In the medical world, proper use of words is highly called for because a simple
mistake could complicate things usually unwanted for the patients. Because this
field has full of jargons that mostly are too technical to not easily be sifted
and digested by the general public, putting them in a layman’s term is indeed
helpful.
A good example of which are the words “side effect” and “main effect”. These,
are more often than not, interchanged or used instead of the other. Doing so is
not just wrong but also dangerous to the people’s health.
A side effect of any substance pertains to the result beyond the main or
primary action that is intended by the physician giving drug prescription. The
doctor, likewise, foresees this extra consequence.
For instance, the patient might not be conscious of the side effect of unwanted
hair growth elsewhere on the body while using vasodilator drug called Minoxidil
to treat hypertension. The physician, nevertheless, is very well aware about
it, as well as other implications, such as burning or irritation of the eye,
itching, and redness or irritation at the treated area. By and large, doctors
suggest that patients should ignore the side effects unless serious and often
alert the sick persons about their likelihood.
But not all the side effects are boon. They are bane, too, hence, they are
often used as a therapeutic benefit in the pharmaceutical industry. Like the
Minoxidil which, initially was developed to treat high blood pressure. People
taking it reported an unusual side effect: Hair began to grow on various parts
of their bodies. In this case, the downside of the drug is controlled and
employed for a beneficial and therapeutic effect judiciously. It is noted that
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription of two percent
(2%) Minoxidil topical solution for hair loss in men in 1988 and for women in
1992.
