Posted on 01/13/2013 12:25:34 PM PST by Kid Shelleen
--snip-- It's important to understand that antibiotics aren't always the answer, and are intended to fight bacterial infections. Taking them for viral infections, such as a cold, most sore throats, acute bronchitis and many sinus or ear infections will not cure the infection, or keep others from getting sick, and may cause unnecessary and harmful side effects.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
some people really demand to be on antibiotics, and of course, if the dr doesn't order them out of good medical practice and if something does happen to the patient, look out here come the lawyers....
our health industry bill would be halved if drs didn't feel they needed to practice defensive medicine...
There is no such thing as a ‘magic cure-all’ however antibiotics have saved millions upon millions of lives.
My prescription cost at Walmart for CIPRO, $4.00 for 14 tablets.
It’s worse then that. No need to sue, all they need to do is tell their friends and family what a “quack” the doctor was for not writing the Rx. Or complaining to the hospital, or filling out a bad survey, or even complaining to the state medical board.
So lots of times it’s just easier to give in and write the antibiotic and get on to the next patient.
I keep hearing people say they had the flu and got antibiotics from their doctor. Why? The flu is a virus. If they’re talking about Tamiflu, that’s an antiviral.
It’s important to look at this from several angles.
To start with, by far the best way to fight bacterial and viral infections in the first place is by not getting them in your body in the first place, and by having a powerful, but moderated immune system to suppress them.
Pulmonary diseases (coughing and sneezing), transmit best at 40F and low humidity. Raise the temperature and humidity, and transmission becomes more reliant on hand contamination. Using hand sanitizer several times a day when out in public during an epidemic really boosts your chances of not getting sick.
Probably the best means of strengthening yet moderating your immune system is with vitamin D supplements. It works in half a dozen ways to both attack pathogenic bacteria and viruses, and it makes your immune response more effective, while keeping it from overreacting.
Typically, pulmonary pathogens, colds and flu especially, reproduce in the upper respiratory tract and sinuses. Zinc inhibits their URT reproduction, slowing them down, but only if it can be absorbed by the mucous membranes. And only a few forms of zinc are readily absorbed. They are found in Cold-Eeze lozenges and Zicam oral spray. So both get the FDA’s coveted “proven to reduce duration and severity of the common cold.”
Be very careful of giving aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), or Advil (ibuprofen), as while they may reduce pain and inflammation, they may have serious side effects.
Aren’t most ear infections bacterial?
I just finished ten days of 2 & day Keflex for a bad sinus infection, left side.
Terrible headaches. It took the edge off, but I still have it.
I’m going to stick with OTC stuff and sinus rinses. All I need are `super’ sinus bugs running loose in me.
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