Surprisingly Unhealthy Habits

Many people feel a trip to the doctor’s office is useless if they don’t leave with antibiotics. However, illness is often caused by a virus and cannot be treated with antibiotics, which fight bacteria only. Illnesses caused by viruses include the common cold, flu, most bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep and runny noses. When antibiotics are used for illnesses they cannot treat, they can become less effective against the bacteria they are intended to treat. The bacteria in your nose, throat, and elsewhere in the body can adapt and become resistant to the antibiotic, which means it no longer works against those bacteria. The resistant bacteria can also spread to other people. The biggest consequence of antibiotic misuse is that the antibiotic may not work when you really need it, increasing the risk of complications. You can help prevent antibiotic resistance by not pressuring your doctor for antibiotics when they’re not necessary, taking them as prescribed and never taking them without a prescription.