KARACHI, March 25: The growing tendency to administer drugs without qualified medical supervision is feared to severely hamper the efficacy of many medicines, besides exposing the consumers to a wide range of side-effects.

A panel of doctors at a press conference on Tuesday, under the aegis of the Collaborative Group for Promotion of Stroke, warned the public against taking an irrational approach on the issue.

Mentioning obesity, diabetes, tobacco consumption, high cholesterol level as the major modifiable factors to prevent the ailment responsible for stroke and cardiac diseases, the speakers regretted that despite availability of efficient treatment regimen few people got their blood pressure checked at regular intervals and also if put on drugs largely failed to manage proper compliance.

Dr Shahid Mahmood, a consultant physician, referred to the negligence on part of a large majority of people who are little cognizant with regular follow-up and once prescribed a drug, which may also help contain the complaint, have the tendency to continue with the same for years without seeking further medical consultation.

The scenario, he said, may expose the concerned person to possible side-effects of any degree, adding that continuation of any drug or discontinuation of it or any modification in the prescription should not be resorted to without prior advice of a qualified medical professional.

Referring to the national health survey 1990-94, Dr Saad Shafqat, a consultant neurologist at the Aga Khan University, said one out of every three Pakistanis above 45 years of age was inflicted with hypertension. Seven out of 10 suffering from the condition were not conscious of it, while three of those who knew it largely failed to control it.

Dr Saad said that blood pressure medication is for life as hypertension or high blood pressure is a life-long disease, which could be controlled but not cured.

“High blood pressure is common, produces no symptoms and often is identified when damage may have been caused to heart, brain or kidneys,” he said.

Maintaining that a wide range of drugs are available to control the ailment, responsible for several other severe conditions, he said right choice should be allowed to be made by the physician in accordance with health status of the patient.

Prevention was cited by Prof Masood Hameed Khan, of the Dow Medical College, as the most important factor to avoid relevant morbidity. He also reiterated the need on the part of the masses to take due care of their health with adequate provision for regular check-up.

Eminent film artist, Lahri, who was paralyzed by stroke some 15 years ago, sitting in a wheelchair said that he was a regular smoker throughout his life and hardly went to any doctor for check-up.

“After suffering stroke, I was told by the doctor that I was suffering from high blood pressure too, which was ostensibly a major factor for the onset of the problem and contributed to my current condition.”—APP/PPI