A 1999 study by Dr. Patricia Willems-Giesbergen of Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam conducted a follow-up study of 6,969 people over a 10-year period and concluded that smoking and coffee consumption cut the risk of developing Parkinson's. However, Dr. David Grimes Jr., a Parkinson's disease specialist at the Ottawa Hospital, says that this study is flawed since the data were gathered through surveys.

Dr. Grime illustrated how things can go easily wrong with epidemiological research by referring to a bogus study on heart disease where the people were asked their astrological sign and where the conclusion was that Geminis are more prone to heart attacks. Perceptively Dr. Grime has stated "I'm not going to tell my patients to start smoking to stave off Parkinson's. Then they'll die of lung cancer." This remind me of the multiple deviating study conducted by Dr. David Cassidy on no-fault insurance(2) . In Dr. Cassidy's study, good psychology was used instead of astrological signs, and the conclusion was that injured victims recover faster under no-fault insurance since they focus on getting better rather than suing for pain and suffering.

Different studies confirm that two drinks daily reduces the risk of heart attack says Dr. George Fodor, head of prevention research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, but he is ready to warn "if you don't drink, don't start. Alcohol is dangerous." Patricia Bailey goes on to say that other studies show that coffee reduces your chance of developing gallstones while at the same time there have been other studies linking coffee with breast cancer.

The use of good psychology seems to continue to be a fundamental framework of our industrialized health researchers and in this respect Patricia Bailey says:

"If you're still mixed up about how to live longer and stave off heart failure and brain disorders, join a church. According to a Washington psychologist's comprehensive study probing the religious lives of more than 100,000 people, religious people live longer than those who aren't religious. Churchgoers are not only less stressed than atheists and agnostics, but they seem to eat better, smoke less and exercise more."

Patricia Bailey concludes her article in an imaginative and constructive way, she says "Go figure" and I equally say "Use your common sense"

References/Endnotes

Articles by Mario deSantis

1. Why medical studies can be bad for your health, Patricia Bailey With files from Sharon Kirkey Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, October 17, 2000 http://www.vancouversun.com/newsite/news/4699512.html

2. The incredible abuse of Saskatchewan No-Fault insurance (Part 1), by Mario deSantis, May 28, 2000 and reviewed by James deSantis http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/desantisArticles/2000/desantis173/nofaultPt1.html