We need new rules for defining who is sick. Step 1: remove vested interests

Early detection of disease can be a double-edged sword. ShutterstockDid you know the definition of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the United States was recently greatly expanded? Overnight, tens of millions of people were reclassified, leaving one in every two adults with a diagnosis of hypertension. The move has been welcomed by some but also widely criticised, amid concerns the expanded definition may bring more harm than good to many people, from unnecessary illness labels and unneeded drugs. Read more: New blood pressure guidelines may make millions anxious that they’re at risk of heart disease What about the condition called “chronic kidney disease” (CKD), diagnosed by measuring blood levels to estimate kidney function? Because it does not account for normal ageing, the current definition labels up

From http://theconversation.com/we-need-new-rules-for-defining-who-is-sick-step-1-remove-vested-interests-114621

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https://healthnews010.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/we-need-new-rules-for-defining-who-is-sick-step-1-remove-vested-interests/