The Nocebo effect - worry yourself sick!
And make Big Pharma happy! The placebo effect is a well-known phenomenon where patients start feeling better, even though they did not receive any actual treatment, just sugar pills or saline injections. They feel better because they believe they are being treated.
The opposite is also true - the nocebo effect refers to people starting to feel ill after being exposed to vivid descriptions of a medical condition. Take for instance advertisements using pictures of human bodies with a flaming red fire sign over the knees or the stomach or whatever organ the drug is supposed to be used for. Seeing the same ad over and over again, people will be inclined to think whatever insignificant symptom they might be experiencing is a symptom of some dreadful disease that needs to be checked and treated with the drug they’ve seen on TV.
The same goes for awareness campaigns, an increasingly popular feature these days.
Some random examples from the UK: World Thrombosis Day (October), Nutrition and Hydration Week (March), and Functional Neurological Disorder Awareness Day (April).This year alone, there are 81 awareness campaigns scheduled.
Such campaigns focus on symptoms advertised in colorful leaflets and TV ads. Many of the symptoms described are unspecific - a random pain in the leg can be a sign of tiredness, a self-inflicted injury at the gym or, indeed, a more serious problem. But since the prospective patients have been made aware of a serious condition, chances are they’ll be running to the doctor to get tested and cured.
What most people are not aware of it that many of these campaigns are in fact supported and sponsored by drug companies themselves. It’s very simple - make people afraid of some random disease for which you just happen to have the miracle drug!
A recent lung cancer awareness campaign in the UK mentioned a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks as a possible symptom. The immediate result was that doctors’ offices were swamped with people demanding to get X-rays and be tested for cancer, although as we all known even a common cold can leave you with a lingering cough. Likewise, a mental health awareness campaign aimed at young people had many convinced they might be having health issues. Immediately after the campaign a staggering 78% of students surveyed reported experiencing mental problems.
Commenting on this outrageous highly unrealistic figure, the president of the Royal Society of Medicine and former leader of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Sir Simon Wessely, called for an end to public awareness campaigning about mental health problems, as the system is overwhelmed with demands.
The medical industry is always happy to oblige - doctors have no problem sending you to unnecessary tests or prescribing you whatever expensive drug. What doctor will tell a patient ‘oh, you’re just imagining things, I’m sure it’s nothing serious’???
The reasoning is simple - even if there’s nothing wrong with you, taking some pills won’t do any harm - other than destroying your liver, your kidneys or your stomach, so you’ll go back to the doctor who will gladly prescribe other pills.
The few doctors who dare to highlight the dangers of the nocebo effect are vehemently argued against by Big Pharma representatives. In the face of recent criticism, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry insisted awareness campaigns have a ‘positive effect’ on people’s health.
Ultimately, this system relies on our fears. Deep down we all know that at some point we will be struck by some disease and these campaigns basically offer a glimmer of hope - caught early maybe it can be cured.
A couple of months ago I happened to be in London the same day tens of thousands of people were participating in a health marathon that brought the city to a standstill. Some in the crowd carried signs detailing a specific case, somebody they knew who battled some dreadful disease. I don’t know how running around like a maniac might help that patient, but at least I can understand the desire to do something for a loved one.
What I could not understand was the vast majority - human advertisements for obscure conditions. Besides the exhilarating feeling of self-righteousness, what did they actually accomplish? The sad truth is that even if we find a cure for all the diseases we’re still not going to live forever. The even sadder truth, most money collected don't go to actual patients, they go to 'research' which ultimately benefits Big Pharma, allowing the drug companies to market new ‘cures’ and make huge profits.
great writing about health...health is wealth