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 diseases
• What medications might you take for a sore throat?

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

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

  No, they only relieve symptoms
• What do antibiotics do?

  Kill bacteria or prevent their growth
• Why might antibiotics not help with a sore throat?

  Most sore throats are caused by viruses
• Why can't antibiotics kill viruses?

  Antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses
• What makes it difficult to destroy viruses?

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

  Test to identify 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
  • Use of multiple drugs for treatment
• What is the outcome of treating symptoms and diseases?

  Revolutionized medicine
• What is the effect of multiple drugs on patients?

  Some make them feel better, others treat causes