Contraindicated意思

"Contraindicated" is a term commonly used in medicine and healthcare to describe a situation where a particular treatment, procedure, or medication is not recommended or should be avoided due to the risk of harm or lack of effectiveness for a particular individual or condition. The word comes from the Latin "contra" meaning "against" and "indicatere" meaning "to point out."

In the context of healthcare, a treatment may be contraindicated for several reasons, such as:

  1. Allergic reactions: If a patient has a known allergy to a drug or substance, using that substance would be contraindicated.
  2. Existing medical conditions: Certain treatments might exacerbate or worsen an existing medical condition, making them contraindicated.
  3. Interactions with other medications: Drugs can interact with each other in harmful ways, so combining them may be contraindicated.
  4. Specific patient characteristics: Age, gender, pregnancy status, or other factors can make certain treatments unsuitable for an individual.

For example, aspirin is contraindicated for people with a history of peptic ulcers because it can exacerbate the condition and cause bleeding. Similarly, certain vaccines are contraindicated for individuals with compromised immune systems because they may not respond effectively to the vaccine or could experience severe side effects.

The concept of contraindication is important in ensuring that healthcare providers select the most appropriate treatments for their patients, avoiding those that could do more harm than good.