Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 10

The breathing rate is one of the vital signs. This is the number of times that one breathes in and out in a minute. 

The normal breathing rate is very necessary especially in children as this is a serious imminent threat to life. A breathing rate of 14 per minute is usually regarded as normal. The quality of the breathing should also be considered.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 09

The body temperature is one of the vital signs. 

This is simply how hot or cold the body is. 

It is usually measured using a clinical thermometer.

A rough estimate can be obtained by touching the body. The normal body temperature is 37⁰c. 

If the body is too hot, it is advisable to cool by cold-toweling or using analgesics. 

If too cold, the body should be warmed by heat or analgesics.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 08

The heart rate is one of the vital signs. 

This is the number of times that the heart beats in a minute. 

Values between 60 ad 84 beats per minute can be regarded as Normal. 

If the heart rate goes as high as 150 or as low as 30, for instance, there is a high risk to life. 

To measure the heart rate, just hold the heart area and count the number of heart beats per minute using your watch.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 07

The blood pressure is one of the vital signs. 

The normal value is between 
135/85 to 90/60. 

At blood pressure values as high as
200/160 or as low as 70/40,
for instance,death is very likely at the slightest changes. 

Hypertensive patients should buy the equipment for measuring blood pressure and learn how to use it.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 06

It is important that people know the importance of the VITAL SIGNS. 

The vital signs include 

• the blood pressure
• the heart rate
• the body temperature and 
• the breathing rate. 

They show at what point between life and death a person is. 

A severe abnormality of any of these leads to death.

Often-times, sick people who are on the right medications die because enough caution was not taken to ensure that the vital signs are within the safe limits. Relatives of sick people need to have an idea of the normal and dangerous levels of the vital signs and how to measure them.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 05

Long term (chronic) toxicity of drugs means that a wrong used or a right drug wrongly used can show its disaster months and even years after it has been taken. 

Examples include the use of tetracycline or ciprofloxacin in children below 12 years and 18 years respectively.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 04

The duration of the treatment of a disease varies, depending on;

1. the nature of the sickness
2. the nature of the drugs and 
3. the nature of the patient. 

In infections (fungal, bacterial etc), it is advisable to know the appropriate prescribed duration and stick to it. 

Ask a pharmacist!

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 03

• Right drugs
• Right dosage 
• Right usage and 
• Right duration of usage 

If any of these is missing in treatment, a failure is bound to occur. 

Ask a pharmacist.


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Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 02

Always tell your doctor or pharmacist (even if not asked) 

• Whether you react to any particular drug
• Whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Whether you suffer from any continuing or re-occurring sickness such as ulcer, hypertension, diabetes, asthma etc or whether you are presently on medication.

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Guidelines for Good Health - Snippet 01

‘Guidelines for Good Health’ is not intended to encourage irresponsible self-medication. 

The aim is to educate you to better understand healthcare and the role of the pharmacist in relation to the patient. 

Always consult your pharmacist for healthcare advice and important tips on your medications.

What is Good Health                                  Snippet 02

What is Good Heath

Good health is easier to achieve if people knew what to do and what to avoid doing. In other words, knowledge is power- the power to be healthy. Incidentally, knowledge does not translate to power unless it is complete and accurate. In its distorted form, knowledge may indeed be a weapon of mass destruction and a tool in the hands of a mischievous few for the subjugation of the unsuspecting susceptible majority. This has been the story of healthcare delivery in Nigeria to date. This ugly trend has enslaved many Nigerians in the dungeon of substandard health. This, this distorted trend, will hopefully cease or reduce with the eye-opening effects of this book: Guidelines for Good Health.

Did you know that paracetamol is not a very safe medicine? I have often seen people buying full packets of paracetamol   and when they are questioned, reply that it is just ‘ordinary paracetamol’. Paracetamol, though ‘ordinary’ has been known to cause liver failure and death when used over prolonged periods especially among alcoholics. Some people take four tablets of paracetamol at once for perceived severe pains. Such people must be informed that only eight tablets of paracetamol taken at once is needed to cause death.

Did you know that drug abuse sometimes takes years to manifest its ugly consequences? Have you ever heard of people who died of liver cirrhosis or kidney failure? These two diseases are often caused by drug misuse several years earlier. Incidentally, it is difficult to associate them with their causes because of the time lag. That is why, at times, people attribute such sicknesses to witchcraft.

Did you know that tetracycline and aspirin should not be given to children less than twelve years of age? I have   seen several cases of mothers coming to request these drugs for little children as a result or ignorance. These two drugs, and others like them are dangerous in this age group.

Did you know that stress is very dangerous? Did you know that stress can so lower your immunity that you might even wonder if you have AIDS? Several times, people die as a result of stress. In such cases, test results often come out with confusing results (usually ‘malaria’ and ‘typhoid’) and symptoms persist after treatment.

Did you know the vital signs- the blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and breathing rate? Did you know their significance in both the sick and those presumed healthy? Did you know that severe abnormality in any of the vital signs can lead to death, even when someone is thought healthy or recovering from sickness? Do you know how to measure the vital signs?

Did you know that you must always tell your doctor or pharmacist (even if not asked) whether you react to any particular drug, whether you are pregnant or breast feeding, whether you suffer from any continuing or re-occurring sickness such as ulcer, hypertension, diabetes, asthma etc or whether you are presently or medication? Your life is yours to protect.

‘Guidelines for Good Health’ has attempted to provide answers to these and more questions. It is my humble contribution to patient-education. It is sincerely hoped that the information contained herein will prod the patients to ask a lot of questions of their pharmacists, doctors and nurses. Knowledge is power, but power without control is dangerous. Avoid irresponsible self-medication. Ask your pharmacist.

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~ CHRIS ORAZULIKE, B. Pharm., MPSN

VIRGINDRUGS PHARMACY LTD