When people feel miserable with a cold, flu, cough, runny nose or sore throat, they often hope for antibiotics to make them feel better and get well. The problem is, antibiotics don’t work for these conditions. Why? Because they are viral infections and antibiotics are only effective on bacterial infections.
For example, except in rare cases, bronchitis is caused by a virus and not treated with antibiotics. Sinus infections are also usually viral, but acute bacterial sinusitis is caused by bacteria and should be treated with an antibiotic.
Physicians have become ever more vigilant about prescribing antibiotics because over the years bacteria have developed resistances to antibiotics. When you take antibiotics, most of the bacteria are killed. However, some resistant germs may be left behind. Over time, they can multiply. As bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics we find that illnesses can last longer, may become more severe, can result in hospital stays and may require more expensive and complex medications.
For more information on the use and overuse of antibiotics, visit www.cdc.gov/getsmart/index.html.
Berries have long been credited with a variety of health benefits - but just how much of that is myth and fact? NPR shared an interesting report about the health benefits of cranberries and blueberries and the chemistry behind those benefits.
In a nutshell, some of the old lore surrounding berries does have some truth to it. While our ancestors may not have understood the “why” behind the health benefits of cranberries and blueberries, they were correct in their use of them.
- Cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections. They have been found to keep bacteria from sticking to our cells.
- The berries are filled with beneficial vitamin C - which did prevent scurvy.
- The polyphenols in berries are great anti-oxidants, reducing the damage done to our tissues over time by oxygen.
- Anthocyanins, which make the berry blue or red, are credited with reducing inflammatory reactions. This can help in reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer.
- Blueberries may help you improve your memory. Scientists haven’t identified what makes that possible, but suspect it is the anthocyanins.
- Blueberries may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and help regulate blood sugars, thus lowering your risk for diabetes 2.
NPR shares some great blueberry and cranberry recipes as well. Enjoy.
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.
This year, there’s been an increase in cases of persistent coughing and sinusitis. Are the two related? They can be. Coughing is a defense mechanism - it’s how your body removes irritants such as bacteria, viruses, pollutants, mucus or postnasal drip, from your lungs and upper respiratory tract.
Just what happens when you cough? A recent article in the Washington post provides a great interactive diagram of the anatomy of a cough. Basically, irritants in your throat or mucus in your lungs stimulate your nerves and send a message to your brain indicating the need to cough. Your body reacts with an intake of breath, the glottis above your voice box temporarily closes, your chest muscles contract and you forcibly cough - expelling air through the open glottis and out your mouth.
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.
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