You can take some simple steps to help save humanity…literally.
Antibiotics have been around forever, but their official use didn’t spread until the late 1800s. They are truly miraculous. Able to fight off problem bacteria, they have saved countless lives, and eliminated discomfort for many.
But humans are now facing troubling times. Antibiotics that were once used to treat potentially deadly bacterial infections such as syphilis, are now becoming useless. The bacteria they treat are becoming resistant.
Yes, you could sit on your couch and panic. It’s true that bacterial resistance presents a grim future for us.
Or, you can educate yourself on what to do. There’s no way that we know of to make bacteria less resistant, once they figure out how to outsmart the antibiotics used to treat them. But you can take the right steps to ensure you don’t contribute to the problem.
Taking your prescription medication correctly now, will help to protect future generations.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that at least 30% of the antibiotics prescribed in the U.S outside of hospitals are done so unnecessarily. Each year, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, in the U.S. Of those, about 23,000 die as a direct result.
Professionals have these simple tips. Don’t seek out antibiotics for a viral infection. This includes the common cold. They won’t make it any better, and this can cause resistance to grow.
And always finish your medication. Don’t leave a few pills hanging on, for later use. When you do this, you contribute to the bacteria in your body potentially becoming resistant to the antibiotic used to treat it. This can happen when your symptoms disappear, but the bacteria is still in your body. Complete your prescription medication in order to kill off the bacteria completely.
For more information and tips, visit the CDC’s website.
