As a consequence of the worldwide pandemic, people learned to appreciate the need to be well-prepared. Food and other basics should be stocked ahead of time, but you should also ensure that your medicine cabinet is stocked with everything you’ll need in the event of a quarantine.
You Should Have In Your Medicine Cabinet
Emergencies may happen at any time, which is why it’s crucial to maintain a medical cabinet that’s easily accessible. A medical cabinet protects you against minor health conditions that don’t require a trip to the hospital.
Choosing what to keep in your medicine cabinet can be a challenging task. To find out more about the most essential things that you should have in your medicine cabinet, read on.
1. Pain Relievers
When you’re suffering from a headache, menstrual cramps, or muscle spasms, over-the-counter sore throat medicine can be of great help. Here are some of them:
- Aspirin
Aspirin is used to treat mild muscular pains, toothaches, colds, and headaches. It can also be used to treat arthritic pain and swelling. Consult your physician before treating a youngster under 12 years of age.
Taking a low-dose aspirin on a daily basis can help reduce the risk of heart attacks. Aspirin prevents platelets from clumping together in blood vessels, thereby lowering the risk of blood clotting.
- Paracetamol
Paracetamol is a drug that falls under the category of analgesics or pain relievers. It’s used to bring down a fever, which may arise as a result of a cold or after vaccinations. Paracetamol is a pain reliever that can be acquired in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquid medicine.
- Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is used to treat arthritis, sprains and strains, period pain, migraine headaches, dental discomfort, and post-operative pain. It relieves pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen can also be used to treat cold and flu-like symptoms like fever.
2. Thermometer
A simple way to determine whether you have a fever is to take your temperature using a thermometer. An infection is the most common cause of a fever, which is an increase in body temperature. You can get the most accurate results by using a digital thermometer.For health reasons, mercury thermometers are no longer advised because of the dangers associated with mercury poisoning. If you still own one of these thermometers, you should contact your local garbage department to learn about the correct disposal procedures for this hazardous material.
3. Decongestants
Decongestants can relieve the symptoms of a clogged or stuffy nose. They can help relieve many types of congestion. Decongestants are often used for sinusitis, hay fever, allergies, and rhinitis. These medications come as nasal sprays, pills, capsules, and syrups.
4. Cough Medicine
Cough medications are used to either suppress a dry cough or help you cough up excess mucus associated with a chesty cough caused by an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Numerous cough medications are accessible in pharmacies and supermarkets. Cough medications may also include paracetamol or ibuprofen.
5. Antihistamine
Taking an antihistamine is a way to get rid of some of the common symptoms of allergies like sneezing and watery eyes. It can also help with hives and a runny nose.Mild to severe allergy symptoms such as congestion, watery eyes, and itchy skin are often treated with second- or third-generation antihistamines, according to the majority of healthcare practitioners.First-generation antihistamines can still be purchased. However, sleepiness and sedation might occur as a result of taking these formulations.
6. Eye Drops
Eye drops are used to treat glaucoma, conjunctivitis, ocular inflammation, and dry eye syndrome. They can also be taken after eye surgery to help prevent infection or minimize swelling. While eye drops are the most frequent, eye gels and ointments are also available. Remember to follow your doctor’s instructions completely.
7. Calcium Carbonate
A well-known treatment for heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux. Calcium carbonate, being alkaline, neutralizes gastric acid.
8. Activated Charcoal
Charcoal is used to cure poisonings, decrease flatulence, lower cholesterol, avoid hangovers, and treat cholestasis during pregnancy. Activated charcoal is comparable to regular charcoal, but created for medicinal purposes. It uses pores to ‘trap’ pollutants.
9. Ointments And Creams
A topical ointment is a drug administered to the skin. An ointment can protect your skin, heal wounds, or prevent infection. Here are some of the topical medicines you need in your cabinet:
- Cortisone Ointment
Corticosteroid hydrocortisone can be purchased over the counter (OTC). External itchiness associated with mild skin irritation, inflammation, and rashes can be temporarily alleviated by using this product.Antibacterial substances can be added to hydrocortisone cream to treat skin infections caused by bacteria or fungi. Insect bites can be treated with this ointment.
- Antibacterial Ointment
Topical antibacterial is used to prevent and cure bacterial infections as well as minor skin infections from cuts, scrapes, and burns. Untreated wounds may develop germs, causing pain, redness, swelling, and itching.
- Antifungal Cream
These medications are used to treat fungal infections of the skin, scalp, and nails, among other things. An antifungal cream is often used in conjunction with a moderate steroid cream such as hydrocortisone. Antifungal cream helps to clean up the infection while moderate steroid cream helps lessen the inflammation.
10. Infection Prevention
Antibiotics are normally required to treat infections. A small wound can be treated with an antibiotic cream such as fusidic acid. Below are some items that can help you prevent wound infection:
- Wound Dressings
A wound dressing is anything applied directly to a wound to aid healing and avoid complications. Wound dressings do more than just prevent infection. Proper wound care with the correct dressing speeds up healing time and protects the body.
- Medical Adhesive Tape
Medical adhesive tape is used to secure bandages, gauze, and other treatments for the skin. Most adhesive tapes are pressure-sensitive tapes, which adhere and remain in place when pressed firmly. Medical adhesive tape comes in a variety of materials, but most are permeable for user comfort.
- Antiseptic Wash
Antiseptics are substances applied to the skin. They have the potential to significantly decrease the number of germs on the skin and in wounds. Minor wounds can be cleaned and treated with antiseptics that are sold over the counter.
Final Words
At least once a year, go through your medicine cabinet and get rid of any old or unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, ointments, and medicinal creams you no longer use. If the container doesn’t have an expiry date, check its condition. Throw it away if it seems old or damaged.
Mark the date of purchase on new prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs that don’t have expiry dates, then throw them away after a year.
