Before the discovery of penicillin, no effective treatment was available for infections such as rheumatic fever, pneumonia, or gonorrhea. It wasn’t until 1928, when Alexander Fleming noticed that the “mold” growing in his petri dish was killing the Staphylococcus bacteria, that penicillin came to be. Since then, antibiotics have played a major role in conventional medicine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 262.5 million antibiotic prescriptions are written each year in the United States. This means that more than 5 prescriptions are written for every 6 people.
However, in recent studies, it has been revealed that there is a hefty price to be paid with the inappropriate usage of antibiotics. It has been studied that bacteria have, now, been growing resistant to antibiotics that have been used time and time again. Not only that, many antibiotics are shown to have severe adverse effects, and have even led to death.
Listed below are seven reasons why avoiding unnecessary antibiotics is actually a good choice:
1. “Super bugs”.
Antibiotics have been having a harder time treating bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and staph – the very infections that were first treated by penicillin. This has shown to be linked to the increased use of antibiotics. Instead of turning to the “cure-all” drugs, try Vitamin C, which can act as an antioxidant when given in high doses.
2. Antibiotics are weakening your immune system.
Have you ever noticed that after you are prescribed an antibiotic, you just get sick again? Scientists have researched that there is a link between the prescribed antibiotics and repeat illnesses. Not only do antibiotics negatively affect the illness-causing bacteria, they also negatively affect normal cells as well. Think of it as “friendly fire”.
3. Antibiotics do not treat the cause; they suppress the symptoms.
A fever indicates that your body’s immune system is responding to an infection by producing many infection-fighting cells. Because antibiotics treat symptoms such as fever, they are actually suppressing the body’s natural defense response against toxins.
4. Some doctors are prescribing antibiotics for conditions that the medication is not intended for.
Doctors have been prescribing antibiotics for simple illnesses, such as the common cold or the flu. It has been shown the best thing to do during these types of illnesses is to let it run its course, and allow the body to naturally fight off the infection. The only contribution of the antibiotic, is that it is helping increase the resistance of the bacteria.
5. Severe allergic reactions.
Antibiotics are known to be the most common culprit of anaphylaxis, which can result in death if symptoms are not treated immediately. These symptoms are caused by a chain reaction in the immune system. Because antibiotics are known to weaken your immune system, there is a link between the over-use of antibiotics and the development of allergies.
6. Development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
A newly recognized disorder, CFS, is a result of chronic viral illness and weakened immunity. Researchers have seen that people can experience extreme fatigue and feelings of tiredness after taking antibiotics. However, they are not exactly sure why. You should ask your doctor if there is a natural alternative to treating a minor bacterial infection instead of turning to antibiotics.
7. There is a link between antibiotic use and breast cancer.
Dr. Theodoros N. Sergentanis and researchers from the University of Athens, in Greece, conducted a meta-analysis comparing the effect on breast cancer risk of individuals who have used antibiotics versus those who have never used antibiotics. They found that those who used the medications had a slightly higher risk in developing breast cancer. The link is thought to be pointed at the weakening of the immune system, and the killing of gut-friendly bacteria, due to antibiotic use.
Although antibiotics can be helpful in treating more severe bacterial infections, perhaps doctors should try and offer patients more natural alternatives to treating the less severe ailments.
References:
7 Reasons Why Avoiding Unnecessary Antibiotics Is a Good Choice
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