Myth: All diseases can be cured with drugs
Drugs designed to treat or alleviate specific diseases and conditions may not solve all health problems or be the only solution to overall well-being.
Increasing the number of medications will not lead to a faster recovery. Excessive dosage or improper use of drugs can cause unwanted side effects and cause health problems.
Some medications are aimed at relieving symptoms but not treating the underlying cause of the disease. It is important to understand the difference between symptomatic treatment and treatment of the cause of the disease in order to see a doctor and receive appropriate treatment.
The effects of medications may vary among individuals depending on their age, gender, physiological characteristics, and other individual factors. Therefore, the use of medications should be done with caution and only as prescribed by a doctor.
Myth: Aspirin cures all diseases
In 1971, British scientist John Vane published research on the effectiveness of acetylsalicylic acid, and since that time, aspirin has become widely used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Aspirin remains a key drug for maintaining heart health. When using aspirin and nitroglycerin in the first minutes of an attack, it is possible to prevent the development of myocardial infarction and significantly reduce the risk of death.
However, aspirin increases bleeding, which makes its use risky for infectious diseases. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause ulcerative lesions and bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Even small doses of aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding.
Children should not take aspirin for viral infections due to the risk of developing the rare but deadly Reye’s syndrome. To reduce fever and relieve pain, NSAIDs and paracetamol are usually preferred.