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When Do You Really Need An Antibiotic?

This article talks about when you should actually take an antibiotic and how you should deal with the effects of taking antibiotics.

By Lekhaka

Have you been left with a number of health conditions after taking antibiotics? Sure, the medication might have ended your immediate problem, but somehow you were left with bladder infections, yeast infections, indigestion, bloating, etc. that keep coming back.

health benefits of antibiotics

Antibiotics were created to kill pathogenic microorganisms which are making you sick, or may make you sick. These microorganisms play an essential role in the way our bodies work, with several types of bacteria residing in different areas of the body, all conducting specific functions. Antibiotics kill these microorganisms and upset the balance in your digestion, leading to a myriad of symptoms.

health benefits of antibiotics

Hence you should only take antibiotics when you need it. You should not take it when you have viral infections and common cold and flu. These need to be treated in a different manner. These also go away after a few days on their own sometimes. So avoid taking antibiotics in such cases.

health benefits of antibiotics

However, bacterial infections, like a strep throat need to be treated with antibiotics. Hence we see that antibiotics should only be taken for bacterial infections. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for viral infections, question him about that.

health benefits of antibiotics

Sometimes antibiotics are unavoidable, but you will find things you could do that prevent both short term as well as long term undesirable effects. Take antibiotics as per the directions, in divided doses between meals. While antibiotics affect bacteria levels throughout the body, it is the digestion that suffers the most, so it is important to give it some tender love and care.

health benefits of antibiotics

Sometimes the consumption of antibiotics can lead to a condition called the leaky gut. In this case the good bacteria inside the intestine ends up getting destroyed. For this, make sure to consume enough probiotics to replenish your gut with healthy bacteria.

health benefits of antibiotics

Continue using the probiotic for at least two months, while some people will need six months or more dependent upon their health background and the type of antibiotic prescribed.

Story first published: Tuesday, January 10, 2017, 12:42 [IST]
Read more about: health benefits