14 Active Dates For Valentine's Day
Benjamin Committed To A Gym Routine And Lost 245 Pounds
Unnecessary surgery: Are you at risk?
Posted on Jul 30th 2007 10:15PM by Lauren Greschner
When I come across health articles that seem a bit extremist or unrealistic, alarm bells tend to go off. I think that there are a lot of warnings about a lot of things out there that, in truth, pose minimal risk to most of the population. While warnings against smoking and information about skin cancer protection make sense, I tend to wonder if there's really a need for so many scary reports on things like Avian flu and West Nile virus. I felt the same way when I found this piece about unnecessary surgery.
The article mentions that, for various reasons, a number of people out there are going under the knife needlessly. They're either having surgeries that are more extreme than what their condition warrants, or could be trying successful alternative therapies first instead of having an operation. The four most common unnecessary procedures performed are spinal surgery, knee arthroscopy, hysterectomy and angioplasty.
I don't know what to believe to be honest. The article does say that many times these surgeries are needed and offer significant results -- but not always. I think the most important thing to always remember is to stand up for yourself when it comes to your health. If you're unsure about an initial diagnosis, don't be afraid to get a second opinion. And always research all possible options and get lots of advice before undergoing a major operation.
