The Continuing Care Model

The continuing care method used by many doctors and pharmaceutical companies has some major flaws. Here’s why:

1. Focusing on Symptoms, Not causes

   Symptom management: Many treatments focus on masking symptoms (like pain, fatigue or high blood pressure) with medication, rather than fixing the underlying cause of the problem. This leads to a cycle where the disease is managed but not cured and people often end up relying on medications long term.

2. Over-reliance on Medication

   Pills over lifestyle changes: Doctors and pharmaceutical companies often prioritize medication because it’s easier and more profitable. However, medications may help temporarily but don’t always address the root cause of a health issue. Plus, many medications come with side effects that can worsen overall health over time.

3. Fragmented Healthcare

   Specialists, not holistic care: Traditional healthcare often treats different parts of the body separately (eg heart, digestion, mental health), without seeing how they’re connected. This can lead to incomplete care, where the whole body isn’t treated as an integrated system.

4. Chronic Disease Focus

   Managing, not preventing: Healthcare often focuses on managing long-term, chronic diseases (like diabetes and hypertension) rather than preventing them or reversing the damage. This means people may continue to take medications without ever improving their overall health.

5. Short term Solutions

   Quick Fixes: The medical system tends to focus on quick solutions like medications that can help in the short term but not long term health improvement. The emphasis is on treating the disease, not making changes that could improve a person’s overall health and wellness.

6. Medication Dependence

   Polypharmacy: Many patients are prescribed multiple medications for different conditions, which can lead to polypharmacy (taking many drugs), increasing the risk of side effects and dependence.

7. Over looking Chronic Inflammation

   Ignoring Inflammation: Many health issues, like heart disease or diabetes are driven by chronic inflammation. The current care model often treats the disease after it’s already developed, rather than addressing the underlying inflammation and lifestyle factors that cause it.

8. Over-medicalizing Health

   Treating Normal Aging: Sometimes, normal processes like aging or mild discomfort are treated with medications instead of encouraging healthier lifestyle habits. This leads to an over reliance on drugs, even when natural solutions like diet or exercise could help.

9. Profit Motive

   Pharmaceutical Profit: Pharmaceutical companies often profit from selling medications that manage chronic conditions, leading to an incentive to keep patients on medication for life rather than promoting lifestyle changes that could reduce the need for drugs.

10. Limited Time with Patients

    Time Constraints: Doctors are often too busy to provide comprehensive care or help patients make long term lifestyle changes. This leads to a focus on quick fixes, like prescribing medication, rather than spending time on prevention or education.

A better and more effective approach would involve addressing root causes (like diet, exercise and stress), preventing diseases and empowering patients with knowledge to improve their health long term. Instead of just managing illness, we should focus on optimizing overall health and wellness.

While continuing care helps manage diseases, it often ignores the root cause and long term health improvement. A more holistic approach that focuses on prevention, lifestyle changes and overall health could lead to better long term outcomes for patients.

While this talks about pharmaceuticals and allopathic doctors, this method is often replicated in the holistic field as well. The body systems do not work separately, trying to address one organ or one system is not addressing root cause. Addressing root cause, not only addresses current symptoms but also finds the why, prevents future issues and brings the body back in balance. But by dividing the body up in systems or by addressing just symptoms, this creates a continuing care model even in the holistic field.