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.
Snippet 01
~ CHRIS ORAZULIKE, B.
Pharm., MPSN
VIRGINDRUGS PHARMACY LTD
