Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship

On average, seniors using drugs for five days. Who consume products without a corresponding increased risk of problems caused by drug interaction.

In the waiting room for a medical consultation, Mathilde Titonelli Ramos, 77 years, the fact that the drugs to escape and walk through two neighborhoods during exercise daily. The retired teacher says she takes medication only at the insistence of geriatrician. "I was created with no drugs, no tea or restorative. I never needed doctors. But five years ago my husband died and since then is that I started to go in the consultations, "says.

Mathilde takes three drugs - one for diabetes, one for blood pressure and a third for the thyroid. After the consultation, get dismayed: "I wanted the doctor told me to stop the drugs. But has no way, I have to continue. "

The geriatrician is the retired professor Mauro Roberto Piovezan, Department of Neurology, Hospital de Clinicas, Federal University of Parana. According to him, Mathilde is an exception. "The elderly take an average of five different drugs, with prescriptions," he says. A survey with 2.9 thousand people aged between 57 and 85 years, and released at the end of last year by the Official American Medical Association, confirms this picture. According to the study in the United States five or more drugs are taken at the same time by more than half of the elderly.

To Piovezan, the biggest problem occurs when people take drugs on their own. "Always have an remedinho to pain, an anti-inflammatory. These drugs are used in conjunction with those prescribed by the doctor and there may be the problem, "he says. Among the risks of drug interaction are the gastric bleeding, ulcers, dizziness and even fractures that occurred because of fainting.

The doctor says, moreover, that people can not reach the elderly ignoring physical changes. "There is change in body composition, it accumulates more fat and less muscle, the kidney is altered and many drugs are excreted by the kidney. The function of the liver changes and there is also decrease the water inside the cell. Therefore, water soluble drugs are absorbed differently, "he says. Besides considering the changes, we must remember that a medical evaluation is essential. "First and foremost we need a good clinical control to see if the senior is able to use drugs," he says.

Medical evaluation

Joana Felicciano Marcondes, 68 years, decided to seek a doctor after you spend months having trouble sleeping. The retired secretary had already tried all the steps indicated by acquaintances. But acupuncture, tea, warm milk and "remedinho miracle" - a sedative given by a friend - had no effect. It sufficed to note that consultation with a geriatrician at her back to sleep better. "During the consultation he did a real interview with me. So I said I took diuretic night. Just change the time and went back to sleep like a stone, "says.

Piovezan says that this type of situation is very common, but it is necessary that the physician is careful enough to investigate all know the problems that may be leading to discomfort or disease. "If the doctor asks the patient is feeling and forget to ask what medicines are being taken, there may be errors in diagnosis," he says. The problem can also happen in the pharmacy. "When they have a pain, can go directly to the pharmacy to treat the symptoms, and forget that they should be looking for a doctor to discover the cause," he says.

Other care

Waiting the diseases and the need for medication is not part of plans to delegate the Police Civil retired Ari José Elias, 83 years. Since very young, he adopted a healthy diet and never drank or smoked. He also does exercises regularly. In the company of women, is assiduous student of the water. Even with all the care, Elias noted that already suffered from the interaction of drugs. "I had two drugs that I did well, went to the doctor and he changed," says. Today, he boasts of having only three drugs on the shelf. The retiree says he does not take medicine without a prescription and seeking medical advice when you have any questions. This attitude should be adopted by all, according Piovezan. "When a patient is having problems taking the medicine for the friend or the neighbor. They find that the medicine is well known to some, it will be good for them too, which is a serious mistake, "he emphasizes.

Avoid complications
- Find a doctor even when you have a malaise. Back pain or a headache can also be symptoms of something more serious.

- Avoid self, each person is unique and has the most appropriate treatment.

- Keep an active communication with your doctor, he should monitor their health constantly.

- Apart from going to the doctor, go also to the psychologist. Some health problems can be better addressed if psychological support.

- Remember that life is not ideal, but real, and that unforeseen will always occur.

- Reflect on the question of his physical problem, try to find out if the cause is not emotional.

- Follow medical guidance and not stop taking prescribed medications without the knowledge of the physician.

- Remember that the medicines do not provide magic solutions or immediate.



Source: Gazeta do Povo

Our stories are taken in full of the sites of our partners. Therefore, we can not change the contents of these cases even of typing errors.