Sir,
This has reference to the news item’Painkillers increase risk of heart attack, stroke:DAK’,( DE, Mar 23, 2017).It is heartening to read that Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) has cautioned the people over the harmful effects of the overuse of painkillers.Quoting a Danish study published in March 2017 issue of ‘European Heart Journal’, the DAK President has said that taking the painkiller ibuprofen was associated with a risk of 31 percent risk of heart attack and another commonly used painkiller, Diclofenac raised the risk by 50 percent. The President of DAK has also warned people against using painkillers for longer periods of time than needed and that at too high a dose as it may lead to disastrous consequences.Therefore, the painkillers should be used with caution and only when prescribed by a doctor and drug makers should put warning labels about the risks associated while using these drugs.
The DAK had also warned against misuse and overuse of antibiotics in an earlier edition of this newspaper.Though the role of antibiotics such as pencillin in controling disease and increasing life span of human beings across the world need not be overemphasised,taking antibiotics in common viral infections such as flu when they are not the appropriate treatment may lead to antibiotic resistance and it may become harder to kill bacteria.
Therefore, people should not resort to self medication and use drugs without the prescription of doctors.They ought to consult doctors and ask questions about the risks of using antibootics and painkillers which the doctor has prescribed. Similarly, the concerned authorities need to take steps to ensure that such drugs are not sold in chemist shops unless prescribed by doctors.It is appreciable that DAK is doing a yeoman’s service in creating awareness in doctors and people about reckless use of drugs such as antibiotics and painkillers and more people and doctors’ associations must come forward to join this noble mission.
Yours etc…..
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur
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