Do you take too many antibotics? There’s a fair chance that you do, given the statistics on unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics reported by regulating agencies
Except for any noted source material, content copyright, Neva. J. Howell, all rights reserved
Antibiotics can be lifesavers in some cases and can also become a health threat if overused or abused; this is a serious health issue being explored by doctors and patients alike with the emergence of so-called “super-flu bugs” like the antibiotic-resistant MRSA I wrote about a few days ago.
Looks like I wasn’t the only one watching that Dr. Phil show….just got an email from the health-conscious folks at Native Remedies, talking about super flu bugs and drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
One of the topics covered in that email were the risks of using antibiotics too much. Did you know that, along with killing the nasty, harmful bacteria that might be making you feel sick, antibiotics also kill beneficial, or what’s called “friendly”, bacteria that your colon needs to function properly? Taking antibiotics too often can hinder the balance of friendly bacteria.
Taking antibiotics too often can also result in allergic reactions or to your developing new types of allergies.
Additional health issue with overuse of antibiotics include immune response suppression, systemic yeast overgrowth and the loss of vital nutrients.
more on candida / systemic yeast from Native Remedies.
However, the most significant concern seems to be antibiotic resistance. Overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria which then leads to the need for a different, even stronger antibiotic. The problem is that the bacteria keeps mutating and adapting so that, eventually, it is resistant to all antibiotics…that’s when we have a super flu.
According to several studies on the subjet, this increase of antibiotic-resistant bugs worldwide has been linked to a rise in antibiotic prescriptions.
Infectious diseases are responsible for the death of 13 million people each year, making them the world’s leading killer. These new outbreaks caused by antibiotic resistant super-bugs are making doctors and public health officials very nervous.
How many of doctor-treated patients are being prescribed unnecessary, or discretionary antibiotics? The results are staggering:
Both the
Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration have alarming information on their sites concerning antibiotic resistance. The CDC has estimated that one third of the 150 million outpatient prescriptions for antibiotics written each year in the U.S. are unnecessary. The FDA says, point blank, that antibiotic resistance (also referred to as antimicrobial resistance or drug resistance) is due largely to the increasing use of antibiotics.
What can a person do?
I believe in active participation in your own health care, whether that means self-traeting as is my choice, or working with a doctor and using prescription drugs. It is your right to ask if antibiotics are necessary or discretionary. You have a right to refuse antibiotics if their use is just a precaution.
Natural antibiotics such as goldenseal, colloidal silver and others can be alternatives to explore when there is no life-threatening reason for antibiotic use. And of course, prevention is still the best cure: Flu Prevention Tips
