BOISE, Idaho — According to the CDC, 20 percent of adults over the age of 40 are taking at least five prescription medications, making it vitally important to follow each prescription's individual instructions.
What's more, medication for chronic diseases can sometimes be so effective that they create a sense of invincibility.
"So, if people aren’t feeling badly: 'eh, I don’t need my medicine today,'" explains Dr. Daniel Meltzer, an emergency room physician and Executive Medical Director for Regence BlueShield of Idaho.
Dr. Meltzer said it is vital that those medications be taken at the right dosage, at the right time, and at the right frequency.
"And because they don’t, they then end up in the emergency department or getting hospitalized for the downstream consequences of those chronic diseases that are poorly managed," added Dr. Meltzer.
Getting medication sent through the mail can help keep patients consistent with their medication routine.
"Pill boxes can be great, they’re often color coded, and having systems to help us stay adherent," Dr. Meltzer said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
