You may not have the time to see a doctor as you navigate a packed schedule. Moreover, with the readily available online information, the tendency to hit the search engine, self-diagnose, and self-treatment keeps becoming almost the norm. That doesn’t have to be the case, though, especially since you can conveniently seek professional services in the comfort of your home and even get an online prescription. This is more so considering the many health risks of self-diagnosis and self-medication, which include:
Overdosing
How many pills are enough in a day? Some medications, like for pain management, may be okay to take on an as-needed basis, but even those pose a risk of overdoing. While self-medicating, the risk is relatively higher because you’re doing it without any solid backing. The worst part is that you can easily develop dependence as you keep feeling a little better with every dose. Overdosing causes severe health complications, including damaging the heart, lungs, and brain, among other body systems. You can also experience immediate effects that can prove fatal, like a stroke. Seeking professional prescriptions and sticking to your doctor’s guidelines is critical as you strive to manage any health condition with minimal if any, overdosing risks.
Drug interaction
Certain drugs can cause harmful interactions. Let’s say, for example, you are taking blood thinners. If you self-diagnose and, say, you decide to take over-the-counter antibiotics, you could put yourself in danger of harmful interaction. The interaction can increase the risk of bleeding, which can cause severe complications. Seeking professional prescriptions allows you to ensure you only take safe medication, accounting for any medical condition or other medications you could be actively taking. This way, you minimize chances of harmful interaction that could counter the impact of the medication and expose you to more dangers.
Develop resistance
Besides potentially overdosing, self-medication increases the risk of developing resistance. This is because the body could get used to certain medications and resist their impacts. For instance, taking antibiotics without a prescription can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This means that any antibiotic you take may offer little or no help to fight infection, increasing the risks of health complications.
Delayed treatment
A notable risk of self-medication is that you’ll most likely be treating the symptoms but not the root cause. Misdiagnosis is common, especially noting that there are so many common signs and symptoms you can easily misunderstand as you browse through online resources. Your back pain, for instance, might be due to a herniated disc. In your research, you might discount it as a posture issue and only take pain medication. You alleviate the pain, but since the disc issue remains unresolved, you are at higher risk of considerable nerve damage. The delayed treatment could mean that less invasive strategies are no longer viable, and you might have to resort to surgery. Seeking professional diagnosis and prescription mitigates such risks, making staying healthier in the long run easier.
Your busy schedule no longer has to be the excuse for your self-prescription habits. You can seek online prescriptions and ensure you safely take medication to manage your health concerns. The professional prescription will help you avoid serious issues such as those highlighted above.
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