Drugs #44

• What is a big part of medicine?

  The use of drugs
• How much does the NHS spend on medications annually?

  Over seventeen billion pounds
• What are the two groups of medications?

  • Medications that relieve symptoms
  • Medications that treat the disease
• What medications might you take for a sore throat?

  Aspirin or paracetamol
• What do painkillers do for a sore throat?

  They reduce pain and headache
• Do painkillers cure the problem of a sore throat?

  No, they only relieve symptoms
• What do antibiotics do for a sore throat?

  They kill bacteria or prevent growth
• What causes most sore throats?

  Viruses
• Why don't antibiotics work on viruses?

  They are made to interfere with bacteria
• Why is it difficult to destroy viruses?

  They hide within our body cells
• What must doctors do before prescribing antibiotics?

  Test to find the type of bacteria
• What is antibiotic resistance?

  Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics
• How has the ability to treat diseases changed medicine?

  • Improved quality of life
  • Extended people's lives
  • Multiple drugs can be used simultaneously
• What is the role of multiple drugs in treatment?

  Some relieve symptoms, others treat causes
• What is the main focus of the video?

  The importance of medications in medicine