Sahil Manzoor Bhatti
In modern days, demands are high, and day-to-day agricultural land is decreasing due to the increase in the population worldwide. Our health is one of the main concerns these days. There are certain changes in our lifestyle. We need an adequate and balanced diet to combat lethal diseases, but at the same time, we are not taking sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits and not drinking plenty of liquid. These are common reasons behind the growth of abnormality among individuals.
Junk food is trending today, and delicious and tasty food is available in the market. That’s too, on very reasonable rates and fast serving to their customers, but one thing is clear: for good health, we need pure organic forms of food to avoid stomach related issues and so on.
Adulterated food is one of the reasons behind abnormal body function, and there, contaminated water is being supplied to consumers by the concerned department and should be redressed on a priority basis. keeping in view the health of the public.
Medicines or drugs are substances specifically used to promote healing when consumed or ingested in different ways, like by ingestion through the mouth, nostrils, eyes, or ears, or even by ingestion through different medicinal equipment into the patient’s body when there is a need. Nowadays, medicines are being prepared for the better treatment of patients with different ailments. Medicine is indeed a vast term, and there are a number of agencies to promote the quality of the medicines.
Self-medication is okay for many of us. It is just a Calpol 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 very harmful ones at that. The idea of self-medication, even for small health issues, can lead to complications. People tend to pop pills. Medicines such as pain relief drugs, cough syrups, laxatives, antibiotics, allergy medicines, vitamins, and even antacids But what we do not realise is that opting for self-medication makes us prone to allergies, drug dependence, and even addiction.
Unfortunately, there is very little or almost no awareness about the disadvantages of self-medication. Sadly, we still go ahead and take doses randomly, don’t even check the composition of the medicine, and are clueless about the side effects of these on our body.
Eating pills may get us instant relief, but what we don’t realise is that they are not free of side effects. At times, a patient may be underprescribed medication for different health issues, and self-medicating may lead to adverse reactions. This is because one drug may react differently when consumed with another drug. This can even lead to death. Hence, consulting a doctor is a must.
A massive problem with self-medication is that we do not know its dosage. This means we often underestimate its strength, and the less said about its composition, the better. We have a clue as to how the drug should be taken, its side effects, and even reactions. Ignorance is not bliss in this case.
People take self-medication because it is instant and, of course, there is no expense of going to the doctor. But when eventually they suffer from severe health issues, their medical expenses increase twofold. Self-medication as a habit can damage one’s health irrevocably, causing disabilities and even premature death. Government agencies must take stringent steps to control the sale of medicines without a doctor’s prescription. There are medical stores without proper registration selling the medicines like food items among the patients.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
