Posts by Austin Wright93

An obligation forced on us against US Federal Law isn't really an obligation at all, I guess. People breaking the law should be held accountable by patients.
Just because the state forces something through without updating existing laws... doesn't mean people have to support that kind of behavior.

In a democratic society, anyone can make a statement and put their name on it. That's clearly stated in two different laws.

Under current US Federal Law (like the Medical Practice Act, privacy laws, data protection, healthcare regulations...), this kind of thing just isn't allowed.

I gave my own doctor a statement like that, and she isn't entering my info into the computer system where it gets sent off. Apparently, she hasn't heard back from the higher-ups about it yet.

Does anyone actually realize what’s happening here?

Basically, they've forced this system into primary care offices—with plans to roll it out to dentists and OB-GYNs too—that blasts all your private medical data across the internet (???) everywhere. It’s totally against several US Federal Laws. Various admins can just sit there and read through your entire health history.

Just imagine the interest groups—banks, insurance companies, you name it—once they get their hands on that info... sounds great, doesn't it?

Maybe ask your doctor if they're uploading your data to the cloud... and if they are, sign a formal request or waiver telling them to stop. Because tomorrow, someone might try to blackmail you over something in your file, or you won't qualify for a loan because you're "high risk," or your insurance premiums will skyrocket... or maybe they'll find out about an abortion you had, or some other sensitive stuff, and use it against you. Not even mentioning things like HIV/AIDS or STDs...

Now, Big Brother can see everything about you with just a mouse click. The funniest part, I guess, is that the American public doesn't seem to get it or care. Patient advocacy groups stay quiet, while the people who have raked in millions from all this "digital transformation" over the years just keep covering it up. And then you have people in Europe bragging about it like it's some amazing American export.

If it weren't so pathetic, I'd probably laugh.

It takes at least a week of steady use before any ACE inhibitor really starts moving the needle on blood pressure. You might see a quick dip within 30 minutes or so after taking it, though.
Beyond just lowering BP, most ACE inhibitors offer some kind of protective benefit for tissues—especially the kidneys, heart, and brain.
That’s why even low doses can be useful for people with normal blood pressure who are dealing with atherosclerosis or related tissue damage, assuming they stay on it long-term.

Medicine is seeing more and more drugs these days that focus on those kinds of long-term effects.

As for Ramipril, the max dose is 10mg a day, but you wouldn't start there. Usually, you begin with 2.5 or 5mg and bump it up every two weeks. If blood pressure is high and you aren't on a diuretic, maybe it's taken twice a day.

For diabetics or anyone with tissue damage from other causes, a 10mg daily dose of Ramipril is often recommended, provided it doesn't tank their blood pressure too much.

Similarly, I guess diabetics should aim for average blood pressure readings that are lower than the general population—ideally 120/80 at most.

Best regards.

PS I'm a doctor, and I honestly think we need to rethink those medication inserts. I frequently see patients skip essential meds because they get spooked by side effects listed in the fine print. Most people don't grasp what a "10% occurrence" actually means, but they get scared easily. Most side effects, especially the severe ones, are incredibly rare.
Under current US regulations, every single side effect has to be listed in the instructions, no matter how unlikely. It’s weird; sometimes a newer drug here in the States will have a much longer list of warnings than an identical one that's been on the market for ten years.

Don't jump straight to 30 acres right away. I guess maybe just stick to 3 acres per person at most...
I think I'd be pretty terrified.

Does anyone know what kind of subsidies are available out in El Paso-Srijem County?