Pharmacist with 43 years of experience: rest is the best medicine for early virus symptoms

Ene Jõgisoo, head of the pharmacy in Kose, Estonia, who has worked there for 43 years, says not every health issue requires immediate medication — sometimes the best remedy is simply rest.

Over her long career she has helped treat five generations of local residents, from her mother-in-law's grandmother to her own grandchildren, as she told Vikerraadio's Vikerhommik programme.

The job has changed dramatically

Pharmacy work looks very different today than it did decades ago. In the past, many medicines were prepared directly at the pharmacy, and all calculations had to be done by hand using an abacus-like counting device, since not everyone had a calculator — accuracy had to be precise down to tiny fractions.

A habit of reaching for pills

Jõgisoo has observed that people have developed a habit of seeking quick fixes for health problems in pills, particularly painkillers. She notes that taking painkillers is very easy, but it would be far better to find other alternatives so people don't have to constantly rely on tablets. The fast pace of modern life also plays a role, as people want to recover quickly and get back to work or other responsibilities — as she put it, no one has time to be sick anymore.

For viral infections, Jõgisoo recommends resting first rather than immediately looking for medication. She especially advises patients who come to the pharmacy on weekends to go home, drink something warm, sleep and rest, stay calm and not rush — this way recovery will come much faster.

Virus season started early

This year the viral illness season at the Kose pharmacy began earlier than usual, with the number of patients rising sharply right after children returned to school in early September. Jõgisoo recommends using antiviral sprays and lozenges during viral illnesses, saying they genuinely help and can prevent sickness.

The Kose pharmacy operates from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon. While some customers would like the pharmacy to be open around the clock, Jõgisoo does not consider this necessary. She is also cautious about selling medicines through vending machines, since that would make a pharmacist's consultation pointless — something she still believes, in her words as an "old-fashioned" person, remains essential.