The phrase, medicalization of life refers to "society’s growing trend to classify more and more life problems as medical problems" and treating those problems with pharmaceutical or surgical intervention.There is a spectrum of medicalization issues that includes those a physician may treat with prescription medication and surgery to those that are cosmetic in nature. Many advertisements describe how to treat problems like restless leg syndrome, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia with a prescription drug and physician visit. These are examples of the medicalization of life today that 20 years ago we did not even have a medical diagnosis for. At the extreme, medicalization involves treating natural life consequences, such as minor body image issues, being slightly overweight, or experiencing hair loss as diseases that must be eradicated.

Medicalization involves asking questions, such as:

• When does a deviation from normal need medical intervention?
• Does every episode of depression or attention deficit require a medical intervention?
• What are appropriate alternative treatments?

On one end of the medicalization spectrum, an individual may be experiencing anxiety or depression. To the extent that any condition interferes with a person's ability to function effectively on a day-to-day basis, it is important to treat it. Physicians have professional judgment parameters in applying clinical criteria. If you choose to seek medical intervention for such a condition, your physician may recommend treatment with prescription drugs. You make the decision.

At the other end of the medicalization spectrum are conditions like wrinkles, hair loss or yellow, crooked teeth. If you have any of these conditions, you need to discern for yourself whether you need, want, or can afford medical or surgical intervention for problems like these. Whether you choose to seek medical intervention for a natural consequence of living may not be as important as how you do it. We count on our physicians to act ethically and in our best interests when making decision about when and if to treat a symptom, a condition or a "common life consequence."