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Taking part in It Protected: Acetaminophen Protected Use and Males’s Well being Month
Creator: Dr. Julius Johnson
I cherished taking part in soccer as a child, and as an grownup I nonetheless get pleasure from spending weekends teaching my neighborhood’s youth soccer staff, the Brooklyn Skyhawks. I additionally get my fair proportion of train by figuring out at residence and taking part in with my daughter within the park. Generally I overdo it, and find yourself with aching muscle tissues and joints after an formidable exercise.
Like many individuals, one of many first cures I attain for is a chilly pack and an over-the-counter (OTC) ache reliever. It’s what I inform my sufferers to do – and more often than not, it does the trick. But it surely’s essential to know what elements are within the OTC and prescription medicines you’re taking, for ache and in any other case, and learn how to take them safely. The most typical piece of recommendation I give, on and off the sector, is to not overdo it. OTC medicines can have critical well being penalties if not taken as directed.
Ache Reduction and Males’s Well being
The unhappy fact is that males are in a number of ache. In a nationwide survey, 65% of males reported that they expertise ongoing ache, typically for a 12 months or longer, and lots of of them flip to OTC or prescription medicines for aid. Throughout Males’s Well being Month, the Acetaminophen Consciousness Coalition is urging males to take cost of their well being and take their medicines safely – particularly if these medicines comprise acetaminophen.
What Is Acetaminophen?
Most individuals don’t know that acetaminophen is the commonest drug ingredient in America, discovered in additional than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medicines – together with many commonly-used ache relievers, cough, chilly, and allergy medicines, sleep aids, and fever reducers. When used as directed, it’s secure and efficient, however taking an excessive amount of is an overdose and might result in liver injury.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a most day by day dose of 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen in a 24-hour interval.
Suggestions for Utilizing Acetaminophen Safely
Observe these 4 steps to make use of acetaminophen safely:
- All the time learn and comply with the dosing directions in your label. By no means take extra drugs than directed by the label – that is an overdose, and it may possibly result in liver injury.
- Know in case your medicines comprise acetaminophen. In case your OTC drugs accommodates acetaminophen, will probably be highlighted in yellow on the label. It could typically be listed as “APAP” or “acetam” on prescription medicines.
- Take just one drugs with acetaminophen at a time. You’ll be able to take an excessive amount of acetaminophen in case you use multiple drugs that accommodates acetaminophen on the identical time.
- Ask your healthcare supplier or pharmacist if in case you have questions about learn how to take your medicines safely.
The Endgame
In my twin roles as a household nurse practitioner and a coach, I attempt to information males to make selections that hold them wholesome and secure. Males’s Well being Month is the proper time to place these secure use steps into apply, and begin calling the performs by yourself well being.
To be taught extra about acetaminophen secure use, go to KnowYourDose.org and comply with @KnowYourDose on Twitter.
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