Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses wherein symptoms can include:
• facial pain – including swelling eyes, nose and cheeks
• headache
• nasal discharge / runny nose
• nasal congestion / stuffy nose
• fever
• fatigue
Symptoms are just the same whatever type of sinusitis you have, whether it be acute (short term) or chronic (long term).
What can be done to acquire sinusitis relief? Well this depends on the cause of your sinusitis and the manifestation of the sickness. Other factors to consider are your present living condition, habits, history of illnesses, and background in drug use.
Antibiotics are commonly prescribed by doctors so that patients can feel relief and complete healing from sinusitis. This is because antibiotics provide the kind of medication needed to fight the common infections causing sinusitis. But let us be more detailed in explaining why you can turn to antibiotics for sinusitis relief:
• Antibiotics are used for killing bacteria, some type of fungi, and parasites. Antibiotics prevent these mentioned organisms from continuing to infect your system. The important key words here are: bacteria, some types of fungi, and parasites. These are the main targets of antibiotics. So if your sinusitis is caused by any other organisms such as viruses and allergens, you need to look for other means to gain sinusitis relief.
• Antibiotics are needed to handle severe sinusitis symptoms and prevent these symptoms from aggravating into more complicated conditions. Tissue damage may occur when experiencing too much dryness in the nasal passages and when the infection is taking over much of the sinus area. Antibiotics can help in clearing out the infection and healing any damage caused by the said infection.
• When sinusitis occurs for far too long, most definitely, the bacterial infection has become too comfortable in your system already. To get rid of this type of infection that causes chronic cases of your sinusitis symptoms, you can turn to antibiotics.
• Currently, antibiotics are easily prescribed by doctors, as if these are the ultimate and the only source of treatment for sinusitis. This is a wrong notion. You should be careful with the use of antibiotics. As powerful as these drugs can be for your sinusitis, they can also turn against your body by becoming agents of unwanted side effects. Rare and more serious side effects are kidney stones, blood clots, blood disorders and deafness. If you have conditions related to these, discuss them with your doctor before deciding to take antibiotics for your sinusitis.
• Aside from the information above, make sure to use antibiotics only as prescribed. Do not overuse antibiotics, as this may lead to your body’s resistance to the drugs. Do not stop medication just when you feel like it. You have to finish your prescribed dosage to make sure that infection is totally eliminated from your system.
• Lastly, there are several ways to incorporate antibiotics in your sinusitis-restricted life. You just have to ask your doctor about your options and choose which way will fit your lifestyle.
- Oral antibiotics are taken through the mouth. It takes time for these to act on the infection, but they are the most convenient to administer.
- Intravenous antibiotics are applied the fastest, since the drugs are injected to your bloodstream and provide immediate relief from sinusitis.
- Aerosolized antibiotics are inhaled through the mouth and nose to serve as topical solutions to sinusitis. The infected areas are reached immediately, so these antibiotics can clear up infection in a matter of minutes.
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A Natural Look at Halting the Need for Repeated Antibiotic Use
Is this you: You have a sinus infection or bladder infection; you seek medical care and are prescribed an antibiotic; after you stop taking the antibiotic, your symptoms return, causing you to see the medical doctor again for more antibiotics? Before you know it, your symptoms do not go away and you are taking more and different antibiotics for longer and longer periods of time.
Or perhaps you are taking an antibiotic daily in an attempt to keep symptoms of an infection at bay?
Unfortunately, you are not alone. Antibiotics are the leading prescribed class of drugs in the United States, with an estimated 84 million prescriptions being written annually during office visits, and another 40 million prescriptions after discharge from hospitals (CDC, AIA). It is also estimated by the Centers for Disease Control, that only 10% of these antibiotic prescriptions are warranted.
The Three Major Causes of Infections…
Not all infections are alike, even though they seem to cause the same general symptoms: pain, swelling, redness, discharge, fever, aching, and general fatigue. However, the agents that cause the infection are different:
Viruses. Viruses are small pieces of genetic code that enter a susceptible cell and take over its functions, telling that cell to make more of the virus. The immune system quickly destroys viruses once they are detected. Viruses “run their course”, meaning each virus has a usual time limit where it causes signs of an illness before the immune system destroys it. Viruses account for nearly 75% of all ear, sinus and upper respiratory infections.
Fungus. Fungi are a type of mold. Inside everyone’s body (in their ears, nose, vagina, bladder, bowel and intestines) a special type of fungus exists. It is Candida albicans. This fungus needs to be present to protect the body and to help the intestines break down food. When there is too much Candida, it can produce the signs of an infection. The Mayo Clinic estimates that Candida infections account for 98% of all recurrent infections, and about 15% of new infections.
Bacteria. Bacteria are cells in themselves. When they enter a susceptible body area, they multiply and make more bacteria cells. A healthy immune system can destroy bacteria; if the immune system is not strong enough, a bacterial infection can continue. Bacterial infections account for approximately 10% of all infections.
Parasites. These are listed because parasitical infections can occur. Most of the time, these type of infections occur from uncooked pork products. Some scientists estimate that everyone on the planet has a parasitical infection and has contributed many health concerns to parasites. However, many people do not have signs of an infection from parasites. Less than 1% of infections are the result of parasites.
How Antibiotics Work…
There are 17 different classes of antibiotics; however, each class works in a similar manner. Every antibiotic is either a general (“broad-spectrum”) or specific (“focused”) antibiotic. A broad-spectrum antibiotic is designed to eliminate a variety of similar bacteria. A focused antibiotic targets only one or two specific bacteria. If you did not receive a test prior to your being prescribed an antibiotic, you would’ve been prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic; nearly all prescribed antibiotics are broad-spectrum.
Notice that antibiotics target BACTERIA. Bacteria are cells in themselves. Our body is made up of many cells. Cells are individual units within the body that are separated from other cells by a shell, as it were. The shells of bacteria are different from the shells of the cells in our body. Therefore, your immune system can seek out and identify what is not part of the body.
An antibiotic can do the same thing. When a person takes an antibiotic, it looks for the shells that have a certain identifier; it then destroys those cells by, in essence, cutting a hole in the bacteria’s shell. The cell dies, hence the bacteria dies.
Unfortunately, broad-spectrum antibiotics do not know the difference between good bacteria and those causing an infection. Our bodies contain bacteria that are necessary for food digestion, vitamin and mineral absorption, and mucous membrane nourishing. When an antibiotic is working, it will destroy these bacteria as well.
(It should be noted that special “antibiotics” are for parasitical infections (such as Actelion), viral infections (such as Tamiflu) and fungal infections (such as Mycostatin or Lamisil). These are not the ones discussed in this article, as these are rarely prescribed and are not the ones prescribed in abundance.)
What about the Other Causes of Infections?
As antibiotics only work on bacteria, they will not work on viruses, fungal infections or parasites. If you take an antibiotic for an infection that is caused by a virus, parasite or fungus, the infection will not get better.
But I Feel Better When I Take an Antibiotic…
The signs of an infection are actually signs that the immune system is fighting the infection. When an antibiotic is taken, the healing efforts of the body are halted because a new, more toxic matter has entered the body. The infection is harmful (which is why your body was fighting it), but toxic, chemical substances are more harmful so dealing with them takes priority for the health of the body. Even if the infection is being caused by a virus, the symptoms of that infection will diminish or disappear because the body has something more harmful to focus on. Remember: the signs of an infection are the immune system fighting the infection. Without the immune system fighting the infection, the symptoms will diminish or disappear until the drug is gone or “handled” by the body.
Is Repeated (Chronic) Use of Antibiotics Safe?
Not counting allergic reactions to antibiotics, there are many documented cases of adverse reactions, the most common being diarrhea and nausea. In the digestive system (intestines and stomach) are good bacteria that help with digestion and assimilation of nutrients. When these good bacteria are killed by the antibiotic, digestion is disrupted and the good yeast (Candida albicans) that exists in the intestines has more space to grow, so it does. Remember, yeast is not killed by antibiotics. Not only is there yeast over-growth, but there can be decreased nutrient absorption and a difficulty breaking down foods that are eaten, resulting in diarrhea and a risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Another not-often-discussed effect is, in effect, immune suppression. As mentioned earlier, the immune system slows down when the body has to deal with chemical toxins/foreign substances. If a person has a virus, the virus will continue to make more of itself, unhindered by an immune system. Once the antibiotic is stopped, the virus will show itself again, but it will be stronger because it has had the opportunity to take a stronger hold. Also, the fungal infection discussed in the previous paragraph will get worse over the course of the antibiotic; it too was not hindered by an immune system. With yeast being everywhere in the body, it is possible that the signs of a recurrent infection in the sinuses or bladder, for example, are being caused by yeast. As mentioned earlier, the Mayo Clinic believes that 98% of recurrent infections are the result of YEAST, not bacteria, so recurrent antibiotics in these cases would not help the situation.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been associated with chronic infections, a result of the weakened healing responses from chronic antibiotic usage.
A new concern that has arisen concerns auto-immune disorders. It has been suggested and is now being studied that taking immune-boosting supplements while taking antibiotics increases the risk of a person developing an auto-immune disorder, as the immune system becomes confused when it is being both suppressed and boosted at the same time.
Another problem with chronic antibiotic usage (it won’t be discussed here, however) is the development of “super-bugs,” bacteria that cannot be destroyed by any typical antibiotics because they (the bacteria) had been exposed to antibiotics so often that they are now “immune” to them.
How Can the Cycle Be Broken?
The immune system is designed to seek out and neutralize any invaders, whether they are bacterial, viral, parasitical, fungal or other. The stronger the immune system, the quicker the response will be to these foreign invaders.
There are many herbal supplements available that taut being “immune enhancing” or “immune strengthening”. Some of the most common herbal immune supporting herbs are: echinacea, elderberry and goldenseal. The most common vitamin is Vitamin C.
HOWEVER!!! If you are taking an antibiotic, DO NOT take any supplement that may boost the immune system! Remember, an antibiotic is indirectly suppressing the immune system; taking a supplement to boost the immune system will confuse the immune system and could lead to an auto-immune response.
One of the best ways to break the antibiotic cycle is to support the body through homeopathy. Homeopathic medicines can be used safely with antibiotics or herbal supplements, as homeopathy works to restore the balance to the body’s healing ability; homeopathics don’t work directly with the immune system, but work to make it more effective when it is ready to be more active.
Homeopathy also works with your body to eliminate the reasons that infection strikes and takes hold. As homeopathic medicines are not an “antibiotics”, they don’t care what is causing the infection, only that an infection or foreign entity is present and needs to be removed. They work quickly to restore balance, but they are gentle in action. Homeopathy does not shut anything down or inhibit any natural body process—they support eh body’s ability to act.
What Else Can I Do?
Remember that diseases don’t occur in a vacuum, meaning that there is no one reason why a disease strikes and why it may stay around. Always consider the emotions that are stirred up by the disease, or the emotions that may’ve started the troubles. Each area in the body holds some emotions more strongly than others; for example, the bladder holds fear; the nose, sadness and despair.
Also look at your living and work environments. If you have a chronic sinus infection, do you live in a home that has mold? Do you work in an area that has been freshly painted? Look at your personal habits. Do you frequently hold your bladder so you go to the bathroom only twice daily? Do you smoke?
It is also a good idea to supplement your diet with Probiotics, such as acidophilus. With antibiotics destroying the good bacteria in the body, these good bacteria need to be replaced. There are many acidophilus or probiotic formulas on the market; or eat a yogurt daily, one that has “live yogurt cultures.”
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Antibiotics are the medications that are specifically used against the bacterial infections. They are the best medicine to cure the bacterial infections. Nearly all the different types of the bacterial infections are being treated with the help of the antibiotics. Bactericidal and bacteriostatic are the two categories of antibiotics. Bactericidal antibiotics act directly by killing the bacterial infections. Bacteriostatic antibiotics act by stopping the multiplication of the bacterial infections. Bacteriostatic antibiotics are prescribed as the preliminary level of treatment, whereas bactericidal antibiotics are prescribed as final level treatment of bacterial infections. But, depending on your level of infection doctor may prescribe you directly bactericidal antibiotics.
Antibiotics are the medications that show effect only on the bacterial. So, use antibiotics only for bacterial infections. Viral and fungal infections cannot be cured with the help of the antibiotics. Antibiotics are prepared from the bacteria that have the antibacterial quality. This was first noted by the Sir. Alexander Fleming. Antibiotics began a new revolution in the field of medicines. No other medication was noted be as effective as antibiotics against the bacterial infections. Previously, people use to die because of the bacterial infections. But, now due to the use of the antibiotics deaths caused by the antibiotics are being considerably reduced. Antibiotics of different types have been noted to be discovered and are very effective against different bacterial infections.
It is strict warning from all the leading pharmaceutical association that, use antibiotics only for bacterial infections because if used for any other infections can lead to some severe infections. Antibiotics are taken only after confirming that you are suffering with the bacterial infection. For this the laboratory tests are done that makes it clear that which type of infection you are suffering with. Even doctors prescribe you the medications on the basis of these laboratory results. The problem of infections is becoming very common nowadays because of the unhealthy lifestyle that we are living. Sexually transmitted infections are the most common infections noted nowadays. Whatever may be the severity of infection you can cure it with the help of the antibiotics.
Bacteria are of two types aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic means bacteria that require air for survival and anaerobic bacteria are those that can survive without air. Both these bacteria can be cured with the help of the antibiotics. You can overcome the bacterial infections within 5 to 7 days with the help of the antibiotic drugs. Sometimes the timing may increase depending on the severity of infection and your overall health status. Remember that antibiotics are to be taken only as per the recommended dosage, if you take in excess it may result in the increases side effects. Regular excessive intake of bacterial infections may result in coma or sudden cardiac arrest.
Antibiotics are taken only for bacterial infections because if you take them when not required it may cause severe problems to your health. Remember you may also get some unwanted infection due to this type of unnecessary intake of antibiotics. These types of infections caused by the antibiotic medication are very difficult to cure and may cause permanent damage to your health. Antibiotics are recommended only for the bacterial infections any other health problems are not cured with the help of these medications. Many times we take it granted that what we are suffering with is bacterial infection and we take the previously prescribed antibiotics for it. But, this is where we put our health in more danger because it can not be confirmed just by visual appearance that which type of bacterial infection we are suffering with. So, please confirm this with laboratory tests and use antibiotics only for the bacterial infections.
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Unlike the very common sore throat, caused by infection with flu-viruses, strep throat is caused by infection with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus bacteria and is usually more severe. For decades, the primary choice of medications in the treatment of strep throat has consisted in antibiotics. Although at first penicillin was the main antibiotic medication to be prescribed to patients with strep throat, nowadays stronger antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin are generally preferred over penicillin derivates.
The reason why the treatment of strep throat nowadays requires the use of stronger antibiotics is that most bacterial strains have evolved and have developed increased resistance to old-fashioned antibiotics such as penicillin due to inappropriate treatment. Even at present, the exact following of the doctor’s directions regarding the use of antibiotics plays a crucial role in ensuring the efficiency of the treatment. In case the treatment with antibiotics is prematurely interrupted or the doctor-recommended dose of medications is not respected, infections with streptococcus bacteria can recur, becoming even more resistant.
Regardless of the types of antibiotics involved, the use of such medications in the treatment of strep throat has been contested by most physicians in the last few years. The majority of medical scientists believe that the use of antibiotics in the treatment of strep throat should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. They claim that antibiotics produce a variety of side-effects that render such medications inappropriate for treating strep throat in children and elderly people. Most doctors only recommend the use of antibiotics in case of severe throat infections that may also be associated with complications (acute rheumatic fever, tonsillitis, otitis); however, if the symptoms of strep throat are mild and there are no signs of complications, then antibiotics shouldn’t be used at all.
Traditionally, antibiotics were used in the treatment of strep throat in order to prevent the occurrence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), complication associated with streptococcus bacteria infections. Even if antibiotics weren’t 100 percent effective in overcoming strep throat, they had the major attribute of preventing the occurrence of rheumatic fever, condition that often resulted in the patients’ death. However, the incidence of rheumatic fever among patients with strep throat has dramatically decreased over the years, and doctors claim that rheumatic fever is no longer a matter of concern at present.
Rheumatic fever has become an extremely rare condition and the isolated cases of ARF registered in the last few years had nothing to do with strep throat, as they involved patients without any recent or past experience of the disease. More elaborate studies have concluded that ARF can no longer be associated with strep throat, as even in the absence of treatment the risks for strep throat patients to develop ARF are equivalent to zero.
Although antibiotics are known to be very unsafe, producing pronounced side-effects on long-term use, the efficiency of such medications in fighting the bacteria responsible for causing strep throat is still a debatable matter. Viewed through the perspective of their effectiveness in curing strep throat, antibiotics have always generated controversial opinions among the medical community. While early medical studies conducted in the 50’s had suggested that antibiotics were unable to produce substantial improvements in strep throat symptoms, a series of studies conducted in the mid 80’s had indicated the opposite.
In order to clarify whether antibiotics are efficient or not in producing complete recovery from strep throat, medical scientists continued the series of studies and have recently concluded that the efficiency of such medications is strongly influenced by a series of factors such as: the age of the patient, the patient’s past experience with strep throat, as well as inadequate use of antibiotics (self-medication, under-treatment, discontinuous treatment, etc).
Considering the fact that antibiotics can produce serious side-effects (weaken the immune system by destroying the benign bacterial flora along with the harmful bacteria, can cause digestive disorders, can increase one’s risk of developing fungal infections, etc) and have variable efficiency in fighting the microorganisms responsible for causing strep throat, such medications are best to be avoided in the treatment of uncomplicated forms of strep throat.
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