The SHN #76: Bad Pharma, Children's Health, and the Hawthorne Effect

Welcome back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

In this edition, I have a field day against Big Pharma.

After that, how instilling a healthy circadian rhythm for your children will yield big dividends for their health.

Then comes a quick description of the Hawthorne Effect.

Finally, I’ll include some links to things I’ve found particularly interesting recently.

👋 October 24th, 2024. Greetings from Balian Beach, Bali! I just wrapped up a week in Ubud and have arrived in a quiet beach town where I am linking up with an old high school friend who comes here for a relaxed, “old-Bali” experience.

💉 Big Pharma is Just the Worst

In 2007, a 60 Minutes report shed light on the pharmaceutical industry's outsized influence in Washington D.C. Seventeen years later, the core issues remain unchanged, highlighting the industry's persistent power in shaping healthcare policy.

The 2007 Exposé

The 60 Minutes report focused on the passage of the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill, a piece of legislation that has had MASSIVE consequences for American healthcare. The report revealed several shocking details:

• The bill was passed in a controversial late-night vote that lasted nearly three hours, far beyond the usual 15-minute limit.

• Pharmaceutical lobbyists were deeply involved in writing the 1,000-page bill.

• The legislation prohibited Medicare from negotiating drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies.

• Cost estimates were deliberately understated; within weeks, the projected cost jumped from $400 billion to over $500 billion.

• Numerous congressmen and staffers involved in passing the bill soon left for high-paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry.

According to the 60 Minutes report, the following individuals were involved with the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill and subsequently took jobs related to the pharmaceutical industry:

1. Billy Tauzin: Former Republican Congressman from Louisiana who helped push the bill through the House. He later became the president of PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) with a reported $2 million annual salary.

2. Tom Scully: Medicare boss during the bill's passage. He was negotiating a job with a law firm representing the pharmaceutical industry while working on the legislation.

3. John McManus: Staff director of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Health. He left to start his own lobbying firm, with clients including PhRMA, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Merck.

4. Linda Fishman: From the majority side of the Finance Committee, left to become a lobbyist with drug manufacturer Amgen.

5. Pat Morrisey: Chief of staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee, took a job lobbying for drug companies Novartis and Hoffman-La Roche.

6. Jeremy Allen: Went to work for Johnson & Johnson.

7. Kathleen Weldon: Left to lobby for Biogen, a biotech company.

8. Jim Barnette: Left to lobby for Hoffman-La Roche.

The report states that in total, at least 15 congressional staffers, congressmen, and federal officials left to work for the pharmaceutical industry after helping pass legislation that significantly increased the industry's profits.

The Financial Impact

The financial consequences of this legislation have been staggering:

• By 2029, the program is estimated to cost American taxpayers about $96 billion annually, and over two trillion in total.

• A 2013 study found that the Medicare Part D program increased drug company revenues by $242 billion between 2006 and 2015.

• In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have been earning around $90 billion annually from Medicare Part D alone.

• Medicare often pays significantly more for drugs compared to other government programs like the VA, due to its inability to negotiate prices.

The Current State of Affairs

Despite increased public scrutiny and some legislative efforts, the core issues highlighted in the 2007 report persist:

• The prohibition on Medicare negotiating drug prices has remained in place for nearly two decades.

• The pharmaceutical industry continues to be one of the top-spending lobby groups in Washington, investing heavily in campaign contributions and lobbying efforts.

• The "revolving door" between government and the pharmaceutical industry continues, with officials often taking lucrative industry jobs after leaving public service. This is just madness.

The most “significant” change came with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which finally allows Medicare to negotiate prices for a limited number of high-cost drugs, starting in 2026 (LOL). Yes, NINETEEN years after the passage of the bill and 15 years after the 60 minutes expose on this clown show, something was done.

BUT……..

The power in this bill is severely restricted. Medicare can only negotiate prices for a small subset of expensive medications, not for all drugs. Big Pharma will just pivot to new drugs and skirt this whole thing once again.

And The Hits Keep Coming…. More Reasons Big Pharma Sucks

Evergreening Patents

Pharma companies make minor modifications to drugs to extend patents, preventing cheaper generics from entering the market.

Example: AbbVie's multiple patents on Humira kept biosimilars off the U.S. market for years, costing patients and insurers billions.

Pay-for-Delay Agreements

Brand-name drug makers pay generic manufacturers to delay bringing lower-cost alternatives to market.

The FTC estimates these deals cost American consumers $3.5 billion per year.

Orphan Drug Act Abuse

Originally intended to encourage research on rare diseases, but companies have used it to secure market exclusivity for blockbuster drugs.

Example: Rituximab, a cancer drug, received orphan status for a rare blood vessel disease, extending its monopoly.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

The U.S. is one of only two countries allowing this, often leading to overprescription of expensive brand-name drugs.

Spending on such ads increased from $1.3 billion in 1997 to $6 billion in 2016.

Opioid Crisis Lobbying

Pharma companies spent millions lobbying against stricter controls on opioid prescriptions.

This contributed to the opioid epidemic, costing the U.S. economy an estimated $631 billion from 2015 to 2018.

Blocking Drug Importation

Despite bipartisan support, the industry has successfully lobbied against allowing importation of cheaper drugs from countries like Canada.

Limiting 340B Drug Pricing Program

This program requires drug companies to provide discounts to hospitals serving low-income populations.

Industry lobbying has led to restrictions on the program, reducing its effectiveness.

Influencing Clinical Trial Reporting

Despite laws requiring disclosure of all trial results, many go unreported, potentially hiding negative outcomes.

A 2015 study found that only 36% of clinical trials were properly reported.

Looking Ahead

We know the pharmaceutical industry's substantial lobbying power suggests they will continue to fight for their interests alone. Their outsized impact in the government and with the news outlets allow their gravy train to keep a rollin’.

The story of Big Pharma's influence serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in aligning public health interests with corporate profitability in our healthcare system. It’s crazy how these obvious frauds continue to go on unabated right under our noses.

☀️ Circadian Rhythms For Kids

In a recent interview on the Regenerative Health podcast, Dr. Max Gulhane spoke with naturopath Jess Brosnan about the role of circadian rhythms in children's health. Brosnan, a specialist in implementing circadian biology for children and families, shared insights on how aligning with natural light-dark cycles can dramatically improve kids' well-being.

Brosnan discusses honoring a child's circadian rhythm is fundamental to optimal sleep, energy levels, and hormone production. This natural rhythm affects everything from brain development to immune function.

Modern Challenges to Healthy Rhythms

Our tech-driven world poses significant challenges to maintaining healthy circadian rhythms. Brosnan identified four major contributors to children's ill health:

• Lack of natural sunlight exposure

• Addiction to technology

• Disconnection from nature

• Excessive blue light exposure at night

These factors combine to create what Brosnan calls an "internal circadian storm" in children, leading to various health issues.

Steps for Improvement

Brosnan shared several practical tips for parents to help reset their children's circadian rhythms:

• Prioritize morning sunlight exposure before any screen time

• Maximize outdoor time, aiming for at least 2 hours of sunshine daily

• Finish meals well before bedtime, ideally before sunset

• Use red or orange lights in the evening to minimize blue light exposure

• Remove screens from bedrooms and limit nighttime tech use

She stressed that these changes don't have to be overwhelming. Starting with one small adjustment per week can lead to significant improvements over time.

The Power of Morning Light

One of the most striking examples Brosnan shared was of a 9-year-old boy on the autism spectrum. By simply inviting him outside for two minutes of morning sunlight instead of allowing immediate screen time upon waking, his parents saw a remarkable improvement in his behavior and social interaction.

Rethinking Sunscreen and Sunglasses

Contrary to common practice, Brosnan advised against excessive use of sunscreen and sunglasses for children. She explained that gradual, responsible sun exposure helps build the body's natural defenses against burning and supports overall health. Morning sun exposure is particularly beneficial for developing this "solar callus."

A Call to Action for Parents

The interview concluded with a powerful message: while changing habits can be challenging, the benefits of aligning with natural circadian rhythms are immense. Brosnan encouraged parents to lead by example, making small changes in their own routines to create a healthier light environment for the whole family.

For all you parents out there, I hope this helps underscore the importance of improving the “light diet” for you and your kids— which will absolutely lead to improvements in health, behavior, and well-being.

📱 Screen Time

A friend recently told me about the progress he’s made getting off of his phone, so I checked my screen time for the past few weeks and was actually shocked at how low it was. I think a major reason for it being low was spending time outside— on the beach, by the pool— where the stimulation and dopamine hits from the phone are less inviting. Anybody have me beat?

💪 The Hawthorne Effect and Your Health

The Hawthorne effect, named after a series of studies conducted at the Hawthorne Works factory in the 1920s and 1930s, refers to the tendency of people to change their behavior when they know they're being observed. Initially discovered in workplace productivity studies, this phenomenon can be leveraged in personal health improvement.

When you feel observed, you're more likely to stick to healthy habits. Here are some ways to apply this idea:

Fitness trackers can motivate you to move more and sleep better by constantly monitoring your activity and rest. Keeping a food diary makes you more aware of what you eat, often leading to healthier food choices. Having regular blood tests can encourage you to maintain good health habits.

Joining health challenges creates a sense of being watched by others, which can push you to meet your goals. Telling friends or posting on social media about your health intentions can make you more committed to following through. Habit-tracking apps simulate being monitored, which can help you stay consistent.

Finding a workout partner or health buddy can also create this effect. Having someone to exercise with or check in on your progress mimics the feeling of being observed.

Basically, by deliberately creating situations where you feel watched or accountable, you can nudge yourself towards healthier choices. This subtle trick can give you the extra boost needed to stick to good habits and improve your health over time.

𝕏 Thread of the Week

👵 Keep Cortisol Low to Look Younger: A study from the Leiden Longevity Project reveals links between stress and how old we look. Researchers measured morning cortisol levels (a key stress hormone) and assessed the perceived age of participants based on photographs. They found that individuals with higher cortisol levels tended to look older than those with lower levels. So, if you keep your stress lower you will look younger.

☀️ Women Lose Weight If They Get Early Morning Light: Two studies investigated the effects of light exposure on weight loss and metabolism. The first study found that morning bright light treatment in overweight women significantly reduced body fat percentage, fat mass, and appetite, though not overall weight.

The second study explored how various properties of light (intensity, duration, timing, and wavelength) influence metabolism. It highlighted that evening light exposure can alter energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during sleep, potentially impacting weight regulation. Both studies suggest that light exposure plays a major role in metabolic regulation, affecting factors such as body composition, appetite, and energy metabolism. A massive health hack is to get outside every morning first thing for 10+ minutes.

🥛 Don’t Sleep On Milk: Other than a formulated electrolyte drink, milk is the most hydrating beverage out there.

🔗 One Hitters

👓 Please do me a favor and buy blue light blocking glasses if you haven’t already (Top Five)

👶🏻 How a baby enters the world in 2024 (A Sad Story)

📚 Books every parent must read (Post)

💆 Top skin anti-aging supplements (List)

✔️ That will do it for this time! Hopefully you got some value out of it. If you have any questions/comments/things you’d like to learn more about please don’t hesitate to reach out.

📚 Read my e-book, “Self-Development for Authentic Living” for free.

🔗 If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!

📰 To read all past newsletters, go here.