That's because much of modern medicine targets disease symptoms in a way that overrides or undermines the body's natural processes.
Antipyretics (antifever drugs) and anti-inflammatories are two categories of drugs that work against the body's own healing mechanisms.
Granted, there are situations where a fever can be deadly or inflammation has run amok. But modern medicine often doesn't work well with nuance. It sees a symptom and that triggers a protocol.
Fever is a healing mechanism. You can think of it as a fire the body uses to burn out a pathogenic invader and speed up the movement of its immune agents. An antipyretic blocks this mechanism to reduce fever. Doctors treat fever because it can be problematic in rare cases and medical researchers have mixed opinions about the value of fever. For most people most of the time, however, the bulk of research finds it is better to trust the body's natural defenses and let fever run its course if it isn't reaching dangerous temperatures.
The same is true of anti-inflammatories. Inflammation is an immune response meant to help the body heal itself and protect against pathogenic invaders. It is caused by a rush of immune agents and blood flow to the affected area, leading to swelling and redness.
Unfortunately, this immune response can be painful and spur people to seek relief in the form of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. These drugs can relieve the immediate pain, but often come at the expense of proper healing, suggests research. In fact, research links using NSAIDs to a higher likelihood of suffering chronic pain.
The fact that pain relievers could lead to chronic pain mimics the side effects of other common treatments. Many cancer treatments can contribute to cancer, antidepressants are linked to suicide, and antibiotics can make dangerous microbes stronger and leave the body vulnerable to other infections. Even vaccines are linked to increased risk of viral infection.
This doesn't mean these treatments aren't sometimes essential and lifesaving, it simply means they must be used judiciously to avoid unnecessary risks.
But that isn't something your doctor can always decide. If you are in pain, if you have a fever, if you have a stomach bug, your doctor can typically only prescribe drugs, tests, or surgery. They can suggest you rest and drink plenty of water, but their treatment options are limited and they have to rely on you to tell them if you need something more.
If you tell them you want a drug, they will typically give you one. So be careful what you ask for and be sure you really need it. It's your body after all, and you are the one that has to live with it.
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