The Many Risks Of Taking Antibiotics

During the year we suffer from many diseases, colds, sore throats and viral infections that we try to treat by taking antibiotics.

On many occasions we go to the doctor’s office in the hope of receiving this type of medication. However, it is not always the best option.

The possible side effects

This drug was first used in 1940 and was one of the greatest medical advances. However, overuse of antibiotics can create resistant bacteria in the body.

Another important factor to keep in mind about this type of medicine is the side effects it produces. For example, if children are taking antibiotics, they are prone to possible side effects, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. They may also be allergic to this drug.

Virus versus bacteria

There are two types of pathogens that can affect our health: bacteria and viruses. Both microorganisms have similar symptoms and are multiplied and developed in a similar way.

Bacteria

Bacteria are living microorganisms that exist independently as cells.

They are found in many places and are not always harmful to our body. One type of beneficial bacteria is called lactobacillus, and these live in the gut and help us digest food.

However, in some cases, bacteria are harmful and can cause disease by invading the human body when they interfere with the body’s normal processes.

Antibiotics are very effective in this case because they prevent microorganisms from growing and developing.

Virus

Viruses, on the other hand, cannot exist alone because they are not alive. They are actually particles with genetic material wrapped in a thin layer of protein.

Their growth and reproduction occur only after they invade living cells.

Our immune system can fight some viruses before they affect the body. However, antibiotics are not effective alone in fighting viruses.

Harmful use of antibiotics

Taking antibiotics when you have a cold or other viral diseases is useless. Not only this, but it can have negative effects on your health in the future.

For example, it increases the development of resistant bacteria.

In particular, frequent and inappropriate use of this medicine may cause bacteria or other microbes to mutate and adapt. This means that antibiotics will no longer be useful in combating them.

This is called “bacterial resistance” or “antibiotic resistance”. When this happens, higher doses of stronger drugs or antibiotics will be needed to fight these resistant bacteria.

In addition to antibiotic resistance, misuse of antibiotics can lead to other problems.

Taking antibiotics can eliminate many different bacteria, both bad and good. This means that antibiotics themselves get rid of bacteria that are beneficial for your body to be healthy.

Furthermore, taking this medicine can cause a person to develop diarrhea due to the lack of beneficial bacteria that help digest food well.

This is why it is best to look for replacements.

The more antibiotics we use to ineffectively treat simple diseases such as colds, flu or other viral infections, the more useless they will be in fighting the bacteria they are trying to treat.

The consequence of this can be a greater number of visits to the doctor to find a treatment that works.

When should you take antibiotics?

You should only take antibiotics to treat bacterial infections.

If you have a mild infection, especially one caused by a virus, you need to let it go. This is how you can prevent the bacteria from developing resistance to antibiotics. It will be  the discretion of the doctors to make this decision depending on whether you have a mild illness or not.

Get medical advice. Sometimes it is not enough to go to the doctors’ office and follow the treatment. In addition, it is important to gather information from health professionals about whether the disease we have is bacterial or viral.

You should never persuade your doctor to prescribe antibiotics.  Your doctor knows what is right for you.

In addition, there are very interesting natural antibiotic alternatives. Explore them!

Antibiotics left over

It is never a good idea to take antibiotics that are left around the house. Also, do not use medication prescribed to another person, be it a child or an adult.

Remaining antibiotic pills should be delivered to the pharmacy where they will be taken care of as soon as possible, especially when your condition has improved and you can complete the treatment.