In real life, we often place medicines in a corner of our home for convenience, but we don't know that doing so may bring potential risks to the health of our families.
There is an old saying that "if you put medicine in 3 places, your life will be uncomfortable", which is not only a warning, but also a summary of the wisdom of medicine storage in our daily life.
So, what are the "three places" referred to in this sentence, and how do we properly store medicines to ensure that the health and safety of our families are not threatened?
01
The bathroom, an intimate space that is frequently used every day, is not a good place to store medicines, although it is convenient for us to wash up our daily clothes. Many people may find it convenient to take their medicine directly after taking a shower in the bathroom, but this practice is actually full of pitfalls.
Bathrooms are often very humid and the temperature can change depending on the outside conditions. This hot and humid environment is a great challenge for pharmaceuticals.
Once the drug is exposed to a humid environment, it can easily absorb moisture from the air, causing the tablet to soften, deliquescent, and may even trigger an internal chemical reaction, so that the drug loses its original efficacy.
Especially for those medicines that are explicitly required to be stored dry, such as antibiotics, vitamins, etc., the humid environment of the bathroom is undoubtedly their "natural enemy".
In addition to humidity issues, temperature changes in the bathroom can also have an impact on the stability of the medicine. Due to the large amount of steam produced during bathing, the temperature of the bathroom rises rapidly, and the temperature drops rapidly after the bath.
This drastic temperature change can cause changes in the chemical composition inside the drug product, which in turn can affect its efficacy.
Therefore, it is necessary to keep the medicine away from the bathroom and choose a place that is drier, ventilated and has a relatively stable temperature for storage.
02
Sunlight, the natural source of light that gives us warmth and light, is a potential threat to the preservation of medicines.
Many people may find it a good idea to keep the medicine on a windowsill or balcony because it is easy to access and keeps the medicine dry. However, there are actually significant risks associated with this practice.
Ultraviolet rays and high temperatures in sunlight accelerate the oxidation and decomposition process of pharmaceutical products. When exposed to sunlight for a long time, the chemical composition of the drug may change, resulting in reduced efficacy and even the production of harmful substances.
Especially for those light-sensitive medicines, such as certain antibiotics, vitamin D, etc., direct sunlight can make them quickly ineffective and even produce toxic substances.
Therefore, we should store the medicine in a cool, dry, and dark place to ensure its stability and efficacy. If it must be placed in a sunny place, also make sure that there is proper shading to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
03
As an important area in the home, the kitchen undertakes the important task of cooking food. However, the kitchen is not a suitable place for the storage of medicines.
Environmental factors such as heavy fumes, high humidity and frequent temperature changes in the kitchen can all have an impact on the quality and stability of pharmaceutical products.
The chemicals in the oil smoke may react with the drug and cause the drug to deteriorate, excessive humidity may cause the drug to become damp, moldy and even grow bacteria, and the change of temperature may affect the chemical composition and stability of the drug.
Especially for those drugs that need to be taken orally, such as capsules, granules, etc., once they are eroded by oil smoke and moisture, they may cause harm to human health.
Therefore, we must keep the medicine away from kitchen fumes and moisture, and choose a cleaner, drier and suitable temperature place for storage to ensure that the quality and efficacy of the drug are not affected.
At the same time, we should also take care to avoid mixing medicines with food or beverages to avoid accidental ingestion or cross-contamination.
In order to ensure the health and safety of our families, we must take the storage of medicines seriously and follow scientific principles and methods for reasonable storage and management.
"If you put medicine in three places, life will not go well", the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients, still has profound practical significance in modern times. The dampness of the bathroom, the direct sunlight, and the fumes in the kitchen are all factors that are easily overlooked in our daily life but pose a threat to the preservation of medicines.
By understanding and avoiding these adverse circumstances, we can better protect our medicines, ensure their efficacy and safety, and thus provide a strong support for the health of our families.
From now on, let's pay more attention to the storage of medicines, follow scientific principles and methods, and escort the health of our families. Remember, proper medicine preservation is not only responsible for yourself, but also for your family.