A piercing throat pain, or an ear infection that painfully lingers, what’s the solution to treat them? In simple words, none other than antibiotics. Antibiotics come in a variety of forms and can treat a wide range of conditions, which is why they are popular.
But did you know that antibiotics can also be harmful? That’s because too much of a good thing can have an adverse effect. Many people these days are addicted to antibiotics, and that in itself can be dangerous, because antibiotics are potent drugs that have the ability to kill not just the bad, but the good bacteria in the gut.
How Antibiotics Work
When you have an infection, no matter what it might be, and swallow an antibiotic pill, the medicine begins working by stopping the bacteria from multiplying. Antibiotics can kill bacteria by destroying essential parts that enable their survival, such as their cell walls or DNA. Antibiotics also stop bacterial growth by preventing bacteria from making certain proteins they need to multiply.
Consuming antibiotics is still something that can only be prescribed by a doctor. That’s why you don’t find over-the-counter antibiotics. Have you ever asked why? The answer is simple: that’s because antibiotics are powerful medications.
With overuse, antibiotics can easily cause the good bacteria or microbes in the gut to disappear, and when that happens, it could lead to antibiotic resistance, which means that the body gets used to the antibiotic, making the bacteria evolve to survive, resist, or evade the drug that is used to kill them.
According to research by the World Health Organization, each year in the United States alone, an estimated 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur, leading to 35,000 deaths. Consuming too many antibiotics is dangerous, as it can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
How to Find Out if You Really Need an Antibiotic
Most people will need to take antibiotics at some point in their lives, in some cases, probably many times. Antibiotics have several benefits. Besides killing the bacteria that cause diseases like pneumonia, they also prevent infections from occurring.
For example, if you just had major surgery and the wound is still open, you might be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection and speed the healing process. In many cases, antibiotics play a crucial role; they can treat sepsis, for example, which is a disease that causes the body to overreact, leading to inflammation, which can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and eventually death.
Antibiotics treat sepsis by immediately killing the underlying bacteria that trigger this overreactive response. It stabilizes the immune response by stopping the infection from spreading, preventing organ failure, and reducing the mortality rates.
If you have a mild infection and a doctor prescribes antibiotics, it’s good to be a bit skeptical. Remember to ask your doctor for an explanation of the bacterial infection and what the antibiotic targets. Ensure the prescribed medication has fewer side effects. Many people are allergic to specific types of antibiotics, such as sulfa, which can cause mild to severe skin rashes, hives, and even fever. Your doctor or pharmacist has the ability to explain what type of antibiotic is prescribed and inform you of any side effects.
Increasingly, research shows that the longer you take antibiotics, the more likely you are to become susceptible to another bacterial infection. Research has shown that shorter courses of antibiotics can be just as effective as longer ones for some conditions.
In many cases, people often reach for antibiotics to treat mild issues like coughs, chest colds, or the flu. This habit is not just harmful; it can be deadly. Antibiotics should be reserved for serious infections and always taken under a doctor’s guidance. Your doctor can tailor the treatment to your specific needs.
David Messiha | Staff Writer
