Antibiotics and Probiotics: Part One

I strongly believe in the importance of being proactive in keep and sustaining the one body we receive. It can be hard when we are bombarded with "what's the best" for us or what is the quickest and cheapest with a desired result, but in the world of pharmaceuticals your health really isn't number one. I hope to provide you with a breakdown of information that is necessary to know to help you make better, more informed choices based on a solid understanding of what is important and necessary and what works and what isn't worth the risk. 

Antibiotics is described as "a medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms" It is separated into two categories; Narrow Spectrum and Broad Spectrum which are based on its purpose and the doctors knowledge of the initial cause of infection or illness in a body. 

Narrow Spectrum as the name suggests, target and kill only a limited amount of bacteria that are responsible for causing the infection. the doctors usually prescribe Narrow Spectrum when they known what is causing the infection or illness in the body. 

Broad Spectrum work against multiple bacteria in the body that could be known to cause the infection or illness in the body and is usually prescribed by doctors who do not know what could be causing the illness and are unable to pinpoint the bacteria responsible.

Antibiotics only treat some infections caused by bacteria not viruses or respiratory infections. Viruses are classified as colds, influenza, most sore throats and acute respiratory infections and many earaches are also caused by viruses. Respiratory infections are treated by vaccination such as chickenpox or measles. 

Antibiotics have been prescribed to work on bacterial infections like pneumonia, strep throat, urinary and skin/wound infections but over 90% of acute upper respiratory infections, including sinusitis, are caused by viruses, in which case, antibiotics will not help. Now research has shown and proven results of Antibiotic Resistance, where antibiotic is no longer effective at killing or limiting the growth of bacteria. This can happen either naturally or through previous exposure to antibiotics which has resulted in resistance.

Antibiotics is an effective (in some cases) REACTIVE RESPONSE to an illness or build up of bad bacteria, which is over a period of time is slowly killed by antibiotics use, but not just the bacteria that is causing the illness is worked against, your gut flora is permanently altered too.

Another way people are offered a "solution" to their illnesses are antibacterial options, Antibacterial is defined as "active against bacteria." To further break this down, bacteria and viral infections are infections caused by microbes which are "a microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation" and are spread through coughing and sneezing. 

So here we are faced with a scenario, you are unwell and you receive antibiotics or antibacterial options to resolve your illness, which you either got from your body being unable to fight all the illness causing bacteria or you caught it from a family member, co worker or stranger when they coughed or sneezed and failed to cover it or wash their hands. You may be killing those bacterium that are causing your your body to come under fire, but you in fact are doing it more damage than good in trying to resolve an illness your body can fight with rest, water and natural antibiotic, antibacterial and antiviral sources.

 Defintion reference: wikipedia via google search