People work hard and it is not uncommon to find some of them popping pain relieving tablets more often than is expected. Over-the-counter painkillers have become popular and most people now resort to different types with or without prescription anytime they feel discomfort. A good example is the abuse of paracetamol that is often taken without prescription to relieve headaches and other mild body pains. It is surprising to know that some people go as far as taking three tablets instead of two in a bid to make the drug work faster and more effectively. Abuse of drugs should be avoided at all costs, and here are major reasons why you should reduce your intake of painkillers:
1. You may become addicted to usage. Regular usage of painkillers reduces your threshold for pain and can make you crave more even while feeling very little pain. If the pain is bearable, avoid taking in more drugs so that the right amount can sufficiently work for pain the next time you use it. Instead, when you have a headache, try submerging your feet in a big bowl of warm water so that the blood pressure from the head can reduce. If you have body pains, massaging the affected areas with oils, ointments and balm can help relieve the pain. Quit the habit of popping pills when you feel the slightest pain.
2. They may become less effective. When the body becomes used to a particular drug, over a period of time the drug tends to lose effectiveness in the body system and larger doses or more complex drugs might be required as time goes on. Painkillers should only be administered when the body’s tolerance for pain has been exceeded and the patient is no longer comfortable. If you condition your system to have very low tolerance for pain, simple drugs will no longer be able to effectively cater for your needs and higher levels of analgesics would be sought.
3. They can prove toxic. The kidney does the work of purifying the body of ingested materials which includes food, water, and certain drugs. Studies have shown that painkillers such as panadol or paracetamol may take long before getting totally excreted out of the body system. If they get accumulated in the body, they can become toxic and damage the internal organs if care is not taken. This is one of the main reasons why herbal medicine is becoming more popular as a means of countering certain infections and diseases.
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