If You Want to Be Healthy

During the change of seasons, the risk of seasonal infectious diseases increases. In those days, there are many cases where people start self-treatment by taking various antibiotics. However, this is completely wrong and can harm our health. We decided to talk about this with Muhabbat Orunbayeva, a doctor at Health House No. 1 in Turkmenabat city.

— What are antibiotics and when should they be used? — Antibiotics are medicinal products used to treat diseases by stopping the reproduction of bacteria and microbes. Antibiotics are mainly widely used in the treatment of seasonal infectious diseases, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, and other diseases. Doctors determine the rules for their use.

— So, it's not allowed to take antibiotics on one's own?! — Many people take antibiotics immediately if they have a slight fever or a sore throat. This is not correct. Using medications independently can lead to severe allergies or gastrointestinal diseases. Also, antibiotics lead to the disruption of normal bowel function. That is, they can destroy 30 percent of the beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Besides these, antibiotics also cause fungal infections. Fungi, in turn, damage the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the skin and urinary systems. Therefore, like any medication, antibiotics should be used under a doctor's supervision.

— Could you also tell us about the characteristics of the healing properties of antibiotics? — The active substances of antibiotics completely destroy bacteria and stop their growth and spread. In this process, the pathogenic microflora in the human body is removed. For infectious diseases, antiviral drugs are more effective. In folk medicine, vegetables such as onions, garlic, and red peppers were used instead of antibiotics. These products have not lost their significance to this day.

— There are many cases where people stop using medications, saying, "I already feel better." Is this correct? — In such situations, especially when antibiotics are used, one must be very careful. The doctor's treatment must be followed correctly and completed to the end. If the treatment is not fully completed, the weak bacteria in the body disappear, but the strongest ones remain and multiply again. For this reason, we remind you once again: antibiotics must be used exactly according to the doctor's advice.

— What are the important rules to follow during the change of seasons? — Guided by the "Saglyk" State Program of the President of Turkmenistan, in accordance with the national vaccination schedule, vaccinations against seasonal diseases have been widely established in our country. Everyone can consult with their family doctor and receive them. At the transition between winter and spring, to increase the body's resistance to diseases, one should consult with family doctors and drink medicinal teas prepared from the medicinal plants in Hero-Arkadag's scientific-encyclopedic book "Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan." One should follow a healthy lifestyle and consume products rich in nutrients.

— Thank you very much for your valuable advice!