what is medicine? How does medicine work? What causes a headache? Why do doctors use injection?
My six year old is learning about medicine and how it works in the human body
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1. This is a complicated question which could take days to answer.I will try to give you some answers, but in the reverse order of your questions.
Injections are used for various reasons. Many meds would be totally destroyed by digestive acids, which makes it necessary to inject them. Some medicines, most antibiotics, for instance, can be given by mouth or by injection, but will work faster and/or more effectively if they are given by injection. Some medications are injected into muscle for rapid absorption. Some meds are injected into body fat to slow down absorption---insulin, for example. Some meds, mostly those for various types of testing, are injected into the skin or just barely beneath the skin. Some medicines are inhaled.
There is a danger here also. Some medications, if given through IV, must be given at a very slow rate. Potassium, for instance, is a very necessary mineral for muscles. It is often given IV at a slow rate.
It can stop the heart if given too fast (It is used in lethal injections for executions, but I would not mention this to a six year old.
A lot of things can cause headaches, including hunger, high blood pressure, colds, flu, sinus congestion, brain tumor, trauma.
What is medicine and how does it work? Basically, most medications are poisons! Yes, poisons. That is why medications can be deadly if they are taken wrong or in excess.
The poisons cause the various body systems to react in different ways. Some medicines kill pain, but most of them can also kill the patient if taken in excess. Some medicines kill bacteria but do not affect the body significantly. ( some people get diarrhea from antibiotics if they kill intestinal flora) Some medicines can either enhance other medicines, making them more powerful, or they can do just the opposite. Some medicines, like the anti-cancer drugs, attack only the fast-growing body cells, such as the lining of the stomach and the hair, and, of course, the cancer. That is why so many cancer patients are nauseous and/or bald.
Other medications can make the heart beat faster (or slower), and can either raise or lower blood pressure.
Some meds increase appetite, others suppress appetite.
meds can stop people from coughing, while others (expectorants, make people cough. Still other meds are diuretics, to help the body get rid of excess water, while pthers are anti-diuretics which help retain body fluid.
I hope this is enough for your six year old. If you want more, you can email me.
