Stop Asking Your Doctor for Antibiotics; the CBCD Highlights the Risks of Superbugs
Rochester, NY (PRWEB) December 18, 2013 -- Many individuals with sore throats ask their doctors for antibiotics during a visit to a doctor’s office. These doctors sometimes feel they must prescribe antibiotics, even when the physician knows they will do no good, simply to make the patient happy. They know that patients want to feel like their doctor is “doing something” to help them. This is the case even when the best option may just be rest and natural, antiviral supplements. The CBCD shows why pressuring doctors for an antibiotic prescription is a bad idea.
The CBCD believes that many people are simply unaware of the fact that only 10 percent of all sore throat cases are caused by bacteria. The most common bacterial pathogen is streptococcus bacteria (“strep”), and these should be treated with antibiotics. However, the vast majority of sore throat cases are viral in nature (1).
How can overuse of antibiotics harm an individual?
As Dr. Jeffrey A. Linder, MD said “…people need to understand that by taking antibiotics for viral infections, they're putting something in their bodies that they don't need. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily exposes people to adverse drug reactions, allergies, yeast infections and nausea, with no benefit (1).” Dr. Linder is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.
One of the most dangerous effects of overusing antibiotics is the development of drug resistant bacteria. “The inappropriate use of antibiotics adds to the creation of drug-resistant bacteria, or 'superbugs,' which are very difficult to treat and are a public health threat (1).”
The CBCD puts this into perspective.
“A study published back in October, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that there were close to 100,000 cases of invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (drug resistant bacteria) infections in the United States in 2005. Those infections led to more than 18,600 deaths. AIDS only killed 17,000 people in the same year (2). That means when a person begs the doctor for antibiotics when he doesn’t need them, that person is exposing himself to superbugs.” – Greg Bennett, CBCD
What can a person do instead of asking the doctor for antibiotics?
Dr. Linder points out that “sore throats and cases of acute bronchitis should be treated with rest, fluids and using a humidifier (1).”
In addition, the CBCD suggests that individuals wash their hands to help prevent viruses from spreading when a person coughs. A person should keep from sharing personal items such as towels and clothing.
Finally, people with a virally caused sore throat can ask their doctor about natural antiviral products proven to help reduce viral symptoms. Information about these natural products can also be found on the Internet.
To learn more about how viruses can cause most major diseases, visit: http://www.cbcd.net.
References:
(1) Antibiotics Drastically Overprescribed for Sore Throats, Bronchitis. Published on October 4, 2013.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131004105256.htm
(2) Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States. Published on October 17, 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17940231
The CBCD is a research center recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. The mission of the CBCD is to advance the research on the biology of chronic diseases, and to accelerate the discovery of treatments.
The CBCD published the “Purple” book by Dr. Hanan Polansky. The book presents Dr. Polansky’s highly acclaimed scientific theory on the relationship between foreign DNA and the onset of chronic diseases. Dr. Polansky’s book is available as a free download from the CBCD website.
Hanan Polansky, Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease (CBCD), +1 (585) 250-9999, [email protected]
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