UAE doctors Caution against health risks from unprescribed magnesium supplement use

Health professionals in the UAE are urging residents to avoid taking magnesium supplements without proper medical advice, citing the potential for serious health risks, including heart problems and respiratory issues.

The use of magnesium supplements has surged in recent years, driven by growing health awareness, social media influence, and dietary deficiencies.

Burjeel Holdings's Director of Pharmacy Services, Ravi Sharma, observed that the growing demand of magnesium supplements most likely results from a general increase in health consciousness, Many people have grown more aware of their well-being, particularly in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has driven some to turn to supplements to better their condition, Sharma noted that more and more patients are asking for magnesium supplements; most of them use them mostly for stress and sleep difficulties.

Specialist in internal medicine at Canadian Specialist Hospital Dubai, Dr. John Carlo Brojan also noted the trend: many people are now more aware of the supposed advantages of magnesium and are hence seeking prescriptions for the supplement. He underlined, although, that utilizing magnesium supplements should be done carefully since improper use may have negative side effects, particularly in those who are ignorant of their magnesium levels or those who take too much.

There are several elements thought to be driving magnesium supplements' increasing appeal. Dr. Areej Al Khalil, a family medicine specialist at Saudi German Hospital Dubai, claims that growing health consciousness—especially in light of the epidemic—has resulted in an explosion in consumers looking for supplements like magnesium to boost their general well-being, With influencers promoting magnesium's advantages for stress reduction, better sleep, and muscular relaxation, social media has also been quite important, Furthermore, a lot of people are not getting enough magnesium from their diet, which makes supplements a nice substitute.

Healthcare professionals caution, nonetheless, that magnesium should only be taken under medical supervision since too high a magnesium intake might pose serious health hazards, Too much magnesium, according to Dr. Brojan, can induce respiratory problems as well as arrhythmias—that is, abnormal heartbeats. Rarely, a magnesium overdose might cause toxicity—a condition that might be lethal. Magnesium supplements are crucial for people with low magnesium levels—that is, those diagnosed with hypomagnesemia or those with medical disorders like pre-eclampsia—but must be closely watched by a healthcare expert.

Dr. Al Khalil further underlined that although the body can control magnesium levels, too much magnesium from supplements can lead to major problems, particularly if used without professional direction. "Everything in excess can be bad for our health," she said. Although magnesium is essential for many body processes, including muscle and nerve activity, the dangers connected with excessive usage of supplements are rather great.

Before starting any magnesium supplementation program, doctors are counseling residents to see other medical experts, Particularly in those with underlying medical issues or those ignorant of their magnesium levels, using magnesium without appropriate medical supervision could cause unexpected side effects and possible health concerns.

Healthcare professionals are advising caution even if magnesium supplements have grown more and more popular because of dietary gaps, social media influence, and rising health consciousness, Magnesium supplements taken without appropriate medical direction might cause serious health concerns including heart problems and respiratory difficulties, To guarantee their safety and well-being, residents are highly advised to consult professionals before taking magnesium supplements.