Opinion: Should You Consult Your Doctor About Watching the World Series?

My family and I have been enjoying the baseball postseason, and frankly, it’s been overwhelming.

Seeing so many advertisements for drugs treating conditions like plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, it's as if I've contracted a rash, felt nauseous, experienced joint pain, and been dizzy — just by viewing them.

According to iSpot, a resource for TV ad trends, pharmaceutical companies spent a staggering $895.8 million on sports program ads last year. During playoff games, discussions of dermatitis, dehydration, and wheezing are rampant. Occasionally, a commercial for beer or a quirky car insurance mascot offers more welcome relief.

Dr. Caleb Alexander from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness notes that postseason baseball captures the attention of millions. This massive audience, many sporting gray hair, often deals with issues like diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, among others.

There was a time when you couldn't find prescription drug ads on TV. Pharmaceutical companies, however, contended that this violated free speech rights and suggested these ads could be beneficial. The FDA now permits these advertisements but requires "dual-modality risk statements" — outlining potential side effects — to be presented clearly.

Thus, you’ll witness endearing seniors engaging in dances, biking adventures, and soaring down zip lines, all while living with conditions like psoriasis, insomnia, anxiety, or eczema.

However, the soothing voice that encourages a doctor’s visit can also warn you of risks like myelosuppression, psoriatic arthritis, and unexpected abdominal bloating.

As Dr. Alexander advises, "Medicines are not inherently 'good' or 'bad.'" He suggests that direct advertising to consumers might influence behavior in ways that both patients and physicians, even those who watch these games, may not fully comprehend. It's not just about providing information. It’s about swaying opinions.

And so we return to the World Series. Enjoy watching iconic teams like the Dodgers and Blue Jays, with activities like sports betting or savoring a cold beer, while seeing ads for car loans or the latest mobile phones interspersed with reminders of allergies, hypertension, or narcolepsy. Feel ill, experience headaches, indigestion, or facial puffiness. Always seek medical advice. And remember, handling heavy machinery while immersed in sports is inadvisable!