China began to limit the sale of iodine
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Will the ban reach Russia
While even antibiotics can still be bought without a prescription in Russia, the Chinese government has decided to ban the sale of iodine in pharmacies across the country. The Chinese authorities suddenly became concerned that the citizens of the country will begin to use iodine incorrectly, which will lead to health problems. Is it possible to fear that Russia will decide on similar measures?
To begin with, let us clarify that iodine in pharmacies is presented not only in the form of a liquid antiseptic, but also in tablet forms – for example, as a food supplement for the prevention of thyroid diseases or as a drug for removing radiation from the body. In general, iodine as a trace element is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. And yet, people should take iodine supplements strictly according to indications. In China, they fear that if you overdo iodine preparations and take it in large doses without consulting a doctor, serious harm to health can be caused. Therefore, they decided to ban iodine for free sale in pharmacies. Now this microelement in the Middle Kingdom will be available only by prescription, which will allow you to control its use and prevent possible health problems.
Of course, many Chinese are unhappy with this decision of the authorities. First of all, by the fact that restrictions on access to this important trace element are introduced for those who really need to use it.
Russia, meanwhile, is in a zone of stable iodine deficiency. According to expert estimates, millions of Russians suffer from its consequences; in some regions of the country, up to 30% of children have endemic goiter. According to medical experts, according to the number of iodine deficiency diseases, the entire territory of the Russian Federation is at risk, including even coastal regions where they eat a lot of seafood. The average consumption of iodine for a Russian is about 80-100 micrograms per day, while the required minimum is 150-250 micrograms. The result is sad: the IQ index of Russian children is on average 10% lower than that of children in those countries where this problem has long been resolved. Iodine deficiency conditions are especially dangerous for pregnant women, even a slight lack of iodine in a mother can lead to mental retardation in an unborn baby.
And for many years we have been putting forward initiatives on mandatory salt iodization. The practice of using it in the daily diet of the population has been legally introduced in more than a hundred countries of the world, and even existed during the Soviet era, but then for some reason it was abandoned, despite the protests of doctors. And so far we have not adopted such a law, but still endocrinologists urge to make a choice in favor of salt with iodine.
As for the additional intake of drugs with this microelement, here doctors advise not to self-medicate. “Various preparations with iodine should be taken only on the recommendation of a specialist in order to avoid an overdose, which can really lead to the development of thyroid diseases,” says endocrinologist Viktor Tumarkin.
However, the Chinese ban applies to all iodine preparations, including antiseptics. But, as Dr. Tumarkin says, bringing yourself to an overdose by using iodine as an antiseptic is quite difficult: “I consider this measure excessive, although I can note that iodine is used as an antiseptic in a small number of countries, mainly in Russia.”
“Despite the variety of antiseptics, iodine is still the number one drug among the population,” Victoria Presnyakova, director of the SRO Association of Independent Pharmacies, head of the Alliance of Pharmaceutical Associations, told MK. – They can treat the wound, and draw a net, and water the garden from pests. The area of application is increasing year by year. So, in social networks, one resident of Zlatoust recommended that her subscribers take blue iodine to treat ulcers and gastritis. The woman assures that this way you can raise your immunity and get rid of viral misfortunes. People are ready to take the entire periodic table on their own if there is some kind of health problem. They unconditionally trust the advice on the Internet and try everything on themselves, but they doubt the recommendations of specialists, whether it be a doctor or a pharmacist. In any difficult situation, the population sweeps away iodine along with toilet paper, buckwheat, matches and salt. But medicines have a limited shelf life. They cannot be “eat up” like sweets or sausage, and spoiled medicines should not be thrown into the trash can. They require special disposal.
Making iodine prescription is not an option; this measure will not solve the problem. It is necessary to carry out educational activities – to increase the pharmaceutical literacy of the population, and starting from school.”
Newspaper headline:
Iodine – a new twist
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