WHO PAYS FOR AMER ICA ’ S LOVE OF PRESCR I PT IONS? A PILL FOR ILL
Americans love prescription medication. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that in the last 30 days, 48.9 percent of Americans have taken at least one prescription drug, and at least half of those individuals are regularly taking three or more different prescriptions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that patients in the United States spend $457 billion on prescription drugs every year. One reason for this astronomical amount is the ever-rising cost of prescription medications. Leigh Purvis, director of health services research for the AARP Public Policy Institute, has spoken about the negative impact rising drug costs have on the people who take them. “People are concerned about drug prices; more are being forced to make trade-offs between paying for their drugs and for food or rent. The trends that we’re seeing are simply unsustainable.” Many Americans are painfully aware of how unsustainable this system is. In 2017, nearly 2 million people were affected by bankruptcy due to unpaid medical bills. According to reports from CNBC, health care costs are the No. 1 reason Americans file for bankruptcy, beating out credit card bills and unpaid mortgages. This financial crisis even impacts individuals who have health insurance.
As long as people have to rely on prescriptions, these hardships won’t be going away anytime soon. We know the drug companies peddling pills aren’t going to do anything to change the system. It’s more profitable for pharmaceutical companies to sell pills to repeat customers than to create something that will actually cure patients. Research from GlobalData found that 9 out of 10 big pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than on research. The solution is that we, the patients, have to break up with prescription drugs. While someone with diabetes can’t just stop taking their insulin, and it would be dangerous for a person with high blood pressure to quit their medication cold turkey, there are things you can do to reduce your reliance on prescriptions and become healthy again. The health experts at Advanced Nerve and Laser Center can show you how. In honor of Neuropathy Awareness Week, we’re offering free health consultations for the entire month of May. Call 940-202-1218 to schedule your free consultation and learn what you can do to save your money — and your life — by saying goodbye to unnecessary prescription drugs.
ROASTED ASPARAGUS W I TH L EMON BR E ADCRUMBS
SUDOKU
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
Spring is the height of asparagus season. This dish, which features the crunch of breadcrumbs and a refreshing splash of lemon, is the perfect way to highlight the natural flavors of the vegetable without overwhelming them.
INGREDIENTS
• •
• • •
2 pounds asparagus
2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• •
Kosher salt
• •
Freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons lemon zest Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add
garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
Call Now! 940-202-1218 • 3
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog