In this first episode of the Unscripted Health Podcast, Dr. Messer discusses the overall theme of the podcast and what future episodes with hold. Going into more detail about the health script we currently live by in life, and how it is failing us. As well as diving a bit into who Dr. Messer is and what his background includes, leading up to the creation of The Unscripted Health podcast. This episode finishes with Dr. Messer discussing specific topics that will be coming up in future episodes.
Reference Notes:
Cancer -
CDC: New cancer deaths and cases are estimated to rise 24% in men by 2020 from the prior decade and 21% in women.
Cured of cancer if you live 5 years. Still counted as cure if you die in the 9th year, post diagnosis. Quality of life post chemo/radiation is abysmal.
Cancer is contextual: If you get breast cancer, then ovarian cancer, then colon cancer, they see it as different CA's. However, cancer is a systemic disorder.
In 2018 - 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed. 610,000 deaths.
Pharma -
CDC: In 2009 455,480 prescriptions per hour. In 2016 508,000 prescriptions per hour.
Increase of 12% over just 7 years.
National Ambulatory Med Care Study 2015
76.2% of doctor visits involve drug therapy.
79% of ER visits involve drug therapy.
Rochester Epidemiology Project, Mayo Clinic 2013
70% of Americans are on at least 1 script.
55% of Americans are on 2 or more scripts.
25% of women 50+ take antidepressants.
Alcohol -
niaaa.nih.gov: Alcohol is 3rd leading cause of death in America.
2015: 27% of people 18 years and older reported engaging in binge drinking.
Teen alcohol use kills 4700 kids per year. More than all illegal drug use combined.
MADD.org: 1 person dies every 48 min from drunk drivers.
Brain diseases, Dementia/Alzheimers is 6th leading cause of death in America and suggested 45 of 100 people will die from this in 2050.
- Weuve J, et al. Deaths in the United States among persons with Alzheimer's disease (2010-2050)
- James BD, et al. Contribution of Alzheimer's disease to mortality in the United States. Neurology. 2014 March; 82(12): 1045-50.
Obesity -
CDC.gov 8/12/2018. (NCHS) 35.7% age 20-39, 42.8% age 40-59. 41% age 60+, children 18.5% average age 2-19.
41% of Americans age 65+ had at least 1 disability, and 51% were people 18-64 years of age. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-218.html
There are over one billion people that are overweight and 300 million are clinically obese. The CDC facts have been skewed, giving a female today the idea that her weight is normal, when she could be as much as 30lbs over. Obesity in the 1800's to early 1900's almost didn't exist. It took a huge upturn with the introduction of TV and fast food. Welcome to the 1930s - 1960s.
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA REPORT 2017: 1 in 5 adults have diagnosed mental health conditions/dysfunction. 1 in 10 children have a mental condition. Data shows less than 1% decrease in adult mental health with almost 10% greater child mental health problems.
In the early 1900s, the top four diseases were pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and enteritis with diarrhea and children under 5 years old accounted for 40% of all deaths from these infections according to the CDC, 1999.
Cancer statistics from 1900 show 1/1,206,349 died. And in 2018, 1/464 died. That is a 2600% increase over the past ~100 years, relative to the population at the time.
The chronic inflammatory diseases (the big 5) make up 80% plus of all our primary diseases. CVD, Neuro disease, Autoimmune, Arthritis', Cancer.
Obesity stats in the 1950s were close to 10%. By 1950's standards, we are close to 60% today.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228640/
Health, United States, 2002, Centers for Di