The AARP/NCCAM survey found that 50 percent of men and women reported using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Of these, three-fourths used CAM to help prevent illness, and an equal number had turned to CAM to reduce pain or treat painful conditions. Clearly, there are good reasons why so many people are turning to CAMs as part of their efforts to stay healthy, treat health problems or both. But here is the catch: Fewer than one in three people who use CAM have discussed that use with their doctors. And even fewer turned to a CAM at the suggestion of their doctor.
Why is there such a gap? Nearly half of the survey respondents stated that their health care provider never asked them about their use of CAM. Another 60 percent of respondents said that:
There wasn’t enough time to talk about their use of CAM.
They didn’t think their doctors would know anything about CAM.
They thought their doctor would advise them to stop using CAM.
They just weren’t comfortable discussing CAM with their doctor.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-nowinski-phd/complementary-and-traditional-medicine_b_875435.html
