By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Koreans are the most sensitive about their health and complain about their diseases the most, while many of their ``diseases'' were merely colds or headaches.
Research company ACNielsen conducted a survey on 26,486 people from 47 countries around the world, and found that Korea had the largest number of people who suffered from either colds, headaches, indigestion or toothache within a monthly timeframe.
More than 50 percent of 496 Koreans said they had suffered from a cold, while 50 percent and 49 percent said they have had a headache and digestive problems, respectively.
Headaches, sleeping disorders, colds and backache were found most often among respondents worldwide, but their reactions to the ailments were quite different.
Forty-three percent of Koreans said they see a doctor when they are sick. Thirty-three percent take medicine they have used before, while 30 percent go and buy over-the-counter (OTC) medicine at drugstores. However, more than one-third of respondents of the poll in Denmark, Norway and Taiwan said they do not take any medication for ailments.
``The fact that many people suffer from headaches or simple pain is the reason why painkillers are the best selling items in the OTC medicine market,'' a researcher at ACNielsen said.
According to the company, OCT medicines worth more than $70 billion are sold worldwide. The local MoneyToday Newspaper reported the OCT medicine market in Korea was worth 1.8 trillion won in 2006 and is growing every year. ACNielsen said many people were loyal to brands they have used before.
However, when using painkillers and other kinds of OTC drugs, people should be careful, the company said. Though proved safe by the Food and Drug Administration, some medicine can be harmful and people build up a tolerance to them. In October, some drug makers in the United States recalled their infant cough drops sold to children under two years old because they were found to have side effects.
The local Financial News also reported in February that people taking too many painkillers can actually worsen their headache or other ailments.
The research company head Shin Eun-hee said many people feel sicker than ever due to stress from work, bad eating habits and pollution, that weakens immune system. ``People should watch what they are taking, when medication is necessary, and try to change their medicine to prevent drug tolerance,'' she added.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
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