Are You Suffering From A Non-Disease?
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Non-Diseases
This article deals with the trend known as medicalisation. Where the parameters between being "healthy" and being "Ill" are constantly being redefined. It seems we all suffer from something, whether it be hyper-tension, a cold, a chronic back pain or something more serious.
In order to address this issue, the British Medical Journal recently published what they consider to be the top 20 Non-Diseases.
Having a Non-Disease does not mean you do not suffer from it, it simply means that it is not a disease (the term is slippery apparently). The doctors still recommend seeing a doctor, they are simply raising awareness that what people are suffering from does not label them "Ill" and they should not be conditioned as such.
- The BMJ
More info regarding non-diseases - BBC
BBC article on non-diseases - Conspiracy Theories
Links on conspiracy theories regarding Big Pharma
The List
Top 10 'non-diseases' (% of votes)
- Ageing - 44
- Work - 35
- Boredom - 32
- Bags under eyes - 31
- Ignorance - 28
- Baldness - 28
- Freckles - 27
- Big ears - 26
- Grey or white hair - 25
- Ugliness - 24
I find the top 10 quite humorous and a question of common sense. However, the Journal found some 200 non-diseases, with results which might surprise some of you (they certainly did me).
Among these are:
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.)
- Fibromyalgia
- Gulf War syndrome
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Is being Ill a bad thing?
Yes, a seemingly daft question. But the doctors from the BMJ think that in many cases, being labeled as ill has many benefits.
- Economic benefits (paid leave, free prescriptions, insurance payments, and access to facilities)
- Emotional benefits (Knowing why you are suffering, support)
As any uphill is a downhill, there are a list of drawbacks to being ill.
- Economic Drawbacks (Denied mortgage, jobs or insurance)
- Emotional drawbacks (Being Ill, being labeled as ill)
Recommended reads
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Health Myths Exposed 2nd Edition
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They're out to get us!?
There are conspiracy theories that state that Big pharma are out to create new consumers (the healthy), and do so by lowering the thresholds on many diagnosis levels, such as hypertension and obesity. While this may or may not be true, it is true that proportional to the increase in knowledge, is the increase in patients. People that may have lived normally now feel limited and fail to rise above their perceptions of being a victim. The overweight of 50 years ago, are no longer the overweight of today.
Ignorance is bliss (or can kill you depending).
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Comments
Thank you for your point Iðunn it's well taken ;)
I agree, perhaps I should have delved further into the behavior. But then again, reading so many popular labels can make people instantly categorize themselves as being involved.
And writing a "Its all in the mind" article is ripe content for another hub ;)
I don't know if it's a lowering of thresholds for varying ailments and conditions, or the constant barrage of media advertisements promoting relief for everyday ailments described by pharmaceutical companies as 'disease'. There are people walking around thinking their heartburn from a eating spicy meal is actually a medical condition.
Some people feel better by thinking they have a disease. For whatever reason they find acceptance, pity, comfort or understanding in their 'diagnosis' there are corporations there willing to offer 'treatment' and take their money. Where there is a market, companies will provide.
The world is a drug pusher, and we're all looking for a fix to get through the pain of modern life. *sigh*
We aren't "all" looking for a fix. I was once considered obese, but didn't go to medication or the doctor to fix it. I simply began living a healthy lifestyle. Not everyone buys into the pill-pushing commercials.
This is an interesting hub. I'm so happy to read that baldness doesn't mean you are ill!
I think you guys both just hit on thoog's point. yes, IF people are taking a 'label' and using it to allow a situation to exist rather than to get better, that's one situation.
on the other hand, take any of that. symptoms don't have to be called something for that symptoms to exist and either way, labelled or unlabelled if that person is doing what they can to cope with effectively or cure the cause, it's good. labels can be useful for that.
Written with your signature wry sense of humor.... love it.
Thank you for adding fire to the discussion with some great points!
Stacie: What I meant by "all" was that even stress, and day-to-day (It's life!) symptoms have a way of becoming an illness. WIth doctors claiming that stress is the illness of the 21st century and all that. In a certain sense even if you are healthy, there are those who would tell us we're sick.
Rogue: Yes, heartburn. I've been there, had the pain at the bottom of my ribcage, and made the mistake of self-diagnosing on the net (a big no-no ;) )
Shelly: Thank you ;)
Iðunn : Yes there is the reverse. I'm not saying its an entirely bad habit ;)
This is a good hub. While I do feel that many of the non-dseases (as defined by BMJ) are in fact diseases, I agree 100% that big pharma is doing all that they can to increase their number of consumers. Also, for some people, it makes better financial success to play up a borderline illness to collect benefits, sue under the Americans with Disablities Act, or go on disability. I'm not saying everyone. I'm saying that these people exist. It's pretty sad when it makes more sense to go ont he dole than to work. But Wal-Mart ain't payin' so well, you know?
I believe that people rely on "traditional" medicine too much. While traditional medicine play an important role (I know because it is helping my husband), we tend to overlook other methods. Someone's health can seriously suffer from stress or exhaustion, but that doesn't mean traditional medicine can always help. I'm thinking a more well-rounded look at health and medicine is the way to go.
Also, in my last post, I think I sounded more critical and decisive than I meant to. See what happens when you post a comment before your first cup of coffee?
Stacie, I agree. Traditional medicine kept me alive (long story, one of my hubs deals with it)
James: I'm not advocating this,merely trying to report on what the BMJ were trying to do. An example would be labeling Osteoporosis as a non-disease, I don't think I'd go far. I mean -- go tell the Osteo patients that their 300,000 fractures a year are an illusion :P
Good one! Excellent post... I had this discussion with a friend of mine a while back, and I couldn't agree with this more. :)
I think allopatic medicine has its place, but it really has to be limited to life threatening situation, when benefits of using it far outweigh drawbacks.
I was actually shocked when I moved to US with how american doctors use antibiotics. Things that ruin your internal environment and kick your body out of balance for several weeks are used as a preventive medication!
This does not make any sense to me, but people here demand that kind of medicine. I think only continuing education can solve this...
Fantastic hub and love the lively dialogue it generates! Short of labelling it as a disease, I suffer from a kind of sickness when any length of time passes and I don't indulge in some form of creative writing. I can feel lethargic, a deep sadness may kinda "mist" around me with no tangible shape, and I can feel physically nauseous. In these times, if colds are floating in the air, I am very likely to get a bad dose!
Just a few thoughts!
Smiles and Light
Great hub. I think the big pharmaceutical companies cater to the lifestyles of the average, out of shape American by marketing drugs to allow these people to continue their lifestyles while NOT becoming really ill. Ex: take drug X for high cholesterol, take drug Y for high blood pressure, take drug Z for weight loss. I'm NOT saying nobody needs these drugs. I'm saying many people don't need these drugs. Disease? Non-disease? For the people with minor ailments, I'd try lifestyle change first.
Iðunn says:
2 years ago
good hub. I think in a way, you're caught up with the labels though. the purpose of labels is exclusively to show that studies have been done that allow for a diagnosis and that diagnosis aids in helping the patient recover. calling a set of symptoms or behavior patterns a disease is kind of moot, my opinion. getting to the root cause of the behavior and fixing it, whatever it's labelled, is the important part.