Someone once reminded me that our healthcare system is really the "practice of medicine", implying that as technology improves and ongoing studies are completed, our knowledge base continues to grow.  In other words,  what we knew yesterday may change tomorrow.   Like many aspects of life,  there are many shades of gray in medicine.

This week, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee  recommended several changes  to the U.S. government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans  that is updated every five years by the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Dept. of Agriculture.   These guidelines are used to set national policies related to diet.  The new recommendations take aim at current cholesterol intake guidelines, suggesting that current available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and the serum cholesterol circulating in one's blood.    Does this mean eggs are back on the menu?  After all, they are high in protein and low in saturated fats!   There will be more debate on this issue before a final recommendation is entered into the official guidelines and we may end up agreeing that everyone metabolizes cholesterol differently resulting in different levels of risk.

Another well-known "shady"  example is hormonal therapy for menopause symptoms.  Forty years ago hormone therapy was  the panacea for all menopause symptoms and many women believed it to be the 'fountain  of youth'.   Then the bombshell from  the  Women's Health Initiative--one of the largest studies done in women-- was released in 2002 and told us hormone therapy (HT)  could cause great harm.    The pendulum swung, and many women suddenly stopped HT and many women found their symptoms return.    Today, we now know that there are many variables in hormone therapy, including dosage, delivery method, timing, etc  and for some women, HT is a viable treatment and could benefit their health.   In other cases, we better understand who is at greatest risk for complications due to hormone use.    New data leads to new knowledge.....and better options!   There are now many formulations of hormone therapy and new non-hormonal options that have changed the way we practice medicine.   To learn more about menopause, visit menopausenu.org

The lesson:   the practice of medicine is constantly changing and the risks and benefits we know today may be altered tomorrow.

What do we do to be sure we get the best treatment available?

  • Find a provider who stays current and is willing to accept new options.
  • Seek second opinions for complex health issues.
  • Recognize that every medicine has risks and benefits   (What would happen if you did not take that drug?   Will side effects be worse than the cure?")
  • Review your treatment plan at least once a  year to determine if newer therapies may be more effective.
  • Report unpleasant side effects (it advances knowledge!)
  • Consider lifestyle changes that can compliment your treatments.