I have written before about the complications and side effects of prescription medications, including the joint and muscle pain and cognitive defects that can be caused by statins. Increased data are now showing that statins — which are taken for elevated cholesterol levels — do not decrease the incidence of heart attacks.

I have also noted data indicating that using osteoporosis drugs for a period longer than four years actually raises the incidence of bone fracture. Available research suggests that the drugs produce a 50 percent increase in bone fracture.

The osteoporosis treatment I have used for many years is vitamin D and the fluoride/calcium supplement Florical, which has returned normal bone density within one year

On the other hand, based on my reading of bone-density studies, the usual osteoporosis prescription drugs can offer just a 15 percent increase in bone density in three years — if you’re lucky.

And now we know that long-term use of these drugs actually increases the risk of bone fracture.

We also now know that hip fractures are very serious injuries, as almost half of the patients who fracture a hip never regain normal walking ability. In fact, a significant percentage of patients with spontaneous hip fractures die within 3 to 4 years.

Current data on death rates indicate that the number four cause of death in the United States is prescription drugs. Additional data have shown that there is a 42 percent increase in cancer for patients taking prescription drugs versus placebo drugs.

There is now a book, “Prescription for Drug Alternatives,” available from Bottom Line Publications that provides a list of alternative ways of treating many medical problems and eliminating the prescription drugs that are routinely prescribed.

The problem with the prescription drugs is that they treat only the symptoms and not the underlying cause of the problem — and are associated with significant side effects. For instance, recent data has shown that the diabetic drugs increase the risk of heart attack by about 40 percent.

There are also mounting data concerning the homeopathic treatment of cancer. Books on alternative cancer treatments include “The 31 Day Home Cancer Cure” by Ty Bollinger, “The Stengler Cancer-Reversing Protocol” by Mark Stengler, M.D., “Tomorrow’s Cancer Cures Today” by Allan Spreen, “Rethinking Cancer” by Ruth Sackman, “America’s Best Cancer Doctors and Their Secrets” by Frank Cousineau,.

Additionally, remember that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown significant anticancer benefits, both by itself in (reducing the size of cancers in experimental animals and patients) and also as an adjunct to radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

HBOT can also significantly decrease the complications of radiation therapy and chemotherapy during cancer treatment.