The unquestionable benefit that medication has had on lengthening life spans and enhancing quality of life goes hand in hand with a disproportionate rise in the use of medications, to such an extent that in wealthy countries the illnesses associated with them are the third cause of death, following hearts attack and cancer.
The pharmaceutical industry is the main beneficiary of this excessive consumption of medications. 'Disease mongering' - as some call the lucrative business of encouraging ailments - has broadened the range of illnesses and their respective remedies.