Are we Too Dependent on Antibiotics?

To be honest, that shouldn’t even be a  question in the first place, because YES, we have become too dependent on drugs and medication. For every little thing, let’s say a headache, our first reflex is to reach out for a pill, when in fact, there are other safer alternatives that one could use.

People would instead take medication than change their current lifestyles:

Approximately 10 million people in India suffer or succumb to heart failure. Rather than eating a healthy diet of salads, reducing oil in daily food, or ordering fewer restaurant-made items.  According to the CDC, the usage of statins(a cholesterol-lowering medicine)  has increased by six times than it was from 1988-94.

Understandably, people find it hard to change their lifestyles, but having too much medication can adversely affect one’s body.

Risks of using medication frequently:

• Antibiotic resistance:

Our body continuously evolves over a while; having medication frequently causes the bacteria to adapt to the drug, and after a while, the medication stops working on the body. 

According to a doctor of CDC’s antimicrobial resistance office, antibiotic resistance has become a threat to humankind. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea are getting harder to treat since the medication is ineffective against the bacteria. This issue leads to more extended hospital stays, higher medication bills, and increased mortality.

The primary use of antibiotics is to prevent/cure the disease, but most of the time, people have antibiotics when they are not needed. This mostly happens when doctors prescribe the wrong medicine or try to experiment with the efficiency of a companies product on people.

• Long-term and inappropriate use of medication:

More than half of the population uses more than two medication prescriptions, either for chronic diseases or common colds/coughs. But the usage of these different types of medication creates a disaster cocktail inside our bodies. 

When people feel that the medication isn't practical, that isn't the case; instead, the bundle of drugs has adverse effects on your body. 

As we know, all medications come with a list of side effects and 'how to use' instructions. When used correctly, they provide us with excellent results, but an overdose can kill the body from the inside out. 

For example, aspirin or blood thinner medication can help prevent heart attacks but increase the risk of internal bleeding in the intestine or cranial areas; some reports show that patients have hearing loss with excess medication. 

Other methods to decrease the usage of antibiotics:

• Natural antibiotics:

Garlic, honey, ginger echinacea, goldenseal, and oregano are some natural elements with medicinal properties. 

For example, Haldi is known for its medicinal properties of increasing immunity; honey- brandy with hot water is known for curing colds or coughs, and ginger tea help to reduce stress, helps with weight loss, and helps reduce blood pressure. 

But even if things are natural doesn't mean that they are entirely safe; people must take even natural treatments in a proportionate amount. Some of these natural cures may cause ineffectiveness in some medications.

• Yoga:

Yoga helps to ease back pain and arthritis problems. It is a simple stretching exercise that most doctors recommend for chronic pain, which most of our generation face because of long hours of sitting in front of computers.

It benefits heart health; yoga is a series of breathing exercises, stretching exercises, and relaxation. It's equivalent to that of a massage in a parlor. 

Taking deep breaths refreshes the body and clears the mind, helping the person be more productive. 

For people having sleepless nights, yoga helps to set a routine sleep schedule. It connects to a supportive community and increases the potential of self-care.

• Homeopathy:

It is the opposite of allopathy; it believes that the source of the problem can cure the problem itself. It is based on a lower dose of medication that can cure the disease rather than a heavy amount of drugs. 

It is prepared from tiny amounts of natural medicinal plants so that it doesn't become toxic. Homeopathic medication does not hamper the digestive system nor reduce the effectiveness of medicines. 

It is known for its fast activation and effectiveness in both acute and chronic conditions. It helps build resistance against disease at a root level, thus preventing it from attacking the body again. Since it has no side effects or toxicity, it can be prescribed to any age group, including pregnant and lactating women.

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(Credit Author:Anoushka Minezes)