Desi Paracetamol Conundrum

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner or an expert, observations shared in this post are based on research published by various news media outlets publicly.

 

“Indians take Paracetamol like Cadbury Gems.”

I have come across this meme statement on Twitter earlier and it is true in case of Indians consuming over the counter (OTC) paracetamol tablets for mild fever other common ailments like seasonal flu, body pain etc.

You should reconsider this habit because after COVID a specific paracetamol tablet has become a household name and I came across some articles which point towards possible risk of long term side effects which can impact our health. 

 

Some facts to consider from a recent 2020 study:

👉Widely sold paracetamol tablets contain Acetaminophen known to encourage risky behavior

 

👉Acetaminophen's effects on pain reduction also extend to various psychological processes:

✅ Lowering people's receptivity to hurt feelings

 

✅ Experiencing reduced empathy

 

✅ Even blunting cognitive functions

 

How does it encourage risky behavior? 

✅ Feel less negative emotion when considering risky activities 

✅ Increased risk-taking possibility due to reduced risk perceptions 

✅ Impairing a person's ability to perceive and evaluate a risk situation effectively

The above observations don't make paracetamol tablet consumption unsafe. However, we come to the next part, where Indians have started consuming high-dose paracetamol tablets in general pre and post COVID

A study was conducted on paracetamol tablet sales data across 75 countries from 2007 to 2019

👉 Trends for India show we have increasingly moved from producing and consuming 500mg dosage towards 650mg dosage of paracetamol tablets.

👉1000mg is the max single dosage limit for an adult.

650mg dosage of paracetamol is not standard across many countries

✅ For adults in the US, regular-strength paracetamol contains 325mg 

✅ Extra-strength contains 500mg 

✅ 650mg is reserved for minor arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint pain.

✅ 500mg dosage of paracetamol is regulated in India for pricing. However, 650mg dosage is not 

Above points indicate that we might be unnecessarily consuming high dose paracetamol tablets as OTC medicine which could be coincidental considering the medical progress made over years OR a well thought business model which includes pharma companies, medical physicians, and pharmacy stores which puts the patient/consumer to a health risk in the long run.

Nevertheless, please ensure you always take any medicine, OTC or not under appropriate medical guidance and considering your age, other medical conditions etc. Do not rely on personal recommendations from friends and family in such cases.

We live in completely different times now and we are coming across cases where fit and healthy adults are passing away out of the blue with no serious medical history these days.

Sources:

Article 1  |  Article 2  | Article 3

New Platinum Toyota Etios - The Family First Sedan

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd., the Indian Subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan, has recently launched a new face lift version of its Etios Sedan rechristened as The New Platinum Etios. Etios sedan was first introduced in 2010, and the name of this sedan is based on the Greek word ‘Ethos’ which means ‘Spirit’, ‘Character’, and ‘Ideas’. The New Etios brings in added value to the Toyota brand with a proposition of Safety, Comfort, and Quality.

If we look back at the journey of Toyota cars in India they have been always trusted as the brand with special emphasis on customer satisfaction and safety. Toyota was the first car brand in India to offer Airbags and ABS fitting across all variants of their cars. In 2014, they also came up with the High Quality Express Maintenance in just 60 minutes as a part of their Q Service offering.

The front bumper of new Etios dons a sporty look with sleek curves and edges forming around the fog lamp, highlighted with a subtle touch of chrome. The rear bumper and tail light section also has been revamped with a stylish look adding to the overall character of the new design.

Our family members become equal stakeholders in the car buying process while zeroing in on the final choice, The New Platinum Etios is made with your Family in Mind (#FamilyFirst) and Toyota’s promotional campaign finds the right emotional connect on this theme. I am writing for the New Toyota Etios blogging activity in association with BlogAdda, so let’s have a quick walk through of this car.

Safety

We sometimes tend to prioritize mileage and convenience features over safety, while buying a new car. Toyota has been one of the front runners in India to change this consumer perception towards overall build quality and safety features offered in passenger cars. The New Platinum Etios comes with below safety features offered across all variants.

• Standardized dual front SRS airbags 
• Front Pre-Tensioner Force Limiter Seat Belts
• Standardized ABS with EBD 
• Standardized 3-Point Rear Seatbelt 
• New Dual Isofix Child Seat Locks 
• New Rear Centre Removable Headrest

The New Central Locking System offered on all variants except for base ‘G’ version allows immediate unlocking of doors in emergency situations.

ABS brakes prevents the car wheels from locking & skidding during emergency braking and reducing the distance required for a car to come to a full halt. ABS braking also helps in reducing overall wear and tear of the tyre caused due to frequent hard braking in regular use. EBD system compliments the ABS braking mechanism by using the weight distribution of a vehicle to control and regulate the total braking force.

I have personally experienced this difference in emergency braking situation twice when I used to drive a car variant without ABS and EBD feature. I consider myself lucky not getting hurt or hurting somebody else in those two incidents.

The side body structure of this car has been improved for higher impact absorption to enhance overall tensile strength validated with the 4-star safety rating awarded by Global NCAP agency. A car equipped with high-end touch screen infotainment system may definitely feel like a value for money feature, but I would never trade it for my own and my loved ones safety. Rest assured, the New Etios passes with flying colors on the safety criteria.

Comfort

The New Platinum Etios has quite a few aces up its sleeve when it comes to some new features that augment passenger comfort and sets it apart from the older models. The sleek and aerodynamically styled new Optitron Combimeter houses digital tachometer and analog speedometer offering good day and night time visibility of information on the panel and lights up with cool blue lights when head lamps are switched on.

The 592L boot space is wide & big enough to stock your regular luggage and accommodate additional baggage for those weekend family trips and long drives. The low placement of boot lip makes It easier to load and unload too.

The Black-Ivory dual tone color used inside the spacious interior cabin provides an airy feel and two multi directional AC vents placed right in the center unit on the dashboard do not let you miss the need for rear seat AC vent. If you are packing in extra gear for your trip and need extra space inside the cabin then the rear bench fold-able seat would come to your rescue. While this option is a regular feature in hatchbacks these days, it gives you the convenience to extend the trunk space on demand. 

Other features like driver seat height adjustment, steering mounted audio controls, 13L cooled glove box, electrically fold-able ORVMs, and rear seat center armrest add to the overall comfort quotient of this car.

Quality and Performance

New Platinum Etios comes with two engines, a powerful 1.4L Diesel Engine with 68PS power @ 3800rpm, 170Nm torque @ 1800 - 2400rpm and 1.5L DOHC Petrol Engine that offers balance of power and fuel economy with 90PS power @ 5600rpm with 132Nm Torque @ 3000rpm.

Toyota is also backing up this new launch with its strong after sales network by offering unmatched warranty of 3 years/1,00,000kms. Customers can also opt for extended warranty and look forward to low cost of maintenance, assuring of an overall hassle free and economical ownership experience.

As a car brand they have won 3 consecutive J.D. Power Asia Pacific Awards, including the Vehicle Dependability Study 2015 & 2016, the Initial Quality Study 2015, and the ET Promising Brand Award 2015 which validates their commitment to customer satisfaction.

The New Platinum Etios surely promises to be an exciting and refreshed product for customers looking to buy a new sedan or going for an upgrade to their existing hatchback. Test drive one with your family to let the opinions fly and conversations begin!