By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death will seize the doctor too.
~ William Shakespeare
The fate of the War between Germs and Immunity decides whether a person will get a disease. Sometimes, we get the infection but become healthy after a few days, which means we have strong immunity. Sometimes, we get a slight infection but become sick even after getting medicine. For a complete remedy against any Health Problem, Medicine plays a crucial role. In either case, we should not ignore medication. We should learn how to use basic medicine in emergency conditions. This self-medication can save our lives and help someone treating an emergency patient in our family if he or she becomes sick.
Science Behind Your Pills
Medicines are made by Chemicals that have specific Formulations. Each medicine has its one Usage, Contradictions, Properties, Precautionary Measures and Benefits. Before we take any medicine, we should read and talk to Physicians and especially pharmacists about its specific use. I have witnessed one bad incident about self-medication that resulted in the expiration of one life. It is the main reason, I'm not in favor of self-medication.
In Rural Areas due to low literacy rates and no proper medical facilities, people usually depend on Self-medication. If someone becomes sick, first he tries to take the medicine that his home physician prescribed last time. Sometimes these medicines are the source of his cure and sometimes these medicines become lethal for him. Last summer Vocations when I was in a village near Lahore at my Aunt's House, I experienced the worst case of self-medication. Due to its life-threatening effects, We had to shift my Grandpa to Lahore Mayo Hospital. My cousin once got Bronchitis (Infection of Respiratory Tract). He visited Lahore Private Clinic where the physician prescribed one Syrup for him. After taking a few doses, my cousin recovered from Bronchitis. He suspected a similar problem for my Grandpa as well when he observed the coughing signs and mucous from nostrils. Hence he had given similar Syrup to Grandpa. Grandpa was infected with Asthma and became the victim of severe allergic reactions after taking one dose of this syrup. There are about 40 Kilometers of Distance between Lahore and our village. When the Ambulance reached Lahore, my Grandpa had already died. The doctor said sorry to us and mentioned the reason behind his death in the report. When my cousin and I read this report, we started crying in pain. My cousin was claiming himself responsible for the death of Grandpa. The lesson was learned at the cost of my Grandpa's life. He promised me that he would not do any self-medication in the future before any doctor's advice. He was feeling guilty inside but I gave him patience because it was his ignorance, not a mistake. It was the worst example of self-medication, I have in my mind.
Final Thoughts
Self-medication in emergency conditions is helpful but we can't ignore Practitioners' and Pharmacist's Instructions. We should learn all aspects of First Aid that is not bad but we should not only depend on it. If we have health problems, must contact our home physician. We should share our disease history if he recommends us to take a similar medicine we have taken previously that is not bad. We should not take or recommend to anyone any medicine on our behalf.
This post is my entry for HL Weekly Featured Content Self Medication is Important. I hope, you have learned from my post. Thanks!