THE SHOW APRIL 14/12 - FIRST HOUR PART THREE

Back pain perspective, Michael Jackson's death, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION, Whitney Houston's death, how to get off massive doses of prescribed narcotics

WHAT A DIAGNOSIS MEANS PART TWO - AUTISM

Meant to cover this on the radio yesterday but ran out of time. It's part of what a diagnosis means series. Remember any diagnosis has implications not just for the individual who gets the diagnosis but also dictates how society views them and what we're willing to spend to make them better. The CDC says 1:88 American children have an autism spectrum disorder problem. This seems high to me and it begs the question, are we simply better at detection or have environmental factors caused a surge in autism? Some are dismissive of this surge in autism and compare it to ADHD over diagnosis in the 90's. In other words a fad diagnosis. Don't get me wrong, autism spectrum disorder is real. What I'm trying to get at here, have we loosened the definition so much that we're including kids who are just "difficult" and do not have "true" autism. What is "true" autism anyway?

We know that autism is due to atypical brain development but unfortunately there is no blood test or brain scan as of yet to clinch the diagnosis so we rely on subjective criteria. And no question in the last decade these criteria have loosened e.g. ten years ago fifty percent were intellectually impaired, now it's only a third. This means a lot more kids are labelled "autistic".

Some parents are upset that if the diagnosis is too loose there won't be enough resources to help those who really have the disorder. I understand their concern. A child with severe autism needs special schools, ultimately adult day programs, residential opportunities and structured community integration. Is all this care and support appropriate? Yes. Is it good? Definitely. Expensive? You betcha. And that's the rub.

In an era when government services are being sharply curtailed hard questions must be asked about what we're spending and why. We should be careful diagnosing any disorder so that we don't not only pathologise variance in human behavior but we also divert scarce resources from those who need them most.  

FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS = FISH STICKS?

When I was a kid my mom used to buy fresh fish for dinner regularly at the local fish monger. Then along came Captain Bird's Eye and a great campaign aimed at kids selling fish fingers/fish sticks. I can still hear the jingle in my head. Of course fish sticks were no where near as tasty or healthy as broiled fresh cod or skate but we kids begged, begged our mom for them. I kinda think the same thing is happening with the $1 billion dollar fish oil supplements industry. The "product" is sold as omega-3 fatty acids. A new analysis of existing data casts serious doubt on whether it protects against more heart problems in people with known heart disease. Whether it protects healthy adults against developing heart disease is a question as of yet without an answer but studies are on going and experts in the field are skeptical.

What I suggest is to eat fresh fish, broiled or steamed, never deep fried, at least twice a week. Not only does it taste great, it'll give you enough fish oil and help you minimise bad protein like red meat. If eating fish only did that, your heart would kiss you.   

A DIAGNOSIS IS HOW SOCIETY SEES YOU

On Saturday's show - what's a diagnosis? It's the name given to your pain and suffering but has enormous implications beyond being a label. It dictates how your doctor manages your care and how your friends, family and society look at you. The label can make you a social pariah or a brave victim that we all should help.

Frequently doctors, big Pharma and patients themselves create new diseases or syndromes for all kinds of reasons. I'll explain why Saturday morning on the air. In the mean time think about this...In the last twenty years the elites in American medicine decided too many Americans were in constant pain. The solution - mega doses of narcotics and a new specialty "Pain Management". The results - tens of thousands of new chronic pain patients AND 18,400 deaths in 2008 from prescription narcotics AND we doubled spending on legal narcotics from $4.4 billion dollar to $8.5 billion. Doubled spending!?! Hands up those who think that the amount of pain in everyday life doubled in the last decade. Yeah, you got that right.

On Saturday I'll explain why you should avoid some diagnoses and why you should embrace others. Remember in America we're over diagnosed and over treated. This is one show you won't want to miss. It'll not only save you money but could save your life.   

                                          DR. CHAMBERS ON CALL, KFWB NEWS TALK 980

                                                               SATURDAYS 6-8 AM

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LAT FESTIVAL OF BOOKS USC APRIL 21st

On Saturday April 21st, as well as my regular show 6-8 AM on KFWB News Talk 980, I'll be co-hosting, with wine guru David Wilson, the 4-5 PM slot. We'll be broadcasting live from the LA Times Festival of Book on the USC campus. If you're attending the festival love to have you swing by and say hello. It'll be a free wheeling hour on books, wine and of course your health.  

DOCTOR IS CHEF BECAUSE YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!

Doctor is chef is most definitely a class I would've failed in medical school but as I constantly say on the radio and in my practice you are what you eat. And in many ways I learned this the hard way. Hence my interest in food and how we prep it is not only professional, it's personal. If we're ever going to slow down this epidemic of obesity and diabetes the idea that healthy eating is bland has to go. Some friends of mine recently were at a dinner where the host has heart issues so he cooked everything without salt. It tasted like...old boots boiled according to my friend. This is the kind of dinner party that fuels the myth, eating healthy, even if it doesn't prolong your life sure makes it seem longer.  

The Harvard School of Public health is pushing doctors and other health care professionals through courses like Healthy Kitchen, Healthy Lives so they can pass on healthy eating is fun eating. It's a message that needs to sink deep into your brain and when it does...it may just save your life.  

FOOT SOLDIERS IN THE WORLD OF CODING

Every time you see your doctor or she does a procedure on you she bills your insurance company. The billing process is called coding. Of course it's ferociously complex and and the insurance companies do their best to deny whatever they can. Doctors on the other hand do their best to optimise their billings and they hire billers to help them.

Billers are experts in coding. In other words they "finesse" a doctor's billing so she gets paid the most for looking after you. Billers are the foot soldiers in the never ending paper war between the insurance companies and doctors' offices. And I just learned this fun fact... there are 2.2 billers for every MD working. Sigh...and we wonder why we spend two trillion dollars and still leave millions uninsured and under-insured.  There's got to be a better way.  

 

NEWS FLASH - NARCOTICS ARE ADDICTIVE!?!

The powers that be have discovered...opioids such as fentanyl, vicodin and oxycontin are addictive even if legally prescribed... I kid you not!!! BUT, this is a fascinating article on addiction to legalized narcotics and the role of doctors.

One of the most difficult encounters any urgent care doctor has...patients looking for pain meds because they're "hurting". And trust me I've heard every excuse...I picked up my new prescription AND left it in the truck AND my husband took the truck AND went to Arizona AND for two weeks...I had a party AND one of my friends stole my Norco AND it was my whole three month Norco supply...my dog ate my Oxycontin, all 300 pills, AND I need HELP!  He meant he needed more "oxy" not help for the dog.    

As much as I like the article they don't put the massive increase in use of prescription "goodies" in context of society in general. We live in a time where lots of us think life should be pain free. It's not and never will be. I'll talk a lot more about this Saturday on the show.    

THE EASTER BUNNY IS GONE & REALITY'S BACK.

Alright Easter's over, time to cut back on the chocolate and get back to reality. This is a link to the various medical speciality groups and their recommendations to limit unnecessary tests by Choosing Wisely.  Some are more consumer friendly than others.  I'd recommend a quick look at the American College of Physicians and the American College of Family Physicians.

IS YOUR DNA YOUR MEDICAL DESTINY?

Does your personal DNA determine your health? No is the short answer according to this amazing study looking at illness in twins. Your DNA will tell you, however, if you'll respond to certain drugs and whether you'll develop specific side effects. Vanderbilt is already doing this - it's only a question of time before it's widely available.

More on this tomorrow morning on Dr. Chambers On Call on KFWB News Talk 980 6-8 AM.

MORE HEALTH CARE IS NOT BETTER HEALTH CARE!!!

It's Easter/Passover w/e but the show is LIVE tomorrow...more health care is not better health care - GULP! Who said that??? So says a large group of medical specialities BUT you heard it first on Dr. Chambers On Call. It has been my mantra since the get go on KFWB. Tomorrow I'll explain what these new "less is more" recommendations means for you and your family AND why it's happening all of a sudden. This stuff you gotta know but only if you wanna stay healthy and not go bankrupt.   

 

                             DR.CHAMBERS ON CALL, KFWB NEWS TALK 980, SATURDAYS 6-8 AM.

                                              THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 888 539 2980. 

AMERICANS OVER TREATED?

 

Americans over treated?!?  So says an expert panel and they're making recommendations to all Americans to cut back and maybe even refuse some tests their doctors order.  Yes that's right, refuse tests their doctors order. Let me just say this, you heard it first on Dr. Chambers On Call!  Lots more on what this means for you and your family's health on the show this Easter Saturday.   

                                 Dr. Chambers On Call Saturdays 6-8 AM on KFWB News Talk 980

                                                 The Number to call is 888 539 2980