When you or someone you love is sick, whether from the flu
or bronchitis or any number of illnesses, the most pressing thought is towards
recovering as fast and as fully as possible.
In the battle against the bug, antibiotics have often been
the sword with which to vanquish the microscopic beasties. Even those people
that hold out against using medication and let their own immune systems attempt
to triumph often succumb to the perceived “instant cure” that antibiotics seem
to offer. What they don’t realize is that many of those who fall sick, take
antibiotics, and then promptly recover, would have recovered even had they not
taken antibiotics and just waited a few more days. We tend to self-diagnose,
often incorrectly, and seek the cure before confirming the cause of the
illness. Bronchitis, for example, can be caused by both bacteria and viruses.
Unfortunately, the abuse and misuse of antibiotics, which
include over-prescription and failure to complete antibiotic treatment, have
led to a rise in superbugs, bacteria that are resistant to all currently
available antibiotic treatments. Recently, reports have been issued from
European hospitals stating that there has been a frightening rise in superbugs
in hospitals, leading to untreatable infections.
The biggest problem with antibiotics has been and still is
their over-prescription. They are often prescribed for illnesses that are
entirely viral based, such as the flu and colds, making the antibiotics nothing
more than placebos against these infections.
Many people don’t understand that
antibiotics do not work against viruses. As the name implies, antibiotics work
against bacteria, not viruses. Like most living things, bacteria also evolve
and as antibiotics kill off the susceptible colonies, resistant colonies expand
to fill the space left behind. The more antibiotics are used, the faster the
spread of more resistant colonies.
But why do doctors, who surely are aware of the consequences
of this scenario, over-prescribe antibiotics? Part of the answer lies in the
pressure exerted by the patient on the doctor. A physician is often overloaded
with sick patients, especially in the winter when infection rates rise
significantly. Patients often demand antibiotics, having experienced rapid
recovery under bacterial infections and believing the same will occur with the
current infection. Doctors will often prescribe what the patients want rather
than what they need, in order to placate the patient and not have to spend too
much time on each patient.
The speed of bacterial evolution caused by over-prescription
of antibiotics is currently outstripping the speed with which new antibiotics
are developed, which will lead to a catastrophic epidemic of untreatable superbugs.
More sensible prescription and more appropriate use of antibiotics is essential
if we are to keep up and stay healthy.
Author Bio:
Dr. Matt Ramirez graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Human Biology in 2004 and received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 2006. He specializes in auto injury recovery and rehabilitation and has enhanced and improved thousands of lives as well as treated people of all ages over the years. He is also an expert in health and wellness, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and more...
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