Some elderly people consider health supplements to be "nutritional products" and try to use them as a substitute for medications they need to take long-term-a notion that carries significant risks. Many health supplements (such as ginkgo biloba extract, reishi mushroom extract, and deep-sea fish oil) may have complex interactions with medications patients are taking, either increasing drug toxicity or reducing drug efficacy. Therefore, if patients with chronic diseases plan to take health supplements, they must inform their doctor or pharmacist for a comprehensive assessment.
It is important to clarify that health supplements are intended to "regulate bodily functions and reduce the risk of disease," and they do not possess the pharmacological effects of treating diseases. Health supplements are not the same as medications; using health supplements to replace medications for treating diseases and abandoning effective treatment may accelerate disease progression and be detrimental to health. "Health supplements" are not "medicines," and should be used scientifically.
