Originally published October 27 2005
Middle-aged people turn to alternative medicine more often
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to a study conducted by Wake Forest University School of Medicine, middle-aged adults are more likely to receive complementary and alternative medicine treatments than younger or older adults.
A new research published in the latest issue of the Journal of Aging and Health by Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that the middle-age people are more likely than younger or older adults to use complementary and alternative medicine.
"Midlife adults entered adulthood at a time of more widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the population and when public health policy was shifting attention toward individual responsibility for health and health promotion," said researcher Joseph G. Grzywacz, Ph.D., and his colleagues.
"Current use of CAM among adults was likely shaped by the relative availability of CAM and prevailing public health policies in place when adults began making their own health-related decisions," the researchers added.
However, the researchers added that the middle-age adults are more likely than either young adults or older adults to use CAM for prevention rather than for treatment of specific conditions.
"This study provides the first estimates of notable age-related differences in whether CAM is used to treat an existing health condition or for illness prevention and health promotion," Grzywacz said.
Grzywacz, assistant professor of family and community medicine, said the researchers got their results from data for 31,044 people who participated in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey.
The survey is a national sample of Americans that has been conducted annually since 1957 by the National Center of Health Statistics, an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alternative medical systems, such as acupuncture, homeopathy and naturopathy.
Biologically based therapies, such as chelation therapy, folk medicine, herb use, special diets, or megavitamins.
Manipulative and body-based methods, such as chiropractic or massage.
Mind-body interventions such as relaxation techniques (meditation), movement therapies (yoga) and healing rituals.
"Some types of complementary and alternative medicine, such as alternative medicine systems, are used primarily for treating existing conditions," Grzywacz said.
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