For example, the concept of “pre-hypertension” could extend the use of anti-hypertensive drugs dramatically, because everybody’s blood pressure rises with age. Likewise, the notion that blood cholesterol should be as low as possible clears a path to treating healthy people with anti-cholesteremic agents.
目的直接但却形式隐蔽的信息往往导致“贩卖疾病”—为了增加处方而创造疾病。例如，“高血压前期”的概念可能急剧地扩大降压药的使用范围，因为每个人的血压都会随着年龄增长而升高。同理，血液中胆固醇的水平应该越低越好的观念，为对健康人使用抗胆固醇药物扫清了道路。