4 Reasons You Should Stop Self Medicating & Consult a Doctor
4 Reasons You Should Stop Self Medicating and Consult a Doctor
By: Ala’a Alkhatib
We know it can be frustrating trying to get out seeing your doctor- after all, we lead busy lives- between marriage, job and kids, and we hardly have the time to head out for an appointment. This is especially true with small sicknesses- rather than spending time commuting to and from an appointment, oftentimes we end up taking our own medicine. And while in theory that’s an easy remedy, there are a number of reasons that self-medicating isn’t just a bad idea, it can be downright unhealthy.
- Incorrect Diagnosis– Say it’s Monday morning and you wake up with the sniffles, a sore throat, and congested sinuses. We’ve all been there. “It’s no big deal,” you think, reaching for a number of medicines to help- decongestant, throat lozenges, antibiotics- but what type of antibiotics? Penicillin? Amoxicillin? Ciprofloxacin? Which one do you take, and how do you know it’s the right one? After all, it might not be a bacterial infection at all, in which case antibiotics will do you no good. And how will you know? That’s why you go to see your doctor- because they’ve got the medical expertise to correctly diagnose, and if necessary, prescribe treatment for you. With the advent of technology, you don’t even have to leave your house in order to get professional, experienced doctors to help you with your illness. Online doctor consultations are the newest flourishing market- and for good reason. The convenience of medical advice at your fingertips just can’t be beat.
- Misuse of Antibiotics and the Growth of Super Viruses– Speaking of antibiotics, an unfortunate misuse of antibiotics has led to the growth of drug-resistant “super bugs-“ and scientists are warning us about the dire consequences of such bugs. Incorrectly consuming antibiotics- whether they are the wrong type for your sickness, taking them when it’s a virus and a not bacterium, or otherwise misusing them, has meant that bacteria have been able to grow, adapt, and become resistant to our medications. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), more than 2 million people are infected by these drug-resistant bacteria, and 23,000 die from them. And the situation is only getting worse- so don’t be one of the people contributing to the problem- talk to an online doctor, get a medical consultation, do something, to make sure that you’ve got the right drugs for the right illness and to help stop the spread of such bugs.
- Get Better Faster– In that same vein, to ask a doctor means medical consulting from an expert with years of experience in the field. This means they can recognize your symptoms and give you a treatment plan best suited for what’s ailing you. Self-medicating may give you some temporary relief, but if you’re not treating properly (and why would you, if you don’t know exactly what you have?), it can mean a longer illness for you and a greater impact on your life. Self-medicating also has the unfortunate possibility of covering up symptoms of something else. Sometimes, it’s a more serious illness, with similar symptoms to, say, and the common cold. Get yourself a proper doctor, get correct treatment, and feel better, faster.
- Its Healthier– This one is self-explanatory. Getting an online medical diagnosis means you’ll be healthy sooner, which means less down-time for you and a more healthy lifestyle overall. Don’t let the sickness linger, and especially don’t try to fix it yourself with a cocktail of medicine with dubious effects. This is especially true when attempting to use medicines with potentially severe side effects. An incorrect dosage can have very negative consequences, sometimes even leading to permanent damage. This, combined with the interaction of different drugs (which you may not know about, but your doctor certainly does) makes for a compelling reason to see a professional. It’s not just healthier, it’s safer.
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