Question 281 of 433
How should I think about the toys?
The short answer
Sort them onto three shelves, and ask three questions before paying.
The shelves:
The top shelf: reasonable. Some human evidence, low risk, sensible cost. Sauna is the best example.
The middle shelf: pleasant, unproven. Unlikely to hurt you, unlikely to lengthen your life. Red light panels for general wellness, compression boots, float tanks. (Red light for skin or hair has modest evidence of its own; see Question 312.)
The bottom shelf: leave it there. Real risk, real cost, or no plausible benefit. Ozone, unregulated injectables, pressurized oxygen for wellness.
The questions:
1. Can it hurt me?
2. What does it cost per year, and what else would that buy?
3. Am I using it in addition to the foundations, or instead of them?
A person who exercises, sleeps, eats well, and has treated blood pressure may enjoy the toys. A person who uses them to avoid those things is being robbed politely.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
VALUE FRAMEWORK — Harm, cost, and opportunity cost are judgments, not efficacy grades.Evidence grade (draft mapping)JClinical judgment / author synthesisPart 20, Q281 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.