Headache ranks the first among the most frequently-caught diseases for urban residents in China, with people aged between 30 and 45 accounting for over 70 percent, according to the first national drug safety survey.

 

The survey, sampling 30,000 residents in 25 major cities, also found that side effects of headache drugs have become the primary concern of urban residents, most of them taking medicine without caring about the ingredients.

 

Nearly 90 percent of the respondents said they thought their health would be guaranteed if they take the drugs in accordance with product instructions. They traditionally paid little attention to specific ingredients of the drugs.

 

About 20 percent of the respondents took for granted that drugs with over the counter (OTC) marks were completely safe for use while they believed that prescription drugs might bring about side effects.

 

Toothache and arthralgia also rank high in the list and sufferers are mostly people aged above 45.

 

To address the ailments, about 90 percent of the sufferers might choose to turn to OTC drugs, while more than half of the respondents rely on advertisements or recommendations of relatives and friends to choose medicine. Only 45 percent of the polled say they go to see doctors.

 

The Sunshine Project, a national campaign aimed at promoting appropriate drug use, has been launched among 100 residential communities nationwide.

 

Experts suggested that community medical workers should play a more active role in providing advice and guidance to drug users for safety concerns.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)