joy

Antibiotic Resistance – REALLY, you should take them all

Posted on by Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D.

meds and bottleWe are coming into infection season. Colds, the flu, bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections, pneumonia, and more seem to occur more often as the we stay inside in the colder weather.

Should all infections be treated with an antibiotic? NO

If your infection is from a virus then an antibiotic will provide NO HELP.

If your infection is mild, and your immune system is strong, you can often fight the infection without an antibiotic.

If you do require an antibiotic, have you ever been tempted to take it until you feel better then stop and save the rest for next time? DON’T DO IT!

If you take nothing else from this blog, please take your entire course of antibiotics.

Antibiotics can either weaken an infection until your body’s immune system can completely get rid of it or kill the bacteria. Either way, if the antibiotic is stopped once most of the bacteria are weak or killed, then those few bacteria that are not weak or killed can come back. When they do come back, they can also change just enough that the antibiotic will no longer work.

Antibiotic resistance, when bacteria stop responding to a particular antibiotic, is dangerous. It requires more advanced antibiotics which have more side effects and have a broader effect. Then, if resistance develops to those (usually when the full course is not taken), then even more advanced antibiotics are needed.

When this happens too much you can become resistant to many antibiotics. Also, when this happens over time, entire communities can get strains of bacteria that don’t respond to the usual antibiotics.

I share this to beg you to take every last dose of your antibiotics if you need them this year.

To help you avoid infections, please wash your hands frequently. Especially when you are out in public touching door handles, shopping cart handles, restaurant tables and chairs, etc, you are increasing your risk of picking up a virus or bacteria. When your hands dirty, avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes, and nose.

Have a healthy fall and winter!

For more information about antibiotics and treatment for colds and flu,contact us at www.medsmash.com.

BIBLICAL APPLICATION

It is tempting with antibiotics to stop them once you feel better. But, when you do that, you run the risk of an even more difficult-to-treat infection.

The spiritual equivalent is taking partial doses of all God has to offer. Maybe you go to church once a week and occasionally read the Bible.

Your limited doses of spiritual time can give you glimpses of all of the wonder and glory and peace and joy that is yours in Christ, but not the full view.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 14:17 ESV

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Putting Christ first in your life, taking full doses of all He has to offer you, will lead to joy and peace beyond what you can imagine.

Little doses give glimpses. Full doses can change your life forever!

Blessings,

Michelle

Image credit: Centers for Disease Control Public Health Image Library

Life Transitions = Depression Risk

Posted on by Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D.

car-clip-art-879As my son returns to college I am fighting tears and happy at the same time. It is such a big adjustment to be away from him for several weeks at a time. I am sitting here thinking about the big impact of life transitions. We all experience them.

It is common knowledge that loss of a loved one and tragedies can increase risk of depression.

Moving, marriage, child moving out, job loss, retirement, and functional changes can increase risk of depression.

Diagnosis with a chronic illness can increase risk of depression.

As age increases, these life transitions can become more frequent.

When not recognized and addressed, depression can make you feel tired with too little energy, make it hard to concentrate and cause you to lose interest in things that you used to enjoy. It can also lead to you feeling sad and hopeless.

Depression is NOT a normal part of aging.

You do NOT have to just tolerate it and think this is your new normal.

Depression does NOT mean you have done something wrong.

There is help, and there is hope! Effective depression treatment usually requires support from people and medications. Medications that treat depression take about 8 weeks to work, so please be patient and take them every day until they work.

To further complicate things, depression is common in someone experiencing memory decline. As stated above, depression makes it harder to concentrate and remember. Cognitive or memory decline often leads to depression as the decline is recognized. Professional diagnosis and treatment is imperative to sort through what is causing what symptoms and the best course of action.

Remember, you do not have to live with depression.

If you’re interested in a depression screening, contact www.medsmash.com.

Biblical Application

If you are depressed, are you a bad person? NO!

Are you a weak Christian? NO!

Have you done something wrong? NO!

Throughout the Bible there are stories of people dealing with difficult situations, life transitions, illnesses, chronic problems. These include David and Paul and Joseph. You are not alone.

Also found throughout the Bible are messages about joy and hope. You have an eternal source of this joy and hope.

I believe part of God’s design for helping you through these difficult times is medical and psychological treatment. God gave these abilities and resources to your treatment team for your benefit.

Psalm 28:7 (NLT)

The Lord is my strength and shield.

I trust him with all my heart.

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Hebrews 6:19 (CEV)

This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

I’ll be praying you find the eternal joy that is yours in Christ. And I encourage you to seek God’s blessing through treatment by your healthcare providers.

Blessings,

Michelle