In 2007 Medicare introduced the Medicare Chronic Disease Dental Scheme. This plan was introduced to help those with chronic dental diseases when a medical condition of at least 6 months in duration is also present. It suggests that there are chronic dental diseases which cause problems throughout the rest of our bodies.

According to this Medicare Plan, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mental illness, musculoskeletal conditions, and stokes are just some the conditions that can be linked to a chronic dental disease. However, today many low income people suffer these conditions alone, and many are left to deteriorate little by little without mercy or compassion.

They are the most vulnerable and slip through the cracks of the medical system because the causes of their “chronic illnesses” are not acknowledged. Only their symptoms are treated.

We hear over and over again from politicians that most of these low income people are driving up national medical costs up by their irresponsible lifestyle choices. They are accused of causing their own poor health. But do we ever hear about the main causes of their chronic conditions in the first place? Do we ever hear who is accountable for causing these chronic diseases?

These details remain a secret, and those responsible for creating the environmental imbalances that cause such poor health are rarely held accountable. For instance, when you ask any conventional medical doctor, they will never tell you that a poison like mercury in amalgam fillings could be a reason for cardiovascular illness or for mental conditions. Mercury in our air, water and dental amalgams is always ignored.

How can we prevent some of these chronic diseases? Should our doctors or dentists discuss this type of information with their patients? Such informed consent is not required by law. It should be demanded by the patients themselves. When a person is exposed to such toxins as mercury amalgam, most dentists and doctors seem to be unaware of the potential consequences.

But when a low income patient visits different doctors, because their health is gradually collapsing, most of them will never be tested for toxins such as mercury amalgam. The doctors will prescribe pharmaceutical medications that push the person further down into a dark tunnel of toxins and painful side effects.

The low income patient is forced to research their own condition to discover that the root of their chronic disease comes from environmental poisons such as mercury amalgam fillings. Most doctors, dentists and Medicare’s approved treatment plans do not consider these possibilities at this present time. Vulnerable people are left to lick their wounds alone. As time passes, and their toxic condition increases as more toxins interfere with vital organs and systems. Symptoms are “treated,” but the causes of disease are never “cured.”

How can we prevent this situation from happening to us? Study. Do your homework. Demand more information from your dentist, doctor and pharmacist. Be an informed consumer before acquiring any type of medical or dental services. Look at it this way. If the roof of your home needs repair, you will research different roofing companies before you hire the roofers. Applying this same concept to your health care might save your life.

Elizabeth Hong on HubPages