Health supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. They come in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, gummies or liquids for convenient supplementation in one’s diet.
Over-the-counter (OTC) products, or “DS”, can be bought without needing a valid prescription. However, any claims of medicinal effectiveness cannot be sold commercially.
Dietary supplements
Dietary supplements can be immensely helpful to many people, particularly if they suffer from medical conditions that prevent them from eating healthily or their diet is lacking certain essential nutrients. Dietary supplements should not replace eating a varied and balanced diet that includes whole foods with an abundance of vital vitamins and minerals – though.
Studies demonstrate the widespread and growing use of dietary supplements. People likely use them because they’re concerned with the adequacy of their diets or seeking better health than offered through traditional medical consultation; or to cure or prevent disease.
People can purchase over-the-counter dietary supplements at stores like drug stores and supermarkets. Consumers should prioritize supplements that have been third-party tested by organizations like NSF International or US Pharmacopeia to provide assurances that it is both safe and effective.
Medications
Medicines can help alleviate symptoms and treat illnesses or conditions, prevent diseases or improve overall health in numerous ways, and are generally safe and effective when taken as prescribed. As you take any medicine, consider its beneficial effects as well as any unwanted side effects and keep a list of all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, plus supplements like vitamins or herbal products you take. Share this list with healthcare providers who might prescribe or provide treatments.
Most prescription medicines must be obtained through a valid medical practitioner licensed to issue such prescriptions, usually a doctor or other health care professional licensed in that specialty. Prescription medicines can help clear ear or sinus infections, lower elevated blood pressure levels, treat chronic health conditions such as asthma and treat them effectively. Prescriptions come in different forms and dosages such as tablets, capsules, liquids or creams and some are administered intravenously or directly into eye/ear canal (known as intravenous/intramuscular drugs).
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine aims at healing the body naturally. This may involve special diets, herbal preparations, high-dose vitamins or magnet therapy as forms of alternative therapy. While alternative treatments tend to be cheaper and less harmful than their conventional counterparts, side effects or drug interactions still occur occasionally – furthermore natural products may contain toxic materials or contaminants which should also be monitored carefully.
Recent survey findings indicated that individuals whose health status had declined were more likely to resort to alternative therapies, and view these practices as aligning more closely with their values and beliefs. These results lend credence to the belief that many users of alternative medicine aren’t just dissatisfied with conventional healthcare, but seek alternatives more in line with their personal philosophy. Herbal medicines such as Ginkgo biloba can treat cognitive disorders while Echinacea can fight colds and flu. Herbs like these also promote cardiovascular wellness by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels while protecting cardiovascular health in general.
Legal issues
Dietary supplements are subject to FDA regulations. Companies cannot make claims that claim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases with their supplements; however they can claim to “stimulate a healthy immune system” or that their products contain certain “immune boosters,” leading to consumer confusion and possible legal implications.
FDA regulation of dietary supplements includes inspecting supplement manufacturing facilities, reviewing new dietary ingredients and submissions for these products, monitoring their marketplace to identify any potential safety concerns and receiving adverse event reports from companies, consumers and health care providers.
Patients can report any health-related issue associated with dietary supplements directly to the FDA through its Safety Reporting Portal. Clinicians play an essential role in informing their patients of potential risks from some supplements and should include discussions of such risks during risk-based patient counseling sessions. They can also help patients avoid potentially unsafe supplements by only purchasing from reliable manufacturers.
