either.
Okay.
It goes on to examine the financial tiesbetween the pharmaceutical industry and the
regulatory bodies that are supposed to protectus.
The regulatory bodies?
(21:24):
Yeah.
Like MHRA in the UK.
MHRA.
Okay.
So it stands for the Medicines and HealthcareProducts Regulatory Agency.
Okay.
It's kind of the UK equivalent of the FDA inthe US.
Okay.
And they're responsible for ensuring the safetyand efficacy of medicines.
So they're the gatekeepers?
Yeah.
You could say that.
Okay.
But here's the thing.
(21:44):
The video reveals that the MHRA gets astaggering 86% of its funding from the
pharmaceutical industry.
86%.
Yeah.
That's insane.
It is pretty crazy,
How can they possibly be impartial
Right.
When they're getting almost all of their moneyfrom the industry they're supposed to regulate?
It's a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse, isn't it?
(22:05):
Yeah.
It really is.
Yeah.
And it's not unique to the UK.
Right.
The video also mentions that the FDA in the USgets 65% of its funding from pharmaceutical
companies.
So it's a global problem.
Yeah.
It seems to be this sort of cozy relationshipbetween powerful industries and the
institutions that are supposed to hold themaccountable.
So who's looking out for us?
Yeah.
(22:25):
It's a good question.
Yeah.
And it just underscores the need for greaterawareness and scrutiny.
You know?
Do it.
We can't just assume that the system isdesigned to protect our best interests.
We have to be our own advocates.
I think so.
Right.
Yeah.
We need to be informed, engaged
Yeah.
And willing to advocate for ourselves.
It feels like a lot, though.
You know?
It does, doesn't it?
(22:45):
Like David and Goliath.
Yeah.
What can we, as individuals, really do tochange such a massive system?
Well, I think it's important to remember thateven small actions can have a ripple effect.
You know?
Okay.
We may not be able to overhaul the entiresystem overnight.
Right.
But we can start by making informed choices forourselves, demanding transparency
(23:07):
Okay.
And advocating for a more holistic approach tohealth care.
Yeah.
So it's about reclaiming our health andbecoming informed consumers.
Yeah.
Not just passively accepting what we're toldNo.
But actively engaging in our own health caredecisions.
Exactly.
It's about shifting that power dynamic
Yeah.
You know, from being passive recipients ofhealth care to becoming active participants in
(23:31):
our own well-being.
I like that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But what about medications?
You know?
Yeah.
If the pharmaceutical industry is so driven byprofit Yeah.
Does that mean that we should just avoid allmedications?
Well, I think it's important to remember that,you know, the video
doesn't paint all medications with a broadbrush.
Okay.
It acknowledges
that modern medicine is Okay.
It acknowledges that
modern medicine
has made incredible strides and thatpharmaceuticals have played a vital role in
(23:55):
treating, you know, acute illnesses and savinglives.
Right.
It's not
about demonizing all medications.
Exactly.
It's about being discerning.
Yeah.
Understanding that there's a time and a placefor them.
Yeah.
Right.
The concern is this kind of overreliance onmedication
That
and the potential for profit motives to kind ofovershadow patient well-being.
(24:16):
It's about finding that balance, you know
Right.
Between utilizing the power of pharmaceuticalswhen they're truly necessary
Okay.
But also recognizing the importance ofaddressing the root causes of disease through
lifestyle changes.
It's about using the right tool for the job.
Exactly.
Sometimes you need a powerful drug, butsometimes you just need to change your
(24:37):
lifestyle.
Yeah.
And doctor Gupta is a great example of that.
He is.
You know, his work in Mount Abu
Yeah.
It's a really compelling model for a moreholistic approach.
It is.
Yeah.
His success in reversing heart disease Yeah.
Through lifestyle interventions is reallypowerful.
It is.
You know, it challenges conventional medicalwisdom, which often focuses on managing disease
(24:58):
Mhmm.
Rather than addressing the underlying causes.
Yeah.
It's like he's offering a blueprint for adifferent way of approaching health care.
It's a whole different paradigm.
Yeah.
But why isn't this approach embraced bymainstream medicine?
That's a really good question.
Yeah.
Is it resistance to change?
Is it the allure of quick fixes and theprofitability of medications?
(25:18):
Could be.
Or is it just the powerful influence of thepharmaceutical industry?
I think it's probably a combination of allthose factors.
It's a complex system.
It is.
But the video doesn't just present the problem.
No.
It also offers a path forward.
Yeah.
It does.
What is that?
Well, it calls for this kind of paradigm shiftin health care.
(25:39):
Okay.
A paradigm shift.
Yeah.
One that prioritizes prevention
Okay.
Empowers patients Yeah.
And embraces a more holistic approach towell-being.
So it's about shifting the focus Right.
From treatment to prevention Yeah.
From pills to lifestyle Mhmm.
From passivity to empowerment.
Exactly.
And it's not just about individual choices.
No.
It's about creating a system that supportsthose choices.
(26:01):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
We need patients to become informed advocatesfor their own health.
Okay.
You know, demanding transparency, pushing forlifestyle interventions.
Right.
We need doctors to engage in open communicationwith their patients, you know, considering all
treatment options
Right.
And really prioritizing patient well-beingabove all else.
Yeah.
Putting the patient first.
Exactly.
(26:21):
And then we need a system that facilitatesthese changes.
You know?
Okay.
A system where medical research is unbiased.
Right.
Medical journals prioritize scientificintegrity over financial gain.
Yeah.
And regulatory bodies are truly independentfrom industry influence.
It's a tall order.
It is a tall order, but it's a vision worthstriving for.
You know?
(26:41):
I agree.
Your health is our most precious asset.
Yeah.
For sure.
And it deserves a health care system thatreflects that value.
So after going through all of this, after thisdeep dive, you know, into this video's insights
Yeah.
What's the takeaway?
Yeah.
What's the big takeaway?
For our listeners?
I mean, I know we've we've covered a lot ofground here.
We have.
You know, from from statins to ultra processedfoods to the influence of big pharma.
(27:07):
It's a lot.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What do you think people should be walking awaywith?
Well, you know, it can feel overwhelming.
Right.
For sure.
All of this, I think the core message hereisn't to every doctor or avoid every
medication.
Right.
No.
It's not about that.
Yeah.
It's not It's not black and white.
No.
It's not black and white.
It's about being informed.
It's about empowerment, recognizing that youhave a voice and a right to be an active
(27:33):
participant in your health care decisions.
To take ownership.
Yeah.
Exactly.
And that you have more power than you mightrealize.
I like that.
Yeah.
So where do we go from here?
Well, I think it starts with just being aware.
You know?
Okay.
Being aware of this potential for bias, askingthose questions
Right.
Doing your research, not being afraid to get asecond opinion.
(27:56):
Yeah.
I love that.
Don't be afraid to get a second opinion.
Yeah.
Why not get a third if something doesn't feelright?
Exactly.
We should feel empowered to do that Absolutely.
To advocate for ourselves.
Yeah.
And another thing that, you know, we've talkeda lot about Yeah.
These lifestyle interventions.
I mean, these are really powerful tools.
Yeah.
They are.
Diet, exercise, managing your stress.
Yeah.
(28:17):
These aren't just, like, nice things to do ifyou have time.
Right.
Yeah.
You know?
These are the fundamentals of health.
They're fundamental.
Yeah.
It's funny.
We call them lifestyle interventions.
You know?
Yeah.
But it's just life.
It is just life.
It's eating.
It's moving.
It's, you know, taking care of your mentalhealth.
Exactly.
It's what we should all be doing anyway.
Alright.
Whether we're trying to prevent disease or justlive a good life
(28:37):
Exactly.
It's about taking care of ourselves in aholistic way.
Right.
And I think sometimes the medical system losessight of that.
Yeah.
For sure.
You know, it's so focused on treating symptomswith medications that it's neglecting the
foundations of health.
Right.
It's treating the Band Aid, not the actualwound.
Yeah.
Exactly.
You know, think about Tony
Yeah.
And how much he turned his health around
(28:59):
Yeah.
What a story.
After embracing a healthier lifestyle
Absolutely.
You know, he's really living proof thatsometimes the best medicine doesn't come from a
pill bottle.
No.
It comes from within.
Yeah.
It comes from taking control.
Right.
Yeah.
Becoming an informed advocate and demanding asystem that actually prioritizes your
well-being.
Your well-being as a whole.
(29:19):
Yeah.
And recognizing that true health goes so muchfurther Yeah.
Than just the doctor's office.
It's everything.
It's all of it.
Yeah.
It's your choices.
Yeah.
It's your mindset.
It's your environment.
It's the big picture.
It is.
It's the whole picture.
Yeah.
Yeah.
This video is a wake up call
It is.
Yeah.
For all of us to take back our health.
Yeah.
To demand more from the system Absolutely.
(29:40):
More transparency Transparency.
More accountability Accountability.
Yeah.
It's about questioning the assumptions we haveYeah.
Being critical consumers of information
Yeah.
Being informed.
Informed.
And remembering that we have more power than werealize.
We do have the power.
And it's about shifting the focus.
Yeah.
Shifting it away from the treatment
(30:02):
To prevention.
To prevention.
To lifestyle.
Exactly.
From passivity to empowerment.
It's a journey.
I love that.
Yeah.
It's a journey.
It's not a destination.
It's not a destination.
So well said as you continue on your own healthjourneys.
Yeah.
I'll leave you with one final thought provokingquestion.
Okay.
Hit me.
If lifestyle interventions can have such aprofound impact on our health
(30:25):
Yeah.
Why aren't they more widely promoted andintegrated into our health care systems?
Yeah.
It's the question, isn't it?
Talk about it with your friends Yeah.
Your family, your doctor.
Yeah.
Have those conversations.
Maybe, Just maybe Yeah.
We can create a world where health andwell-being are truly prioritized.
Yeah.
That's a world I wanna live in.
Me too.
Yeah.
(30:45):
And that's it for this deep dive.
Awesome.
Thank you so much for listening.
Thanks for having me.
Stay curious, stay informed, and stayempowered.
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