Transcript Conventional and Complementary medicine

CONVENTIONAL AND
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Chapter 15
©2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.
SELF-CARE
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Self-Assessment
Symptoms are often an expression of the body’s
attempt to heal itself
 Carefully observing symptoms lets you identify those
signals that suggest you need professional assistance
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Body’s vital signs
 Temperature
 Heart rate
 Medical self-tests
 Blood pressure
 Blood sugar
 Pregnancy detection
 Urinary tract infections
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KNOWING WHEN TO SEE A
PHYSICIAN
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See a physician for symptoms that you would describe as:
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4.
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Severe
Unusual
Persistent
Recurrent
Emergencies include the following:
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Major trauma or injury
Uncontrollable bleeding
Intolerable and uncontrollable pain
Severe shortness of breath
Persistent abdominal pain
Poisoning or drug overdose
Loss of consciousness or seizure
Stupor, drowsiness, or disorientation
Severe or worsening reaction to an insect bite or sting or to a
medication
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SELF-TREATMENT
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Non-drug options
Self-medication
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Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
Simple guidelines to self-medicate safely:
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Always read labels
Do not exceed the recommended dosage or length of
treatment
Use caution if you are taking other medications
Try to select medications with one active ingredient
Try to buy generic drugs
Never take or give a drug from an unlabeled container
If pregnant or nursing, or have a chronic condition, consult
health care provider before self-medicating
Follow expiration date
Store your medications in a cool, dry place
Use caution with aspirin
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FIGURE 15.1 READING AND
UNDERSTANDING OTC DRUG
LABELS
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PROFESSIONAL CARE
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System of broad network of professionals and
organizations, including:
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Independent practitioners
Health care providers
Hospitals
Clinics
Public and private insurance programs
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
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Most commonly used CAM therapies:
Relaxation techniques
 Herbal medicine
 Massage
 Chiropractic
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CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
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Premises and assumptions of conventional medicine
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Western medicine is the belief that disease is caused by
identifiable physical factors
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Identifies:
 Pathogens
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Bacteria or viruses
Genetic factors
Unhealthy lifestyles
Based on scientific method of obtaining knowledge
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Empirical
Rational
Testable
Parsimonious
General
Rigorously evaluated
Tentative
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THE PROVIDERS OF CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
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Medical doctors (MD)
Doctors of osteopathic medicine (OD)
Podiatrists
Optometrists
Dentists
Allied health care providers:
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Registered nurses (RN)
Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)
Physical therapists (PT)
Social workers
Registered dietitians (RDs)
Physician assistants (PA)
Nurse practitioners
Certified nurse midwives
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CHOOSING A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
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Begin making a list of possible choices
Check insurance limits
Ask for recommendations
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Family, friends, coworkers, local medical societies, and the
physician referral service
Once you have a list of physicians, call their office and
find out some information
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Is the physician covered by your insurance plan?
What are the office hours?
Which hospitals does the physician use?
How many other physicians are available to cover when
unavailable?
How long does it usually take to get an appointment?
Does the physician give advice over the phone?
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GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR
MEDICAL CARE
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The physician-patient partnership
Your appointment with your physician
The diagnostic process
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Physical exam
Diagnostic testing
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X-rays
Biopsies
Blood and urine tests
Scans
Endoscopies
Medical and surgical treatments
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Prescription medications
Surgery
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COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
CAM tends to focus on an integration of mind,
body, and spirit in seeking ways to restore the
whole person to harmony
 Alternative medical systems
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Traditional chinese medicine (TCM)
Harmonious flow of qi produces health
 Herbal remedies
 Acupuncture
 QI is believed to flow through the body along several
meridians (pathways)
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Homeopathy
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“Like cures like”
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MIND-BODY INTERVENTIONS
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Intervention makes use of the integral connection
between mind and body
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Meditation
Yoga
Visualization
Taijiquan
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
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BIOLOGICAL-BASED THERAPIES
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Consist primarily of:
Herbal therapies or remedies
 Botanicals
 Extracts from animal tissues
 Dietary supplements
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Common element in most systems of traditional
medicine
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MANIPULATIVE AND BODY-BASED METHODS
Touch and body manipulation are long-standing
forms of health care
 Manual healing is based on the idea that
misalignment or dysfunction in one part of the
body causes pain or dysfunction in another part
 Chiropractic medicine
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ENERGY THERAPIES
Forms of treatment that use energy originating
either within the body (biofields) or from other
sources (electromagnetic fields)
 Qigong
 Therapeutic touch
 Reiki
 Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies
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EVALUATING COMPLEMENTARY AND
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
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Working with your physician
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Areas to discuss
Safety
 Effectiveness
 Timing
 Cost
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Questioning the CAM practitioner
Why he or she thinks the therapy will be beneficial
 Describe in detail any conventional treatments you
are receiving
 Ask how long the therapy should last
 Ask about the expected cost of the treatment
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Doing your own research
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PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE
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The current system
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Combination of private and public insurance plans, patient
out-of-pocket payments, and government assistance
Health insurance
Traditional fee-for service (indemnity) plans
 Managed-care plans
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Health maintenance organizations (HMO)
Preferred provider organizations (PPO)
Point-of-service (POS) plans
Health savings accounts (HSAs)
 Government programs
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Medicare
Medicaid
Choosing a policy
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CONVENTIONAL AND
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Chapter 15
©2010 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.