Guest guest Posted September 4, 2004 Report Share Posted September 4, 2004 More Americans visit doctor, drug prescriptions up http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/08/27/health.doctors.reut/index.html Friday, August 27, 2004 Posted: 9:47 AM EDT (1347 GMT) Research & Compare Atlanta Doctors Access critical doctor performance information such as certifications and... www.healthgrades.com Women's Institute for Health - Atlanta Dr. Jay Kulkin, nationally-recognized gynecologist provides 1 hour visits and a... www.wifh.com Atlanta Doctor Report $9.95 Nearly 100,000 sanctions and disciplinary actions exist for health care... www.choicetrust.com Atlanta Women's Obstetrics & Gynecology Atlanta Women's Obstetrics & Gynecology, Joanne Cox, Beverly Douglas, Vanessa... www.awog.org HEALTH LIBRARY • Health Library YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Health Treatment National Center for Health Statistics ATLANTA, Georgia (Reuters) -- Americans made an estimated 890 million visits to the doctor in 2002, a 1 percent increase from the previous year, according to a survey released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure, colds, sore throats, diabetes and arthritis were the most frequently diagnosed conditions, according to doctors who participated in the CDC's annual tracking of office-based medical care. Military physicians and doctors employed by the federal government were not included in the survey. Researchers said the findings reflected the overall graying of the U.S. population. "What is driving up the visits here are the people who are getting older," said David Woodwell, a statistician with the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. Family physicians and other primary care specialists handled 60 percent of patient visits in 2002, according to the CDC survey. Drugs were ordered, prescribed or administered in two-thirds of all trips to the doctor. The Atlanta-based federal agency noted that the tendency of doctors to prescribe more than one drug to a patient had helped fuel a 25 percent jump in legal drug use in the past decade. Multiple prescriptions have been shown to raise the chances of dangerous drug interactions. Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants and antihistamines were the most commonly prescribed medications in 2002. Use of these drugs rose between 10 percent and 48 percent in the 1995-2002 period. Use of antidepressants soared 124 percent in children during the period, a finding that could fuel a growing debate over the appropriate use of Prozac and other mood-altering drugs in young people. A recent analysis by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested a link between some antidepressants and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among children and teenagers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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