Inventing Disease and Pushing Pills : Pharmaceutical Companies and the Medicalisation of Normal Life

This is a highly accessible and reassuring account of how the pharmaceutical industry is redefining health, making it a state that is almost impossible to achieve. Many normal life processes – states as natural as birth, ageing, sexuality, unhappiness and death – are systematically being reinterpreted as pathological so creating new markets for their treatments. In this enlightening book, Jörg Blech reveals: how the invention of diseases by pharmaceutical companies is turning us all into patients, and how we can protect ourselves against this how the medical profession has been bullied and co-opted into endorsing profitable cures for people who aren't ill fears about how pharmaceutical companies create markets by playing on the general public's concern with their health. A self-help book in the truest sense, Inventing Disease and Pushing Pills reassures us about our own health. It is essential reading for doctors, nurses and patients alike. Presents an account of how the pharmaceutical industry redefines health. This book reveals how the invention of diseases by pharmaceutical companies turns us all into patients, and how we can protect ourselves against this; how the medical profession has been bullied and co-opted into endorsing profitable cures for people who aren't ill; and more. This is a highly accessible and reassuring account of how the pharmaceutical industry is redefining health, making it a state that is almost impossible to achieve. Many normal life processes - states as natural as birth, ageing, sexuality, unhappiness and death - are systematically being reinterpreted as pathological so creating new markets for their treatments. In this enlightening book, Jorg Blech reveals: how the invention of diseases by pharmaceutical companies is turning us all into patients, and how we can protect ourselves against this; how the medical profession has been bullied and co-opted into endorsing profitable cures for people who aren't ill; and, fears about how pharmaceutical companies create markets by playing on the general public's concern with their health. A self-help book in the truest sense, "Inventing Disease and Pushing Pills" reassures us about our own health. It is essential reading for doctors, nurses and patients alike Sexually unsatisfied?
Chronically tired?
Menopausal?
High cholesterol?

Don't be fooled into believing that you are sick - you are healthier than you think!
The pharmaceutical industry is redefining health, slowly making it a state that is almost impossible to achieve. Many normal life processes - states as natural as birth, aging, sexuality, unhappiness and death - are systematically being reinterpreted as pathological so creating new markets for their treatments. In this enlightening book, Jörg Blech reveals:
· how the invention of diseases by pharmaceutical companies is turning us all into patients, and how we can protect ourselves against this
· how the medical profession has been bullied and co-opted into endorsing profitable cures for people who aren't ill
· fears about how pharmaceutical companies create markets by playing on the general public's concern with their health
Inventing Disease and Pushing Pills is an accessible and reassuring account of how the pharmaceutical industry is eradicating health. It will appeal to doctors, nurses and all medical professionals as well as the general public.

"The pharmaceutical industry is redefining health, making it a state that is almost impossible to achieve. Many normal life processes - states as natural as birth, ageing, sexuality, not being happy, and death - are systematically reinterpreted as pathological, thus creating new markets for their treatment."--Cover The invention of a whole range of diseases including penis-size anxiety and internet addiction is turning us all into patients. Joerg Blech investigates how inventing disease is fast becoming a profitable business and unearths the real motives of those pulling the strings. The invention of a whole range of diseases including penis-size anxiety and internet addiction is turning us all into patients. Jörg Blech investigates how inventing disease is fast becoming a profitable business and unearths the real motives of those pulling the strings. Limitless healing Myths of medicine A disease called diagnosis The risk factor merry-go-round Insanity as the norm Psycho pill with break-time snack The femininity syndrome Old men, new afflictions Whenever you want it Destiny in our genes Healthy beyond belief.