When Less Is More: Avoiding Unnecessary Health Care
Ever wonder if every medical test, treatment, or supplement you’ve taken was truly necessary? One study suggests up to 20% of U.S. health care is unneeded. More care isn’t always better—unnecessary services can be irrelevant, inaccurate, or even harmful, and they drive up costs for everyone.
Why Unnecessary Care Can Cause Harm
- Risks of false positives leading to invasive follow-up tests
- Side effects from unneeded treatments or supplements
- Hidden costs and wasted time—even if you pay nothing out of pocket
Examples of Recommended Limits
- Colorectal Cancer Screening: Stop routine colonoscopies at age 75 if prior exams were normal.
- Pap Smears: Discontinue routine screening at age 65.
- Mammograms: Stop routine screening at age 75 in average-risk women.
Supplements: Insurance or Unnecessary?
More than 70% of U.S. adults take supplements like multivitamins, fish oil, or vitamin D. Yet routine use has little proven benefit for most people. Exceptions include:
- Documented vitamin or mineral deficiencies
- Specific conditions such as age-related macular degeneration
Aspirin and Cardiovascular Prevention
Guidelines have changed. Nearly one-third of adults 60 and older without cardiovascular disease still take daily low-dose aspirin, despite evidence of little benefit and increased bleeding risk.
Prostate Cancer Screening
PSA testing and rectal exams are no longer routinely recommended for men aged 55–69—decisions should be made jointly with a doctor after discussing risks and benefits. Men over 70 should not be screened.
Heart Tests for Low-Risk Individuals
Routine EKGs, stress tests, and other cardiac screenings are not recommended for people at low risk with no symptoms. Unneeded cardiac tests can lead to false positives and unnecessary procedures.
Other Reasons to Skip Unneeded Care
- Environmental impact from unused medical resources
- Psychological stress from over-testing
- Resource strain on health systems and providers
Talk with Your Doctor
Your doctor may assume you want every available service, while you might presume they’d order only what’s essential. Openly discuss which tests, treatments, or supplements you truly need. If your doctor agrees a service can be safely skipped, it doesn’t mean your care is being neglected—it means the benefits don’t outweigh the risks.
By focusing on evidence-based care and avoiding unnecessary services, you save time, money, and reduce potential harm—demonstrating that sometimes, less really is more.