Side
Effects of Antibiotics Taken for Sinus Infections
Some
of the most popular antibiotics are becoming increasingly
ineffective on today’s “superbugs” - bacteria
which have become antibiotic resistant by in-breeding and
mutating into new forms. For example, the age-old respiratory
bacteria S. pneumoniae (Streptococcus pneumonia)
and the intestinal enterococcus and salmonella
are now all stubborn against a long list of antibiotics.
This leads to the search for stronger formulas.
As biotechnology
has developed stronger antibiotics, the more side effects
they’ve produced which can lead to other health problems,
such as:
- Respiratory
problems like bronchitis in patients that never had it before
Worse future sinus infections
- Lower digestive upsets: diarrhea or constipation (or alternating,
such as in Irritable Bowel Syndrome), or colitis
- Upper digestive upsets: GERDS (gastro-esophageal reflux),
“leaky” gut
- Oral, intestinal or genital yeast and fungal infection
resulting from overgrowth of “candida”. See
the page “Sinus Infections,
Antibiotics and the Candida Connection”
- Allergic reactions such as rashes
- Nausea
- Headache
- Resistance to particular antibiotics when really needed
WHY
can these side effects result from antibiotics?
In a person
with an otherwise totally healthy system, none of these things
may happen. But if pre-disposed to immune deficiencies
due to auto-immune diseases (AIDS, MS, Lupus, etc), chemotherapy
for cancer, working in a toxic environment, lots of childhood
illnesses, taking continual anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis,
or having previously taken many other rounds of antibiotics,
a person is quite susceptible to the above resulting symptoms
and ailments.
Our
bodies have a combination of “good” bacteria
- microscopic organisms called “gut flora” -
and a certain amount of “bad” bacteria living
in our digestive tract. When kept in proper balance, both
types of bacteria together give us a healthy immune system
through proper digestion of food, minerals, and vitamins
and regular cleansing and expelling of toxins and waste.
“Antibiotics”,
as the name itself indicates, while working to destroy the
bacteria which is making us sick, can also kill off our
naturally grown good bacteria. Of course, taking antibiotics
is not the only way this can happen, but it can be a contributing
factor.
Can
the destroyed good bacteria ever be replaced?
YES.
Tiny bacterial organisms known as “probiotics”
(most commonly heard of are bifidus and lactobacillus acidophilus,
but there are many varieties) can be bought at natural health
stores or from distributors like Växa. We currently
manufacture a probiotic product in capsule form, ReFlora+.
It will duplicate and replenish the good flora which normally
inhabits the digestive tract.
Probiotics
can be taken two to three hours either before or after antibiotics
without reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotics. It
can help manage the balance of good versus bad bacteria
and reduce side effects. Introducing probiotics to your
system will help fight the re-growth of bad bacteria, and
eventually your system will manufacture its own good bacteria
again.
Probiotics
can and should also be taken regularly every day to maintain
good “gut health”, especially by people who
have experienced compromises of any sort. They have been
found helpful in reducing IBS (irritable bowel syndrome),
as it is bad bacteria which often causes this.
Also,
check out our VäxaGreens, Växa Digestin and Växa
Buffer-pH+. These, in order, help cleanse the colon, promote
good digestion, and restore tissues by reducing acidic build-up.
This in turn increases good absorption of the probiotic
products.
To get
fully educated on the many sinus infection options available
when antibiotics are not appropriate, visit our Non-antibiotic
Prescription page and also Homeopathic
and Natural Remedies.
VÄXA
is also introducing a new nasal irrigation
product, Sinus Formula.
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