Self-treatment: Harmful benefits
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital) - shared about the critical case due to the use of weight loss drugs purchased on TikTok. A 21-year-old female patient (Gia Lam, Hanoi) was poisoned by Sibutramine, a substance banned in Vietnam since 2010. After a month of taking weight loss pills of unknown origin, she fell into a coma and had to be taken to the emergency room by her family.
Testing the patient's drug sample showed positive for Sibutramine, an active ingredient that was once used to treat obesity but has been banned in many countries due to the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Sibutramine has a similar genetic structure to Amphetamine, a dangerous substance with a high risk of toxicity - Dr. Nguyen emphasized.
Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, Head of the Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Bach Mai Hospital, also informed about the case of a male student with quadriplegia after the habit of self-treating mouth ulcers. Test results showed that the patient had severe hypoglycemia, with only 2.1 mmol/L (while the normal level was 3.5-5.0 mmol/L). After an overnight emergency, the patient was able to move better. The cause stems from the habit of buying powder of unknown origin to treat canker sores. These drugs can contain corticoids - a powerful anti-inflammatory active ingredient, but if overused, it can lead to many dangerous complications.
According to Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, in Vietnam, many people have the habit of buying drugs containing corticosteroids to treat sore throat, dermatitis, back pain, osteoarthritis... without predicting the consequences. Corticosteroid abuse can cause many dangerous side effects, especially adrenal insufficiency - a condition that can lead to death if not detected and treated promptly.
Social networks have recently been buzzing with the news that Miss Thuy Tien, Hang Du Cac, Quang Linh Vlogs have been advertising the truth about a vegetable candy. They introduce this product to contain high fiber content, just a few tablets are enough for the body per day. However, on March 4, a consumer tested the product at the National Institute of Quality Measurement. The results showed that 30 capsules contained only 0.51 grams of fiber, which was too low compared to the body's needs.
On March 7, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) determined that SUPERGREens GUMMIES ( age-old vegetable worms) showed signs of violating advertising on online platforms.
The Department requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to inspect Chi Em rot Group Joint Stock Company (undscalling unit) and ASIA LIFE Joint Stock Company (undscalling unit) and at the same time requested relevant agencies to inspect and handle individuals advertising violations.
Beware of advertising "traps"
The Internet helps people quickly access medical information. With just a few search steps, patients can read a series of advice, tips or instructions for treatment. In particular, online groups and videos shared by individuals without medical expertise contribute to promoting the trend of self-treatment.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen warned about the risks of self-treating diseases online such as poisoning, dangerous side effects (Self- comprehension of medicine according to advice online without understanding the dosage can cause liver failure, kidney failure, dangerous complications), delays in treatment (Misture treatment can make the disease worse, especially for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), psychological effects (Many people are too worried when reading false information, claiming to have a serious illness). On the contrary, some others are subjective and late in going to the doctor.
Dr. Nguyen Hung Long - Deputy Director of the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) - said that platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Shopee are flooded with functional food advertisements with "magic" promises such as quick weight loss, instant beauty.
Many TikToker, KOLs, Influencers introduce products with the commitment of "care for all diseases", "immediate results", making many people trust and buy them, but the results are not as expected, even harmful to health.
According to the regulations of the Ministry of Health, functional foods are only nutritional support and cannot replace medicine. However, many businesses take advantage of the psychology of wanting to recover quickly to advertise untruthfully, using celebrities to increase reliability. Phrases such as completely cure the disease, fast effects after just a few days, 100% natural family medicine are all signs of inflation.
Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen recommends that when buying any product, consumers need to choose products with an official circulation certificate and clear invoices and documents. Do not buy weight loss medicine through social networks or from unknown sources. When there are health problems, people should consult a doctor instead of self-treating according to online sources.
