Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that antibiotics have little effect on ear infections, and for those who do take antibiotics, they are at a slight risk for developing rashes or diarrhea. It was also found that older and less expensive antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, work just as well as the more expensive and newer antibiotics.
This research is important - overuse of antibiotics is now considered one of the public’s most pressing health concerns. Increasingly, we’re seeing that bacteria have built up resistance to antibiotics - rendering some of the most common antibiotics useless in some cases.
It’s important to remember that antibiotics do not kill viruses - only bacteria. There are three different types of ear infections. Acute otitis media is often caused by bacteria, in which case antibiotics are useful. However, it can also be caused by a virus in which case an antibiotic will not work. Buildup of fluid in the middle ear (otitis media with effusion) is caused by a virus and thus antibiotics should not be used. On the other hand, Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) can be treated with antibiotics.
Ear infections are caused by germs, bacteria or viruses that enter your middle ear via the Eustachian tube connecting your throat and ears. This tube can become swollen and cause fluid to collect within the ear.
And, yes, ear infections can be quite painful - particularly for children. The best course of action is to visit your doctor to check on the severity of the infection. Your doctor can also provide you with ear drops that can numb the ear and relieve the pain. Pain relievers can be given to the child to reduce a fever and relieve any discomfort. But remember, never give a child aspirin. A warm washcloth applied to the ear can also help alleviate some discomfort. Yellow fluid leaking from the ear may indicate a burst eardrum. Don’t fear, the eardrum usually heals within two weeks.
For more information on the importance of limiting antibiotic treatment, visit www.cdc.gov/getsmart/.
New research from the Boston University School of Medicine indicates that women who drink more than two cans of non-diet soda or more than 12 ounces of orange juice a day may be more than twice as likely to develop gout.
Gout is a painful arthritic condition that most commonly affects the joint in your big toe. Gout can also cause pain in one’s feet, knees, ankles, wrists and hands. The pain usually comes on suddenly and severely, often in the middle of the night.
Normally your body regulates uric acid by cleansing your blood as it travels through your kidneys, then releases the uric acid in your urine. When your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys don’t dispense of enough uric acid, sharp crystals can form and build up around your joints and the surrounding tissue, leading to red, painful, swollen joints.
According to the new research, it may be fructose - a sugar found in oranges and the high-fructose corn syrup used in non-diet sodas - that puts some women at higher risk for gout. The reason fructose is suspect as a gout risk factor is because fructose can increase a person’s uric acid blood levels. Researchers have yet to determine how big a role fructose may play in developing gout — they still must determine if there are other dietary issues that put one at higher risk.
If you’ve ever passed a kidney stone you most likely remember the pain that accompanied that passing. Did the pain inspire you to change your diet or increase your intake of fluids? If not, you may want to reconsider your habits because most people who have had kidney stones will form another stone within 10 years.
Kidney stones are “pebbles” made of salts and minerals in your urine that form when your body’s water, salts and minerals get out of balance. Formed in the kidneys, they vary in size - from grain of sand to golfball. Can you have kidney stones and not be aware of them? Certainly. When the stones are in your kidneys they are generally painless.
The pain people experience from kidney stones is usually caused when the stones move from the kidneys to the bladder. The pain can come on without warning and usually occurs in your groin, side or belly. You may become nauseas or have pinkish-red urine as well.
While most doctors will recommend at-home care, you should still visit your physician if you experience these symptoms. You’ll need to drink plenty of water in order to remain hydrated and help the stone pass, and your physician may prescribe pain medication or a medicine that will help the stone pass. If the stone doesn’t pass on its own, your doctor may perform extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which uses shock waves to break up the kidney stone.
The most common cause of kidney stones? Not drinking enough water. For years, medical researchers have compiled evidence that increased fluid intake helps prevent recurrent kidney stone attacks. Generally it’s recommended you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day - enough to keep your urine clear. If your urine is a dark yellow, you’re not drinking enough water.
Now researchers are taking a closer look at how diet can help as well. A study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reports that eating foods rich in calcium and eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains can be beneficial to those who suffer from kidney stones. The study also recommends eating less red meats and drinking fewer sweetened beverages. The researchers found that those who did follow these dietary guidelines were 40 to 45 percent less likely to get kidney stones.
Feeling stuffed up? Have headaches, cough at night, a recurring sore throat or pressure in your face? What you think is a cold or allergies may be chronic sinusitis — inflammation of the sinus passages caused by fungal, bacterial or viral infections. View this health video from CNN. It gives a great overview of the condition, as well as treatment options.
According to the latest article in the British Medical Journal — no, they don’t. Nor do Chondroitin supplements. The good news is, the supplements don’t appear to do any harm either. For that reason, researchers don’t recommend against taking the supplements, but they don’t feel insurance companies or governments should pay for them either. For more information, read this NPR blog or the article as it appears in the British Medical Journal.
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