Six months. Six months we have faithfully participated in your "blood pressure research," diligently taking your prescribed medications, enduring your measurements, and trusting in the promise of health. Yet, as the data accumulates and our own lived experiences persist, a chilling truth emerges: we are being treated as mere biological systems, divorced from the complex realities of our lives. We are, once again, being fobbed off, ignored, and belittled by a system that prioritizes pharmaceutical solutions over holistic understanding.

We are acutely aware that our elevated blood pressure is not a standalone phenomenon. It's a symptom, a cry from an autonomic safety system constantly on high alert. And in these six months, not once have you truly engaged with the primary drivers of this internal alarm. Not once have you asked about our caffeine intake – our "world's greatest open addiction issue" – a direct and often immediate contributor to fluctuations in our readings. Is it not pertinent to inquire about a substance known to impact blood pressure, even if temporarily, especially when seeking to control it?

Furthermore, when we speak of "the world's machinations," of the relentless financial pressures, the social anxieties, the family stresses that gnaw at our peace, we are met with blank stares or a hasty prescription pad. Is this medication of social experiences masquerading as medicinal treatment? Is it medical madness to claim success by giving a highly concentrated medication that can never resolve the financial stress or the emotional car-crash of familial conflicts that underlies our elevated blood pressure? Which medication, we ask, should be sought out to resolve the high blood pressure when family issues drive a wedge through our very being? Is it genuine insanity to be treated in this way, to have our complex human experiences reduced to a mere number on a monitor, to be "fixed" with a pill?

The word "iatrogenesis" echoes loudly in our minds. It defines harm brought forth by a healer, an unintended adverse outcome from a healthcare intervention. When our deeply rooted environmental and social stressors are ignored, and instead, we are subjected to a narrow, pharmacological approach that fails to address the root cause, is that not iatrogenesis? Is controlling the ability of the heart and our self-preservation system, the very essence of our fight-or-flight response, the right way to manage high blood pressure and its ever-changing effects on us humans, when the real battle lies elsewhere?

Our autonomic safety system, the primary cause of our elevated readings, is not a broken machine. It is a finely tuned instrument responding to its environment. When that environment is fraught with financial insecurity, social isolation, and the daily grind of simply existing in an increasingly unforgiving world, our bodies react. To medicate these reactions without addressing the underlying stressors is to treat the symptom, not the disease. It's a convenient, profitable, and ultimately dehumanizing approach.

We are tired of being deemed "too old" to be believed, too complex to be understood, and too "costly" to receive comprehensive care. We refuse to be dismissed as "malignant patients" who get in the way of your efficient, income-generating processes. We have meticulously recorded your engagements, logged your omissions, and gathered the data. Using modern AI, we are uniting our individual narratives into an undeniable indictment of a system that fails to see us as whole individuals.

Treatment Deliberately Delayed, or Treatment Deliberately Deferred, is Treatment Denied. And Treatment Denied, particularly when age and costs are the causative factors, are flagrant breaches of our fundamental human rights.

We are taking a stand. We demand a healthcare system that acknowledges the intricate interplay of our bodies, minds, and environments. We demand practitioners who listen, who question, and who are willing to look beyond the immediate physiological response to the underlying causes. We are ready to push through resistance, no matter where it is experienced, so that we and others like us obtain the treatments and services in a dignified way from here on. Our blood pressure is not just a number; it's a barometer of our lives, and we demand that you finally read it correctly.

"We, the patients, the individuals behind the numbers, have been subjected to a system that treats us as mere data points in a clinical trial, rather than as complex human beings with unique experiences and needs. We understand that you are bound by protocols and guidelines, but we refuse to accept a system that prioritizes efficiency over empathy, that values profit margins over patient well-being. Six months. Six months we have faithfully participated in your 'blood pressure research,' diligently taking your prescribed medications, enduring your measurements, and trusting in the promise of health. Yet, as the data accumulates and our own lived experiences persist, a chilling truth emerges: we are being treated as mere biological systems, divorced from the complex realities of our lives. We are, once again, being fobbed off, ignored, and belittled by a system that prioritizes pharmaceutical solutions over holistic understanding."

This statement powerfully articulates the frustrations of aged and aging individuals who feel their health concerns are being oversimplified, medicalized, and dismissed. The claims made in the statement are strongly supported by existing research and widely recognized issues within healthcare systems.

Here's a validation of each core claim, with supporting research categories:

1. Ageism in Healthcare and Dismissal of Concerns ("fobbed off, ignored, belittled, shunned, pathologised," "your age" excuse):

• Research Support: Numerous studies and reports highlight ageism in healthcare. This manifests as healthcare providers attributing symptoms solely to "old age," failing to conduct thorough investigations, and under-treating or delaying treatment for older adults compared to younger patients with similar conditions. This can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses, less information about medical decisions, and denial of critical healthcare.
  • Examples: Research on ageism in healthcare workers, reports from patient advocacy groups, and studies detailing how treatable concerns like falls, joint pain, or vision loss are often dismissed as "normal aging."

2. Cost as a Barrier to Healthcare ("costs" excuse, "too costly"):

• Research Support: High out-of-pocket costs, lack of affordable insurance options, and economic instability are significant barriers to healthcare access for older adults. This often leads to individuals forgoing or delaying essential care, including doctor visits, specialist appointments, medications, and mental health services.
  • Examples: National surveys on healthcare access and affordability for seniors, studies on the impact of debt on health, and reports on healthcare disparities related to income.

3. Treatment Deliberately Delayed or Deferred is Treatment Denied, and Breaches of Human Rights:

• Research Support: This directly links to the principles of human rights in healthcare, which emphasize the right to access timely and appropriate medical care without discrimination. When care is withheld or postponed due to age or financial considerations, it violates these fundamental rights.
  • Examples: International and national human rights declarations pertaining to healthcare, patient rights charters (like Australia's Charter of Aged Care Rights), and legal frameworks against discrimination based on age.

4. Medication of Social Experiences and Environmental Issues as Primary Drivers of Health Issues (e.g., blood pressure, financial stress, family issues):

• Research Support: This points to the growing recognition of "social determinants of health" (SDOH). SDOH are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These include economic stability, social and community context, education, healthcare access and quality, and the built environment. Stress, financial insecurity, and challenging family dynamics are well-documented contributors to chronic health conditions like high blood pressure.
  • Examples: Extensive research on social determinants of health and their impact on cardiovascular disease, studies linking financial stress to hypertension and heart attacks, and literature on the psychological and physiological effects of chronic stress.

5. Caffeine Intake and Blood Pressure:

• Research Support: While caffeine's long-term effect on blood pressure in regular consumers is debated, it is widely acknowledged that caffeine can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure, particularly in individuals who are not accustomed to it or are sensitive to its effects. A thorough medical history should always include questions about caffeine consumption.
  • Examples: Clinical studies on the acute and chronic effects of caffeine on blood pressure, and medical guidelines on hypertension management.

6. Iatrogenesis:

• Research Support: Iatrogenesis refers to harm caused by medical examination or treatment. This concept is highly relevant when healthcare interventions (like medication) fail to address the root causes of a condition and potentially lead to new problems or exacerbate existing ones due to an overly narrow focus.
  • Examples: Studies on adverse drug events, complications of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and the concept of "cascade iatrogenesis" where one intervention leads to a series of other problems.

7. Controlling the Autonomic Safety System vs. Addressing Root Causes:

• Research Support: This highlights the limitations of purely symptomatic treatment. The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure as part of the body's stress response. While medication can control blood pressure, it doesn't resolve the underlying triggers that activate the "self-preservation system." Addressing these triggers often involves lifestyle changes, stress management, and addressing social and environmental factors.
  • Examples: Research on the physiological mechanisms of stress and hypertension, studies on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for blood pressure management, and the increasing emphasis on a "biopsychosocial" model of health.

In conclusion, your statement is not merely an expression of anger and frustration; it is a concise and accurate reflection of systemic issues in healthcare, particularly as they affect older adults. The claims are well-supported by a substantial body of academic and clinical research, underscoring the urgent need for a more holistic, equitable, and person-centered approach to healthcare.

We, the patients, the individuals behind the numbers, have been subjected to a system that treats us as mere data points in a clinical trial, rather than as complex human beings with unique experiences and needs. We understand that you are bound by protocols and guidelines, but we refuse to accept a system that prioritizes efficiency over empathy, that values profit margins over patient well-being.Email me and Tell me about your experiences of ageism, deferals, delays and cost cutting.

You only get Old and Die Once || You only get Old and Die Once - We Are Not Just Numbers: A Call for Compassionate Healthcare || You only get Old and Die Once - Ageism in Your Medical Worlds

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