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DR. SALGO: WHAT IF YOU COULD PREVENT CANCER AND HEART DISEASE BY SIMPLY BUYING A FEW ITEMS OFF THE GROCERY SHELF? SOUND CRAZY? WELL, APPARENTLY MANY OF YOU DON'T THINK SO. 40% OF AMERICANS TAKE SUPPLEMENTS, DRIVING A $30 BILLION A YEAR BUSINESS THAT SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN. BUT HOW SAFE IS IT TO PLAY YOUR OWN DOCTOR? WE TACKLE THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE COMING RIGHT UP ON SECOND OPINION.
MAJOR FUNDING FOR SECOND OPINION IS PROVIDED BY THE GUIDANT FOUNDATION. THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS, THE GUIDANT FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING PATIENT AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO ADVANCEMENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR CARE, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING. THE JOSIAH MACY JR. FOUNDATIONS AND THE PARK FOUNDATION.
DR. SALGO: WELCOME TO SECOND OPINION, WHERE EVERY WEEK YOU CAN HELP SOLVE A MEDICAL MYSTERY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OWN HEALTH CARE. I'M YOUR HOST, DR PETER SALGO. AND TODAY OUR CASE IS ALL ABOUT A WOMAN NAMED SARAH. WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A HEALTH CARE TEAM HERE TO TACKLE THE CASE. SOME OF THE PANEL ARE DOCTORS, SOME ARE NOT. ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE PANEL HAS READ THE CASE FILE. THAT'S ELISSA ORLANDO, OUR CIVILIAN. HI ELISSA.
ORLANDO: HI PETER.
DR. SALGO: AND EVERY WEEK WE HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN ON THE PANEL. TODAY IT'S DR. LOU PAPA. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
DR. PAPA: GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
DR. SALGO: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE TOO. WHAT I WANT TO DO NOW GUYS AND WOMEN, IS TO GET RIGHT TO THIS CASE. HER NAME IS SARAH, SHE IS A PROFESSOR AND SHE IS GIVING A LECTURE. WHILE SHE IS GIVING A LECTURE, SHE FEELS INTENSE SQUEEZING IN HER CHEST. SO SHE WINDS UP, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, IN THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SARAH AS WELL. SHE IS 47 YEARS OLD, SHE IS A TENURED PROFESSOR--SO SHE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT JOB SECURITY I GUESS. SHE IS A CAREGIVER AT HOME, MANAGING THE HEALTH CARE OF HER MOM, HER AUNT AND HER GRANDMOTHER. SO LOU, WHY DON'T WE TAKE THIS RIGHT OFF THE BAT, YOU'RE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WHAT KIND OF A PATIENT DO YOU THINK SARAH WILL BE WHEN YOU SEE HER?
DR. PAPA: WELL, IMMEDIATELY IT'S AN ALARM SYMPTOM. THAT SQUEEZING CHEST PAIN MAKES ME CONCERNED THAT SHE IS SUFFERING FROM A HEART ATTACK, THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND.
DR. SALGO: BUT LET'S BACK OFF FROM THE SYMPTOM JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SARAH. SHE'S AN EDUCATED COLLEGE PROFESSOR.
DR. PAPA: RIGHT.
DR. SALGO: I DON'T KNOW, WHEN I WAS IN THE ER I MIGHT WONDER WHEN I AM GOING TO SEE THIS KIND OF A PATIENT, WHAT SHE IS GOING TO BE LIKE TO DEAL WITH. DO YOU HAVE ANY VIEWS ON THAT?
DR. PAPA: WELL SHE WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH MORE ENGAGED IN THE DECISION MAKING, THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
DR. SALGO: IS THAT A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING?
DR. PAPA: IT DEPENDS. IT'S MOSTLY A GOOD THING, AS LONG AS IT'S AN EQUAL EXCHANGE.
DR. HYMAN: I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE COME IN WITH A LIST OF QUESTIONS. I ALWAYS SAY I'M A HOLISTIC DOCTOR BECAUSE I TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH A WHOLE LIST OF PROBLEMS. AND I WANT THEM TO ASK ME QUESTIONS.
DR. SALGO: WELL, LET ME MOVE THIS ALONG JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SHE GETS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND SHE TELLS HER DOCTOR WHEN SHE'S THERE THAT SHE ALWAYS TAKES CARE OF HERSELF. SHE DOESN'T SMOKE, SHE'S A VEGETARIAN, SHE'S VERY BUSY...SHE DOESN'T EXERCISE REGULARLY, BUT HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER DIED OF HEART ATTACKS AT VERY YOUNG AGES. NOW SHE'S ALSO TAKEN AN INTEREST IN HER HEALTH AND SHE TAKES VITAMINS AND SHE TAKES SUPPLEMENTS. SPECIFICALLY SHE IS TAKING VITAMIN C AND E, SHE IS TAKING CALCIUM, BETA-CAROTENE, AND ACIDOPHILUS, ANYTHING UNUSUAL HERE THAT WORRIES YOU OR RAISES A RED FLAG FOR YOU.
DR DE PAPP: WELL THE VITAMINS SHE SHOULD BE TAKING IS D AND SHE PROBABLY SHOULD BE TAKING IRON AS SHE IS A VEGETARIAN SO SHE IS MISSING OUT ON THE RIGHT STUFF.
DR. SALGO: IS ANYBODY HERE WORRIED THAT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE WHOLE LIST OF WHAT THIS WOMAN IS TAKING? OR THAT SHE'S FORGOTTEN SOMETHING, OR THAT THERE IS A LIST OF THINGS THAT...
DR. HYMAN: WELL MOST DOCTORS ARE PRETTY MUCH HOSTILE TO THE IDEA OF SUPPLEMENTS AND MOST PATIENTS DON'T EVEN TELL THEIR PHYSICIANS WHEN THEY ARE TAKING SUPPLEMENTS.
DR. DEPAPP: THE POINT IS, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT BE GIVING HER IS AN ANTI-COAGULANT, AND IF SHE IS TAKING SOME SUPPLEMENTS, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY CAN BE POTENTIATED.
DR. SALGO: OK, SO THERE IS A REAL FEAR, I GUESS AMONG ALL OF US HERE, THAT SHE'S NOT COMING CLEAN, THAT SHE IS NOT TELLING HER DOCTOR EVERYTHING.
ORLANDO: WELL ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE BECAUSE SHE IS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, SHE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THINKING TO TELL YOU WHAT IT IS THAT SHE IS TAKING.
DR. SALGO: WELL HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS THIS, I MEAN IS THIS JUST A FEW PEOPLE? HOW BIG IS THIS MARKET FOR OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL THERAPIES?
DR. HYMAN: 47% OF AMERICANS USE SOME TYPE OF ALTERNATIVE THERAPY AND MOST OF THAT IS IN TERMS OF SUPPLEMENTS.
DR. SALGO: I HEARD ONE DOCTOR TELL ME ONCE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES THAN ARE TAKING TRADITIONAL MEDICINES. DOES THAT WORRY ANYBODY HERE?
DR. PAPA: YES IT DOES.
DR. SALGO: WHY IS THAT?
DR. PAPA: WELL, PART OF IT IS BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES ARE KIND OF "LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS." WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY ONGOING MONITORING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THOSE ARE. A LOT OF IT IS BASED ON ANECDOTAL OR SEMI-ANECDOTAL INFORMATION. A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, NOT ENTIRELY, BUT A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON THERAPIES THAT WE USE FOR KNOWN MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY REDUCE THE RISK FOR DISEASE.
DR. SALGO: MARK, GO AHEAD.
DR. HYMAN: YOU MEAN LIKE HORMONE THERAPY TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE?
DR. PAPA: EXACTLY MY POINT, BUT THAT'S MY POINT. THERE ARE MANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE MADE, THAT HAPPENS IN MEDICINE, THAT HAPPENS IN HOLISTIC MEDICINE AS WELL. THAT MAKES MY POINT PERFECTLY, BECAUSE IT IS AN ASSUMPTION UNTIL YOU GET THE STUDIES DONE. OH, THIS MUST BE SAFE BECAUSE WE THINK IT IS.
DR. SALGO: WELL I DON'T WANT TO LET THAT DIG GO BY WITHOUT MY AT LEAST REMARKING ON IT. IT WAS A SUBTLE ONE OVER HERE. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT EVEN TRADITIONAL THERAPIES THAT ARE ASSUMED TO BE SAFE AND BACKED UP BY TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TURN OUT NOT NECESSARILY TO BE GOOD. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
DR. HYMAN: EXACTLY, EXACTLY. YOU KNOW WE HAVE VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE FOR THE MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING. 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE OVER 65 ARE TAKING FIVE OR MORE MEDICINES- -I'M SORRY, 10 OR MORE MEDICINES, AND 25 PERCENT ARE TAKING FIVE OR MORE MEDICINES EVERY DAY, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE DRUGS DO TOGETHER INTERACTING. THAT'S NEVER BEEN STUDIED.
DR. SALGO: ALRIGHT, SO HE SAYS THAT A LOT OF THE NATURAL STUFF ISN'T STUDIED AND YOU ARE SAYING NOTHING HAS BEEN STUDIED TO YOUR SATISFACTION AND WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. REMEMBER WE LEFT HER A PRETTY SICK WOMAN, POTENTIALLY. THEY WENT AHEAD AND THEY DID A CARDIAC CATH. THAT IS, THEY LOOKED AT HER HEART WITH AN X-RAY TEST. AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT THREE, NOT TWO, NOT ONE, BUT THREE OF THE MAJOR VESSELS LEADING TO HER HEART THAT FEED HER BLOOD, FEED BLOOD TO HER HEART, WERE CRITICALLY OBSTRUCTED. SO WHILE THEY WERE THERE, I'M ASSUMING THEY DIDN'T REALLY TALK TO HER VERY MUCH DURING THE CATH, SHE MUST HAVE BEEN SEDATED, THEY WENT AHEAD AND THEY DID AN ANGIOPLASTY TO UNBLOCK THESE ARTERIES. AND THEY TOLD HER AT THE END OF THIS ENTIRE PROCEDURE THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A HEART ATTACK, BUT IT WAS A NEAR MISS, THAT WHAT SHE HAD WAS HEART PAIN AND THAT NOW SHE'S "ALL BETTER."
(PANELISTS DISAGREE)
DR. SZAPARY: I THINK THE "ALL BETTER" IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXAGGERATION. I MEAN SHE'S GOT THREE VESSELS--WE CALL IT THREE-VESSEL DISEASE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. SOME PEOPLE WE MANAGE WITH SURGERY, OTHERS GET ANGIOPLASTY. BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS SHE NEEDS CAREFUL MEDICAL MONITORING. AND WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS WE LIKE TO, WHAT WE CALL MANAGE RISK FACTORS VERY AGGRESSIVELY. WE LOOK AT CHOLESTEROL, WE TREAT BLOOD PRESSURE AGGRESSIVELY WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON A REGIMENT OF ASPIRIN FOR INSTANCE. THESE STATIN DRUGS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A LOT, I THINK THAT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PATIENT.
ORLANDO: WELL IF THEY GET ANGIOPLASTY- AND THAT IS WHERE THEY CLEAR YOUR...?
DR. SALGO: YEAH THEY CLEAR THE BLOOD VESSELS IN YOUR HEART.
ORLANDO: AND NOBODY TALKED TO ME ABOUT IT. IS THAT JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS UNDER AND IT WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND THEY JUST HAD TO DO IT? I MEAN, I THINK IF I CAME OUT OF IT, NOT ONLY WOULD I NOT WANT TO HEAR "YOU'RE FINE", BUT "WE DID THIS TO CLEAR OUT YOUR VESSELS AND YOU HAVE THREE-VESSEL DISEASE, WE DID THIS PROCEDURE ON YOU." I MEAN, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT WHEN I WALKED IN THINKING I'M MANAGING MY OWN HEALTH CARE JUST FINE.
DR. SALGO: WELL LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE THIS CASE GOES FURTHER. ABOUT 48 HOURS AFTER SHE FIRST CAME INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM--SHE'S BEEN OBSERVED FOR THIS 48 HOURS--SHE HAD THIS PROCEDURE RIGHT AWAY WHEN SHE GOT IN THE FRONT DOOR--THEY LET HER GO HOME. AND BEFORE SHE WENT HOME THEY GAVE HER SOME PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, THEY REFERRED HER TO SEE A CARDIOLOGIST AND THEY SAID "THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FOR YOU" AND MAYBE SHE GOT TO TALK TO A NURSE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL BUT THAT'S IT. IS THAT SUFFICIENT, WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THAT?
CARNEY: IF THEY STRESSED, HERE'S THE REFERRAL TO THE CARDIOLOGIST, AND YOU NEED TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT IMMEDIATELY, THEN I WOULD FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED. OK, THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I NEED TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY, BUT IF IT WAS JUST "HERE, TAKE CARE OF THIS AT SOME POINT," I WOULD BE A LITTLE UPSET.
DR. SZAPARY: I AGREE. I THINK IT'S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE TALK TO YOU. TYPICALLY WHERE I WORK, YOU HAVE A RESIDENT COME TALK TO YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NURSE COME TALK TO YOU YOU'LL HAVE THREE PEOPLE TALK TO YOU AND THEY WILL BE TALKING AT YOU, BUT YOU'RE REALLY NOT GETTING IT. YOU LEAVE WITH FIVE PRESCRIPTIONS AND A REFERRAL. BECAUSE TYPICALLY SOMEONE LIKE THAT, THEY LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, THEY ARE ON AT LEAST ON THREE MEDICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ON BEFORE.
DR. SALGO: WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT SARAH THOUGHT SINCE THERE IS SOME DISCREPANCY HERE. SOME PEOPLE THINK 48 HOURS IS REASONABLE. YOU ALL SEEM TO THINK THAT SHE GOT SOME DISCUSSION BEFORE SHE WENT HOME. SARAH WASN'T HAPPY AT ALL. SARAH THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD BEEN BUMS RUSHED THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ROOM INTO THE CATH LAB, INTO THE CORONARY CARE UNIT AND THEN OUT. SHE SAID, IT'S TOO FAST, THE DISCHARGE ORDERS THAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE NURSE SEEM MORE CONCERNED WITH GETTING ME OUT QUICKLY THAN REALLY SETTING ME UP AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR MY CHRONIC CARE AND I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE WHOLE SYSTEM WORKED. DO YOU HEAR THIS? YOU MUST HEAR THIS.
DR. HYMAN: IT IS PRETTY COMMON. THE WORST CASE I HAD EVER HEARD WAS, A PATIENT CAME TO ME AND SAID "I WENT TO MY DOCTOR WITH A SUITCASE FULL OF MONEY AND I SAID "JUST SPEND AN HOUR TALKING TO ME, I DON'T CARE WHAT IT COSTS". THAT'S HOW DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE TO GET THAT KIND OF ATTENTION AND CARE THEY ARE NOT GETTING.
DR. DEPAPP: DID SHE BRING YOU THAT SUITCASE TOO?
DR. HYMAN: (LAUGHING) NO, I WISH SHE HAD.
DR. SALGO: SO IF I HEAR ALL OF YOU CORRECTLY, WHAT YOU ARE REALLY SAYING, AND WHAT I THINK OUR VIEWERS REALLY NEED TO HEAR, IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION. TO SOME DEGREE IT IS UP TO THE DOCTORS TO PROVIDE IT. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING THE KIND OF COMMUNICATION THAT YOU NEED, IT IS UP TO YOU AS A PATIENT TO BE PROACTIVE AND ASK FOR IT. IS THAT FAIR?
DR. SZAPARY: ABSOLUTELY.
CARNEY: WELL I'VE NEVER GONE THROUGH A CARDIAC EVENT BUT I CAN IMAGINE THAT FOR PART OF THE TIME SHE WAS VERY AFRAID AND DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO KIND OF GO "OK, LET ME BE PRACTICAL ABOUT THIS AND LET ME WRITE THE LIST DOWN"--LIKE WHAT SHE MIGHT DO IN HER REAL LIFE.
DR. SALGO: BUT YOU KNOW HERE IS WHAT SHE DOES. SHE IS HOME, AND SHE IS ANGRY. BUT SHE TALKS TO A FRIEND AND HER FRIEND TELLS HER "SARAH, YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO IS OUT OF THE BEATEN PATH. YOU NEED TO SEE SOMEBODY WHO IS CONCERNED WITH THIS ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE." SHE HEARS ABOUT THIS, SHE HAS ALSO HEARD ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE, INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE, INNOVATIVE MEDICINE. YOU HEAR THESE TERMS ALL THE TIME. ARE THEY THE SAME THING? IS THAT A GOOD IDEA FOR HER, BY THE WAY?
DR. HYMAN: WELL, YES AND NO. I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS A LOT OF THE ALTERNATIVE, COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES ARE THINGS LIKE HOMEOPATHY, OR ACUPUNCTURE, AYURVEDIC MEDICINE OR CHINESE MEDICINE. AND WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE, PROVIDING A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR THINKING ABOUT HEALTH, WHICH IS BASED ON GIVING PEOPLE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODIES, BETTER NUTRITION, BETTER EXERCISE, THE RIGHT COMPLEMENT OF SUPPLEMENTS, NUTRIENTS AND THINGS THAT HELP THE BODY FUNCTION BETTER. AND IT'S REALLY WHERE PEOPLE GO TO GET THIS INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE COMING FROM DOCTORS. DOCTORS SHOULD BE TEACHING THEIR PATIENTS ABOUT NUTRITION.
DR. SALGO: ARE YOU GOING TO HELP HER NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OF THIS IF YOU ARE HER DOCTOR?
DR. DEPAPP: WELL I SURE HOPE SO. IF I CAN'T DO IT, THEN SHE NEEDS ANOTHER DOCTOR.
DR. SALGO: ALRIGHT DOCTOR, I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS AYURVEDIC. I'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THIS STUFF. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS ALL MEANS?
DR. DEPAPP: I CAN'T, NO. AYURVEDIC, NO, I DON'T BUY THAT STUFF.
ORLANDO: SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HELP ME? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HELP ME DO SOME OF IT IF I WANTED TO?
DR. DEPAPP: WELL, I'M GOING TO DIRECT YOU TO THE BEST CARE I KNOW HOW.
DR. PAPA: THAT INFORMATION IS NOT REALLY AVAILABLE IN THE LITERATURE THAT I READ.
DR. SZAPARY: I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT AYURVEDIC MEDICINE. I KNOW THE BASIC CONCEPTS...
DR. SALGO: SHOULD YOU?
DR. SZAPARY: I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT AYURVEDIC MEDICINE IS. WHAT IT MEANS. AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU -IT'S INDIAN MEDICINE. IT IS THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF HEALTH IN INDIA, JUST LIKE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE IN CHINA. WHAT YOU CAN DO, AND I DO WITH PATIENTS, IS REFER THEM TO POTENTIALLY REPUTABLE WEBSITES, BOOKS WHERE THEY CAN GET SOME INFORMATION, BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO NAVIGATE THE WEB. IT'S FULL OF INFORMATION, BUT A LOT OF IT IS MISLEADING.
DR. SALGO: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SHE DOES. SHE ACTUALLY USES THE WEB. SHE FINDS A DOCTOR WHO RECOMMENDS A THERAPY SHE HAS NEVER HEARD OF BUT SHE DOES A LOT OF RESEARCH. THIS THERAPY IS CALLED CHELATION THERAPY. WHAT IS CHELATION THERAPY?
DR. SZAPARY: CHELATION THERAPY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO, TYPICALLY, IS YOU GO TO A PHYSICIAN OR PRACTITIONER'S OFFICE AND YOU GET AN IV PLACED IN ONE OF YOUR VEINS AND THEY INFUSE A COCKTAIL OF EDTA WHICH IS AN AGENT WHICH ACTUALLY TAKES OUT HEAVY METALS FROM THE BLOOD. IT HAS BEEN USED TO TREAT ACTUALLY LEAD POISONING OR OTHER HEAVY METALS, AND IT HAS ALSO A COCKTAIL OF ANTIOXIDANTS, VITAMINS TYPICALLY. THE GOAL, IF YOU BELIEVE THE CHELATION THERAPISTS, IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF PLAQUE THAT SHE ALREADY HAS IN THE ARTERIES.
DR. SALGO: DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU?
DR. DEPAPP: NOT AT ALL. WE ARE BACK IN THE MIDDLE AGES NOW.
DR. SALGO: HOW SO? TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
DR. DEPAPP: BECAUSE CHELATION THERAPY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IS FOR HEAVY METAL POISONING, NOT FOR ARTERIOSCLEROSIS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT HELPS THESE PEOPLE.
DR. HYMAN: YES WE HAVEN'T HAD ADEQUATE STUDIES ON CHELATION THERAPY FOR THE REVERSE OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INTERESTING STUDIES THAT SORT OF POINT THE DIRECTION AND ONE OF THEM WAS IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE.
CARNEY: BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, BECAUSE THIS WOMAN HAS A CARDIAC EVENT IS SHOW ME THE STUDIES FOR CARDIAC.
HYMAN: OH I AGREE... (GROUP CHATTERING)
DR. SALGO: ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
DR. HYMAN: WE CAN'T DISMISS THESE THERAPIES WITHOUT PROPER ASSESSMENT THROUGH RESEARCH AND THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO STUDIES ON OTHER THINGS JUST LIKE WE HAVE WITH HORMONE PROBLEMS, AND I THINK THAT IS ALL GOING TO COME OUT IN THE WASH, BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS EQUALLY, WE CAN'T JUST DISMISS THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ALTERNATIVE OR COMPLEMENTARY.
DR. SALGO: YOU'RE FIRST.
DR. PAPA: THAT'S GREAT, EQUAL GROUND THEN, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THERE IS A COMPLICATION FROM HER HERBALS, SHE IS GOING TO COME TO ME. AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF DATA, THERE IS NOT A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE INTERACTIONS ARE, YOU JUST DON'T HAVE IT. DO WE HAVE MORE DATA ON THE PHARMACEUTICALS THAT WE FOLLOW THAN WE DO ON THESE AGENTS?
DR. SALGO: BUT THESE ARE HERBALS, THEY CAN'T POSSIBLE HURT YOU. THEY'RE IN SUPERMARKETS.
DR. PAPA: NOBODY IS TAKING THIS STUFF AND SPRINKLING IT ON THEIR PASTA. THEY'RE NOT USING IT AS FOOD. THEY ARE TAKING IT IN A PHARMACOLOGIC DOSE. THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT.
ORLANDO: THE GOVERNMENT ISN'T GOING TO LET THE GROCERY STORE SELL ME SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN TESTED.
DR. PAPA: DO THEY SELL CIGARETTES? DO THEY SELL CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL?
DR. SZAPARY: THE STUFF YOU ARE GETTING IN THE STORE, IT IS LIKE A SOUP. THAT'S WHAT I TELL MY PATIENTS. YOU ARE GETTING A BOTTLE OF SUPPLEMENT X- -LET'S CALL IT IN THIS CASE GARLIC, BECAUSE IT HELPS HEART DISEASE. BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S IN THAT BOTTLE. BOTANICALS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED. YOU HAVE MINOR COMPONENTS, MAJOR COMPONENTS. THEY PROBABLY ACT SYNERGISTICALLY TOGETHER. IF YOU TAKE ONE AWAY, YOU LOSE THE ACTION OF THE WHOLE PRODUCT. AND THEN WHEN YOU TAKE IT, IT GETS ABSORBED. HOW DOES IT GET ABSORBED? DOES THE PILL EVEN DISSOLVE IN YOUR STOMACH?
DR. SALGO: I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE ON THIS: THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS IN THE SUPERMARKET DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S REGULATED, DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS INSPECTED IT, DOESN'T MEAN NECESSARILY THAT IT'S SAFE. IN FACT, I AM GOING TO READ TO YOU WHAT THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS. THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS "UN-INSPECTED FOOD PRODUCTS" AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FAR DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN DRUGS OR MEDICATIONS.
DR. HYMAN: THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS SAFE, THE GRASS CERTIFICATION ...
DR. SALGO: BUT DOES IT MEAN IT'S RECOGNIZED AS EFFECTIVE?
DR. HYMAN: NO, NOT NECESSARILY. THESE THINGS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT THEY'RE EFFECTIVE, THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS REFOCUS OUR RESEARCH ON THESE NUTRACEUTICALS SO WE CAN HAVE ADEQUATE DATA.
DR. SALGO: LET ME PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
DR. DEPAPP: I'M JUST DISTRESSED BECAUSE WE GOT OFF THIS CHELATION... DOES ANYONE THINK THAT THIS WOULD HELP THIS POOR LADY?
DR. HYMAN: I WOULD SAY WE DON'T KNOW. WE CAN'T DISMISS IT AND WE CAN'T
DR. PAPA: SO SHE SHOULDN'T GET A STAT...?
DR. HYMAN: OH ABSOLUTELY, SHE SHOULD. BUT WE SHOULDN'T DISMISS THERAPIES THAT NECESSARILY HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY BORN OUT IN THE RESEARCH.
SALGO: WELL, WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SARAH DOES? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT SHE DECIDES? SHE DECIDES CHELATION IS RIGHT FOR HER. FOR WHATEVER REASON, SHE GOES AHEAD AND GETS CHELATION THERAPY AND SHE AGREES TO HAVE 25 THERAPIES, 25 SESSIONS OF INTRAVENOUS CHELATION THERAPY AT $300 A POP. NOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS ON A COLLEGE PROFESSOR'S SALARY. AND I SAW YOU JUST GOING, "OH GOODNESS."
DR. DEPAPP: THE GUY IS A CROOK. HE'S A CROOK.
DR. SALGO: EVERYONE OFFERING CHELATION IS...
DR. DEPAPP: WELL I DON'T KNOW, BUT HE IS. FOR THIS PURPOSE HE IS BEING VERY DISHONEST. HE IS JUST TAKING HER MONEY AND HE HAS GOT HER HOODWINKED INTO THIS, WHICH IS SAD. SHE SHOULD KNOW BETTER.
ORLANDO: AND IT'S NOT COVERED AT ALL BY INSURANCE?
DR. SALGO: IT'S NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE AND IN FACT THAT WHICH WAS COVERED, WHICH WERE HER STANDARD MEDICATIONS, SHE STOPPED. SHE IS SO ANGRY AT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, SHE STOPPED IT AND SHE IS GOING TO THIS CHELATION GUY. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DR. SZAPARY: I THINK IT'S A SAD STORY. HERE'S A LADY WHO, WE HAVE AS YOU MENTIONED, THERAPIES THAT ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE EVENTS, AND YET SHE IS SPENDING HER DISPOSABLE INCOME ON THINGS THAT SHE SHOULDN'T BE. AND YOU KNOW IF SHE REALLY WANTS TO PURSUE THESE THINGS I WOULD BE ONLY OPEN TO THE IDEA IF SHE GUARANTEED TO ME THAT SHE WAS TAKING THE OTHER THINGS.
ORLANDO: SHE WANTS SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL IN HER HEALTH CARE, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT ABOUT HER. HERE IS THE COMMUNICATION THAT IS HAPPENING LOU, AND THAT IN THE WHOLE WORLD, THAT WORLD OF MARKETING, THERE ARE CONSTANT MESSAGES COMING THAT SAY IF IT IS ALTERNATIVE, OR COMPLEMENTARY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF T IS CHELATION. IT'S ALL GOING TO HELP YOUR HEART--GARLIC IS GOING TO HELP YOUR HEART AND WE GET THESE MESSAGES ALL THE TIME. NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE NATURAL, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO HELP. AND IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS CONTROL AT THE VERY LEAST, I CAN SEE WHERE SHE AT LEAST MIGHT DO A COMBINATION.
CARNEY: WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS BASED ON HER FRUSTRATION WITH HER EXPERIENCE AND NOT SEPARATING THAT, AND SAY OK, I AM UPSET WITH THIS EVENT, BUT NOW I NEED TO REFOCUS AND WORK WITH MY PHYSICIAN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEST FOR ME.
DR. HYMAN: I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH AND WORK WITH THEIR DOCTORS AS PARTNERS AND NOT ADVOCATE THEIR HEALTH CARE TO PHYSICIANS AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO LEARN ABOUT HERBS. EVEN IF THE DOCTOR DOESN'T KNOW, THEY CAN HELP YOU WITH THE RESEARCH AND TO HELP YOU INTEGRATE THE THERAPIES WITH THEIR DRUGS AND THEIR LIFESTYLE AND THEIR SUPPLEMENTS AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE LONG FOR.
DR. SALGO: OK, WELL LET'S HEAR WHAT SARAH DOES. SHE STARTS GOING TO HER CHELATION THERAPIST AND AS WE SUSPECTED ALL ALONG THIS GETS TO BE PRETTY EXPENSIVE FOR HER. IN FACT SHE ONLY COMPLETES A FEW OF HER TREATMENTS, ONLY 15. SHE HAS A BUNCH TO GO AT $300 PER. SHE SAYS TO THE DOCTOR "I'M OUT OF MONEY." AND THE GUY PROVIDING THE CHELATION THERAPY SAYS... WHAT DO YOU THINK? "YOU'RE OUT OF THERAPY." SHE'S OFF IT. HE WON'T CONSIDER SEEING HER ANYMORE, HE WON'T REDUCE THE PRICE, THAT'S IT. IS THAT ETHICAL? CAN A DOCTOR JUST DO THAT?
DR. PAPA: IT'S UNETHICAL. I MEAN, YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR TREATMENTS BUT IT IS KIND OF ODD BECAUSE SHE IS KIND OF OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE OF PHYSICIANS.
DR. SALGO: IS IT LEGAL TO BE GETTING, IN MOST STATES, CHELATION THERAPY, WHICH IN NON-TRADITIONAL, AND THEN JUST HAVE IT STOP FOR FINANCIAL REASONS AND NOT CONTINUE? IS IT LEGAL?
DR. SZAPARY: I MEAN, I THINK THERE IS NO STANDARD FOR CARE THAT IS SET FOR CHELATION SO YOU ARE NOT GOING OUTSIDE THE STANDARD OF CARE. I MEAN I AGREE, I THINK IT IS IMMORAL.
DR. HYMAN: TO TAKE A PATIENT OUT OF YOUR PRACTICE WITHOUT PROVIDING A PHYSICIAN, I THINK THAT THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT PROHIBIT THAT.
DR. DEPAPP: NONE OF US COULD DO THAT, THAT'S FOR SURE, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE THE BOX.
DR. PAPA: YOU ARE GIVEN OPTIONS--YOU CAN TAKE THEM OR LEAVE THEM. THAT'S WHAT SHE DID.
DR. SALGO: WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT SARAH DOES. SHE DOES HER OWN RESEARCH AGAIN. SHE SAID, I MAY BE OUT OF MONEY BUT I HAVE GOT LOTS OF COMPUTER TIME. YOU KNOW IT IS NOT EVEN A JOKE. THIS POOR WOMAN IS IN TROUBLE AND SHE IS DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR SOME HELP SOMEWHERE. CHELATION HAS JUST DUMPED HER AND LEFT HER NO RECOURSE AND SHE DECIDES THAT SHE IS GOING TO TREAT ARTERIOSCLEROSIS HERSELF, AND THIS TIME; SHE DOES READING ABOUT HEALTH FOODS, VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS. I'M GOING TO READ YOU THE LIST SINCE YOU ARE OUR EXPERT ON THESE THINGS. SO SHE GETS RED YEAST RICE, SOME GINKGO, GARLIC, FLAK SEED, POLYCOSINAL, COENZYME Q10, AND FISH OIL. HOW DOES THAT GRAB YOU?
DR. HYMAN: NOT A BAD COMBINATION.
DR. SALGO: DID SHE GET IT RIGHT?
DR. HYMAN: SHE'S PRETTY CLOSE. RED RICE YEAST ACTUALLY CONTAINS AN AGENT THAT IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE STATINS AND IT CAN BE SIGNIFICANT IN LOWERING CHOLESTEROL. FISH OIL IS GREAT FOR THINNING THE BLOOD AND REDUCING TRIGLYCERIDES AND RAISING HDL, REDUCING HEART ATTACKS. CO Q10 STABILIZES THE HEART MUSCLE, PREVENTS ARRHYTHMIAS AND THESE NUTRIENTS CAN REALLY HELP PROTECT AND PREVENT FUTURE HEART ATTACKS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT DR. DAVID JENKINS' WORK FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. HE TAKES PEOPLE AND PUTS THEM ON A DIET OF ALMONDS, SOY FOODS, HIGH FIBER AND PLANT STEROLS, AND IT HAS EXACTLY THE SAME BENEFIT AS STATINS, LOWERING CHOLESTEROL AND A LOW FAT DIET AND IT HAS A BETTER EFFECT LOWERING INFLAMMATION AND LOWERING HOMOSISTINE.
DR. PAPA: DOES IT REDUCE HEART ATTACKS AND REDUCE DEATH?
DR. HYMAN: WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE EFFECT ON
DR. PAPA: BECAUSE STATINS DO THAT.
DR. HYMAN: RIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE THE LONG-TERM DATA ON THAT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS YOU'RE GIVING A DRUG WHICH HAS POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS, IT CAUSES MUSCLE DAMAGE, IT CAN DEPLETE THE BODY OF CO Q10 WHICH
DR. PAPA: YOU CAN CRASH YOUR CAR BUT YOU DRIVE, YOUR PLANE CAN CRASH BUT YOU FLY, YOU HAVE GOT TO BALANCE THOSE RISKS OUT AND YOU CAN DECIDE BASED ON THE RISK/BENEFIT RATIO THAT YOU HAVE WHETHER THAT IS WORTH IT.
DR. HYMAN: IT'S MY LAST STEP, NOT MY FIRST STEP.
CARNEY: WELL, I THINK THAT WHICHEVER METHOD YOU CHOOSE, SHE NEEDS TO BE UNDER THE CARE OF A PHYSICIAN. SHE JUST GOT FRUSTRATED WITH EVERYBODY AND GOT ONLINE AND WROTE HER OWN PRESCRIPTION.
ORLANDO: BUT WHY NOT? HERE ARE TWO DOCTORS AND ONE IS SAYING THE NATURALS ARE THE LAST RESORT AND THE OTHER IS SAYING THE PRESCRIPTIONS ARE A LAST RESORT. SO IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE CONFLICTED.
DR. DEPAPP: WELL, I WILL TELL YOU WHY NOT. IF I WRITE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR 40 MG OF ZOLCOR, I KNOW THAT IS WHAT IS IN THAT CAPSULE. AND YOU GO TO THE HEALTH FOOD STORE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK YOU'RE GETTING. EVEN FROM BOTTLE TO BOTTLE YOU WON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTROLS, NO STANDARDIZATION. IT'S UNSAFE AND MORE LIKELY UNPROVEN.
DR. SZAPARY: I PRESCRIBE SOME DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE HAS INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TO TRY TO DO SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT KAT AND OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED. IN FACT, FOR CHELATION THERAPY THERE'S AN ONGOING STUDY CALLED A TAT STUDY. BUT GOING BACK TO THE SUPPLEMENTS SIDE: FISH OILS, CALCIUM, A MULTIVITAMIN, SOME FOLIC ACID, SOME B VITAMINS, GLUCOSAMINE AND CONDROIDINE--THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE DATA TO BACK THEM UP AND I THINK I WOULD PRESCRIBE AS PART OF MY PRACTICE.
DR. HYMAN: THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ESTIMATED THAT YOU COULD SAVE ALMOST A HALF MILLION LIVES FROM HEART DISEASE AND SAVE OVER $2 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS BY SUPPLEMENTING A MILLIGRAM OF FOLIC ACID AND A HALF A MILLIGRAM OF B12 WHICH ARE CONSIDERED "MEGA DOSE" VITAMINS.
DR. SALGO: ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHETHER THEY ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SUPERMARKET, THE HEALTH FOOD STORE, OR BY PRESCRIPTION, THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY DRUGS...IS THAT FAIR?
DR. HYMAN: THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE SUPPLEMENTS OR THE HERBS. THE PROBLEM IS IN OUR REGULATION SYSTEM, IN OTHER COUNTRIES THIS IS DIFFERENT. IN THIS COUNTRY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING. YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DON'T KNOW THE QUALITY, WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE WHAT WE SEE ON THE LABEL. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IN THE RIGHT SITUATION WITH THE PROPER COMPOUNDS THAT THESE THINGS AREN'T EFFECTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC. THEY CAN BE.
DR. SALGO: IS IT FAIR TO SAY, LET ME SEE IF I CAN SUM SOME OF THIS UP, THAT WHATEVER YOU TAKE, WHATEVER YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY, WHETHER IT IS FROM THE SUPERMARKET, WHETHER IT IS FROM THE DRUGSTORE, THE HEALTH FOOD STORE, THE NATURAL SUPPLY STORE, EVERYTHING THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY HAS AN EFFECT, AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INTERACT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY. WE ALL AGREE THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS, YOU OUGHT TO AT LEAST SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE PERSON TAKING CARE OF YOU, BECAUSE THE SIDE EFFECTS AND THE INTERACTIONS MAY NOT BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR. IS THAT FAIR?
DR. HYMAN: ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE ARE WAYS TO FIND BETTER PRODUCTS. THERE IS CONSUMERLAB.COM, WHICH EVALUATES PRODUCTS AND ANALYZES THEM IN AN INDEPENDENT LABORATORY, AND DETERMINES WHETHER THE PRODUCTS HAVE WHAT THEY SAY ON THE LABEL, WHETHER THERE ARE CONTAMINANTS OR HEAVY METALS. THERE ARE WAYS OF GETTING REPORTS FROM COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE A THIRD-PARTY ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTS, THAT ANALYZE WHAT IS IN THEM, WHETHER IT IS CONTAMINANTS OR TOXINS, AND YOU CAN USE THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE BETTER EDUCATED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PRODUCTS YOU'RE DELIVERING.
DR. SALGO: BUT SARAH IS NOW THREE YEARS LATER, AND SHE IS ACTUALLY FEELING PRETTY GOOD, SHE'S HAD NO MORE CHEST PAIN AND SHE THINKS THAT THIS IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT HER COURSE WAS IN SOME WAYS DIRECTED CORRECTLY. BUT THEN SHE WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THIS TIME SHE HAS GOT SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN, AND BECAUSE SHE IS INTELLIGENT, SHE'S DONE HER HOMEWORK, SHE'S READ THAT HEART ATTACKS OFTEN PRESENT WITH PAIN, NOT HERE IN THE CHEST OR IN THE NECK, BUT DOWN HERE IN THE ABDOMEN. SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE DOES? DOES SHE GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR DOES SHE GO TO THE HEALTH FOOD STORE?
DR. SZAPARY: UNFORTUNATELY SHE SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO THE HOSPITAL BUT MAYBE BASED ON HER PAST EXPERIENCES SHE IS GOING TO AVOID IT. I THINK...BUT WHO KNOWS? I'M HOPING THE HOSPITAL.
DR. SALGO: WELL YEAH, I GOT ONE VOTE FOR THE HOSPITAL. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE IS GOING TO DO?
DR. HYMAN: I DEFINITELY THINK SHE'S AN INTELLIGENT WOMAN, I'D ASSUME SHE WOULD GO RIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL.
DR. SALGO: HER LAST EXPERIENCE IN THE HOSPITAL WASN'T ALL THAT GREAT AS FAR AS SHE WAS CONCERNED. I MEAN, SHE IS NOT GIVING THEM CREDIT FOR SAVING HER LIFE IS SHE?
DR. HYMAN: THEY WOKE HER UP TO A PROBLEM THAT SHE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN SHE HAD OTHERWISE.
DR. SALGO: BUT SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE TREATMENT. ELISSA, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE IS GOING TO DO?
ORLANDO: I THINK SHE IS GOING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THINGS GET CRITICAL, YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE'S NOT A SUPPLEMENT HOSPITAL, SO YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
(GROUP CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)
DR. PAPA: THE PSYCHOLOGY IS PLAYING A ROLE ALSO.
DR. SALGO: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "THE PSYCHOLOGY"?
DR. PAPA: THIS IS A LADY: "I'VE USED THIS THERAPY, I KNOW IT IS WORKING, THIS CAN'T BE ANOTHER HEART ATTACK. IF THIS ISN'T WORKING FOR ME, I'LL TRY SOMETHING ELSE." I'D LIKE FOR HER TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE IS GOING TO.
DR. SALGO: ANYBODY THINK SHE IS GOING TO GO? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
CARNEY: I THINK SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL.
DR. DEPAPP: YEAH, BECAUSE THE HEALTH FOOD STORE WAS CLOSED.
(LAUGHING)
DR. SALGO: I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE WITHOUT GOING OVER AND SUMMING UP A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW PEOPLE DO HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS, AND IF YOU WANT A GREATER ROLE IN YOUR HEALTHCARE, YOU NEED TO DEMAND THAT YOUR NEEDS ARE MET. IT IS PARTIALLY UP TO YOU. I MEAN BLAMING THE PATIENT DOES HAVE A LITTLE KERNEL OF TRUTH IN THERE--YOU'VE GOT TO BE ACTIVE ABOUT IT IF YOU WANT TO BE. NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT FDA REGULATED, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. YOU SHOULD KNOW THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS UN-INSPECTED FOOD PRODUCTS. AND YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT ANYTHING YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY HAS AN EFFECT. SO YOU NEED TO BE INFORMED AND TALK TO YOU DOCTOR ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ARE TAKING; WHETHER IT IS A PHARMACEUTICAL OR A NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT. AGAIN, TERRIFIC DISCUSSION. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND REMEMBER, TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH MEANS BEING INFORMED AND HAVING QUALITY COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I'M DR PETER SALGO, AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER SECOND OPINION.
SEARCH FOR HEALTH INFORMATION AND LEARN MORE ABOUT DOCTOR/PATIENT COMMUNICATION ON THE SECOND OPINION WEB SITE. THE ADDRESS IS PBS.ORG
MAJOR FUNDING FOR SECOND OPINION IS PROVIDED BY THE GUIDANT FOUNDATION. THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS, THE GUIDANT FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING PATIENT AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO ADVANCEMENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR CARE, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE FOLLOWING. THE JOSIAH MACY JR. FOUNDATIONS AND THE PARK FOUNDATION.
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