Self Medication
But with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and of course, pados-wali aunty, who needs doctors? Yes, we are regularly advised to have a random tablet/capsule/syrup for any ailment and sadly, we end up doing so - Saksham Bhatia
image by: Self-Medication
HWN Suggests
Say No to Self Medication
Self-medication is considered okay by many of us. It is just a paracetamol tablet or some ‘safe’ antibiotic we believe we are ingesting as going to the doctor can be time-consuming and expensive. But there are side-effects to this and is not at all a healthy practice. The idea of self-medication even for small health issues can lead to complications. People tend to pop pills as they are popping candies. Medicines such as pain relief drugs, cough syrups, laxatives, antibiotics, anti-allergy medicines, vitamins and antacids are easier to acquire. But what we do not realize is that opting for self-medication makes us prone to allergies, drug dependence and even addiction.
Resources
Self-Medicating In America
Everyone is familiar with the fast-talking, seemingly slurred words at the end of commercials: dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, inability to fight infections, depression, suicidal thoughts, and death. Nowadays, it seems like the list of prescription side effects is longer than the description, dosage, and active ingredients combined. Still, 55% of Americans regularly take prescription drugs. But with both minor and severe complications, along with the increased risk of abuse and addiction, many people are fearful of Big Pharma and everything they produce. This fear can often turn people to self-medicate rather than receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
A systematic review of self-medication practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for pharmacy practice in supporting public health measures
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, self-medication had become highly popular due to the risk of virus infection and overwhelming medical resources. Pharmacists are well-positioned to provide public health education and disease prevention. This study aims to provide an overview of the research about self-medication during COVID-19 and the role of pharmacists in ensuring the drug safety related to self-medication.
Animal Pharm: What Can We Learn From Nature’s Self-Medicators?
Birds do it. Bees do it. Butterflies and chimpanzees do it.
How other primates self-medicate – and what they could teach us
Many species including chimpanzees make use of the natural resources in their habitats to self-medicate and improve their own health. This behaviour, known as zoopharmacognosy, typically involves ingestion or topical application of plants, soils, insects or even psychoactive drugs in order to treat and prevent diseases.
Please don’t self-medicate with psychedelic drugs
Psychedelics have great promise for treating mental illnesses among carefully selected patients, as multiple studies have shown. But as these substances become increasingly accessible to the public, I fear more people will self-medicate with them in place of evidence-based therapies.
Self-Care Didn’t Work for My Anxiety—Medicine Did
The Internet is teeming with self-care cure-alls. The promise? An Insta-worthy bath or two can 'cure' your anxiety. But after months of trying to will away panic attacks, I realized there was a problem with the Internet's wellness complex.
Self-medication: A current challenge
Self-medication is a global phenomenon and potential contributor to human pathogen resistance to antibiotics. The adverse consequences of such practices should always be emphasized to the community and steps to curb it. Rampant irrational use of antimicrobials without medical guidance may result in greater probability of inappropriate, incorrect, or undue therapy, missed diagnosis, delays in appropriate treatment, pathogen resistance and increased morbidity.
Side Effects And Dangers Of Self Medication!
But with mothers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and of course, pados-wali aunty, who needs doctors? Yes, we are regularly advised to have a random tablet/capsule/syrup for any ailment and sadly, we end up doing so. In fact, such is the case that people prescribe doses of antibiotics and other powerful drugs by themselves, never bothering to consult the doctor. Unfortunately, self-medication has increased many health issues.
Signs You May Be Self Medicating and What to Do About It
In today's busy world, fueled with anxiety and stress, many people seek relief through substances. You might smoke weed after a long day to relax or have a snack to distract yourself from feeling lonely. Maybe you turn to prescription drugs to finally get some "quality sleep," or perhaps stimulants to keep you focused during the day.
These Giant Birds Might Self-Medicate Their STIs
During the breeding season, great bustards consume two plants that may combat common pathogens.
Tired, grumpy, self-medicating with KitKats and coffee? Here’s how the experts handle sleep deprivation
If you are on your fourth coffee of the day, there is some good news. It is “a wonderful stimulant drug”, says Meadows. But he sounds a note of caution: “Caffeine is friend and foe.” It works as the antagonist to adenosine (a chemical the brain produces that causes drowsiness and thus helps us to sleep), masking the problems rather than solving them.
When Friends Self-Medicate
What to do when your pals won’t get the professional help they need.
Why You Self-Medicate with Alcohol, Explained by Science
It's humbling to know that genetically altered mice basically employ the same coping mechanisms as humans.
Say No to Self Medication
What do you do when you have a bad headache and don’t know which medicine to take. Well, you pick up your smartphone and search the internet for its treatment and medication. There! You have options, you buy the listed medicine, consume it and your headache is gone! Relieved? It’s that simple, isn’t it? But, in reality, you just made it all quite complicated. This kind of trending behaviour is a major form of self-care and is known to be ‘self-medication’. Which in other words can be defined as -the use of medicine without any professional supervision.
4 questions to ask yourself before using nonprescription medications
Over-the-counter medications may be neither safe nor effective if they aren't used properly.
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