What if we shopped for medicine like we shop for a new car? Think about it…before we buy a new car, most of us do some research first. We may research to see which car has the best mileage, has the most horsepower or which has been shown to require the least amount of repairs.

Now think what would happen if we took the time to research our medications like we research a new car. When treating high blood pressure, for example, we might look to see which drug has been shown to have the least amount of side effects, be the most effective or be the least expensive.

Luckily for us and our doctors, there are tools available to help us find this kind of information on the medications we take. In fact, there are reputable organizations that have put forth treatment guidelines for most health conditions. These guidelines tell us which medications have been shown to be the most effective, least expensive and have the least amount of side effects. These guidelines are published in medical journals. Examples of these guidelines include the ‘ATP III guidelines’ for high cholesterol and the ‘ JNC   VII ’ guidelines for high blood pressure. The problem is, to have access to these guidelines, you would need to subscribe to these journals and be able to read medical jargon.

These guidelines are considered to be the ‘standard of practice’ for physicians. When doctors reference these guidelines, they are using what is called ‘evidence-based medicine’ (EBM).  EBM means utilizing official guidelines put forth by reputable organizations to make sound medical decisions.  It does not mean prescribing medications just because the drug company representative dropped off some free samples at the office.

The purpose of this site is to take the information presented in the guidelines for the chronic conditions that plague baby boomers today, and present them in a way that we can all understand. No medical jargon here.

Our hope is that by utilizing our website, you will feel more comfortable talking to your doctor about your medications. Our hope is that you will be empowered with knowledge and will be able to take a more active role in your health care. After all, the American Hospital Association reports that by the year 2030, over 6 out of 10 baby boomers will be managing multiple chronic illnesses.

Please enjoy the information that we have put together for you and remember to get informed, stay current and be empowered.