Category: Brandpoint Health

2018-07-30T12:01:00

(BPT) – –

2018-07-30T07:03:01

(BPT) – Properly taking care of your skin each day — and countering the possible effects of pollution — is quick, affordable and easy to do. So why do so many Americans forgo that step in their daily routines?

A recent survey by CeraVe found 48 percent of American adults often worry about their skin, yet 36 percent have no regular skincare routine. Only 36 percent regularly use cleanser, and 33 percent say they’re confused about how to choose effective products and methods.

Unfortunately, everyday pollution and UV rays can easily wreak havoc on your skin, so it’s essential to develop a proper skincare routine to combat these effects. In a given year, Americans are subject to some 83 million tons of pollution particles emitted into the air. Many Americans encounter those particles on their daily commutes, and because they can be 20 times smaller than your pores, they can infiltrate deep levels of your epidermis, leading to inflammation, dehydration and/or loss of elasticity.

Without a regular skincare routine, you’re also more apt to deal with dryness, irritation, acne, accelerated aging, hyperpigmentation, dullness and other unwanted attributes that can result from the air quality. That may be why six in 10 U.S. adults say they cope with as many as 10 “bad skin days” monthly.

“Forming good skincare habits is not complicated, and it can pay off significantly in terms of your health and appearance,” notes board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry. “It’s never too late to begin a daily skincare routine that offers the best possible protection against unhealthy elements in our environment.”

Consider adopting these five habits that will keep your skin glowing and protected from all that it encounters.

1) Use an effective sunscreen every day. Apply a product that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant and provides broad-spectrum coverage so it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply it throughout the day as needed. Henry points to studies indicating pollution may worsen the effects of UV and increase the risk of skin cancer.

2) Wash twice daily with a quality cleanser. Choosing the right product is key. Henry recommends CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser or Foaming Facial Cleanser, which are gentle on skin and deeply cleanse to remove dirt, oil and residue that build up throughout the day, helping to counteract the harmful effects of pollution and leaving skin hydrated.

3) Send linens through the laundry. Ideally, towels and washcloths should be washed in hot water after one use, and pillowcases should be washed or changed multiple times per week. While this may seem nearly impossible, frequently changing or washing pillowcases will help to keep dirt, oil and dead skin cells from building up and seeping into skin night after night.

4) Eat an optimal diet. Henry suggests eating a diet rich in antioxidants, which may help protect skin, pointing to foods such as carrots, apricots, spinach, tomatoes, berries, beans, peas, lentils, salmon and nuts. Conversely, diets high in processed or refined sugars or other carbohydrates and unhealthy fats may promote skin aging.

5) Get moving. Ever notice how your skin glows after a good workout? Physical activity promotes circulation, which carries oxygen and nutrients that nourish skin cells. Increased blood flow also helps whisk away waste products like free radicals from your cells. Further, exercise can reduce stress that may adversely affect your skin.

Taking a few minutes each day to care for your skin is well worth your while, especially when it comes to combating the effects of pollutants encountered daily. Visit Cerave.com to find dermatologist-recommended skincare products suitable for your skin’s needs.

2018-07-30T07:01:01

(BPT) – A new school year is quickly approaching, and while you probably have supply lists and bus schedules in hand, there are a few other things parents should tackle to get a head start on the back-to-school season. Prepare kids for the best school year yet by handling these important tasks that sometimes are overlooked during the hectic summer.

Routines

Before the school year starts, begin building a routine so children can adjust properly. This means structuring activities so kids know what to expect, including healthy meals at the same time each day and a regular bedtime.

Getting enough sleep is critical to students’ well-being and ability to learn, says Dr. Suresh Kotagal, pediatric sleep expert at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. He suggests establishing a bedtime routine before school starts to help children fall asleep and get a good night’s rest. He adds that children rest better if they skip caffeine after dinner, get regular exercise, turn off electronic devices an hour before bedtime, and silence phones so text messages or alerts don’t disrupt sleep.

Vaccinations

Dr. Robert Jacobson, Mayo Clinic Children’s Center pediatrician and vaccine specialist, advises parents to ensure their child has recommended vaccinations and to be aware of changes to those recommendations. He suggests parents contact their family physician or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s online registry to stay informed of the recommended school admission vaccine requirements for their child.

For example, children can now be vaccinated for human papillomavirus (HPV), at age 11, rather than having to wait until they are 16 years of age. What’s more, some vaccines are now more easily administered. Jacobson says, “We’ve combined the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine with the chickenpox vaccine so a single dose will cover all four of those diseases.”

Medical records

If your child is starting a new school or after-school program, you may be required to supply medical records or vaccination forms. Doctor’s offices should be able to supply this to you at no charge simply by calling or stopping by and filling out a request, just make sure to allow a week or more for processing.

By reviewing this record you can also verify if your child is up-to-date on vaccinations and wellness visits. “It’s very easy to fall behind and a simple phone call to your primary care practitioner will assure you that your children are up-to-date or whether you need to make an appointment,” says Jacobson.

Anxiety

Heading back to school is exciting and a little nerve-wracking. For some children, it can fuel anxiety, which parents can help get ahead of by taking proactive measures.

“Some kids are more anxious than others, and transitions like going back to school can be more difficult for them,” says Dr. Stephen Whiteside, psychiatrist with the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. “Talking to them and preparing them ahead of time by doing things such as visiting the schools and meeting teachers can be beneficial.”

Bullying

One reason a child may have anxiety about heading back to school is he or she experienced bullying previously. Mayo Clinic Children’s Center psychologist Dr. Bridget Biggs says bullying comes in many forms: physical, verbal, emotional, social and online. Biggs says creating a culture of respect in and out of the classroom is key to bullying prevention.

Before school starts, ask your child about their concerns. Learn about what happened and discuss how to respond if it happens again in the new school year (for example, walk away or get help from a trusted adult or peer). Build up your child’s self-esteem so they have confidence to handle difficult situations. Finally, reach out to teachers to build a team mentality.

By taking a few proactive steps now, both parents and children can be well prepared for the start of a great new school year. For more tips on back-to-school and pediatric health, visit us at mayoclinic.org.

2018-07-27T07:01:00

(BPT) – Salt is everywhere, it seems. It is on our tables, in many of our favorite foods and even in life-saving hospital infusions.

After more than a century of debate over the role of salt in human health, the overwhelming medical evidence makes it clear that reducing salt in the U.S. diet may pose a greater risk to many consumers. Consider these four common myths about salt:

Myth 1: Americans eat more salt than ever

Military records from the early 1800s up to WWII show that the average soldier was consuming between 6,000 and 6,800 mg/day of sodium. We eat about half of that today, and that number has remained consistent since WWII. The advent of refrigeration meant that we could preserve food with less salt, but salt remains a critical ingredient for myriad other functions.

Myth 2: Salt consumption leads to hypertension

According to Dr. Jan Staessen, head of the Research Unit on Hypertension at the University of Leuven in Belgium, “The evidence relating blood pressure to salt intake does not translate into an increased risk of incident hypertension in people consuming a usual salt diet.”

Myth 3: Americans could massively reduce their salt consumption without any negative health consequences

Dr. Andrew Mente, of McMaster University in Canada, and his team conducted the largest ever epidemiologic study of the impact of sodium intake on blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk and mortality. “We found that regardless of whether people have high blood pressure, low-sodium intake is related to more heart attacks, strokes and deaths compared to average intake,” he said.

Myth 4: The U.S. population would gain significant health benefits from major population-wide salt reduction

The FDA recommends a maximum daily limit of 2,300 mg of sodium per day and a maximum of 1,500 mg for people with certain conditions. Salt is 40 percent sodium. According to Dr. Michael H. Alderman of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, “Sodium consumption around the globe has a mean of about 3,600 mg/day, and a range from 2,600–5,000 mg/day. This mid-range describes about 90 percent of the world’s population. … Optimal survival is realized by those whose intake is between 2,800 and 5,000 mg/day. Specifically, there is no evidence of a superior health outcome at intakes less than 2,000 mg/day compared with those in the usual range.”

Salt is essential for life. In fact, no mineral is more essential to human survival than sodium because it allows nerves to send and receive electrical impulses, helps your muscles stay strong and keeps your cells and brain functioning. However, sodium chloride (salt) is a nutrient that the body cannot produce, and therefore it must be consumed. The average American eats about 3,400 mg per day of sodium, according to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, right in the middle of the healthy range.

2018-07-24T07:01:00

(BPT) – While injectables like fillers and botulinum toxins, energy-based devices and cosmetic surgery can soften wrinkles, improve skin tone and increase your supply of collagen, the right skincare can do all of that plus more, but without any downtime.

The principles of regenerative medicine are now being harnessed in topical skin care products that can hit the rewind button for your skin’s aging. By using a highly targeted skincare system consistently, you can regain a more youthful complexion in as little as six weeks.

The DefenAge three-step system reverses aging from the inside out by waking up the skin’s master stem cells, aka LGR6-positive stem cells.

Proprietary Age-Repair Defensins, a patent-pending peptide complex, activates the dormant reserve of “fresh” LGR6-positive stem cells. Once activated, these potent stem cells migrate into the skin’s uppermost layer and form the skin’s barrier, which protects it from external threats, prevents moisture loss and creates younger, fresher-looking skin.

Many other skin care products rely on retinol to produce anti-aging benefits which, while effective, can cause irritation and sun sensitivity.

According to Nashville, Tennessee, dermatologist Dr. Natalie Curcio, M.P.H., “The DefenAge system relies solely on Age-Repair Defensins, so it offers the same benefits as retinol minus the potential side effects. In a recent clinical study, participants who used the DefenAge system, which includes the 2-Minute Reveal Masque, the 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream and an 8-in-1 BioSerum, had smaller-looking pores, fewer wrinkles, reduced oiliness and improved skin tone, texture, brightness and hydration after just six weeks.”

These findings appeared in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD). “The clinical study results showed that the defensin-containing trio of products from DefenAge offer most of the advantages of time-honored retinols as well as newer but widely used growth-factor containing cosmeceuticals, without irritation, inflammation or sun-sensitivity,” says the study’s co-investigator, Dr. Vivian Bucay, a dermatologist in San Antonio, Texas. “The clinical results put DefenAge Skincare into the best-in-class category for age-reversing skincare. This truly is a landmark product,” she adds.

DefenAge is exclusively available through leading physicians and select medical spas across the U.S.

For more information, visit https://defenage.com.

2018-07-17T17:17:00

(BPT) – From the food or beverages consumed to the way we eat and when, there are many factors that play a role in the onset of heartburn. To help keep it at bay, internal medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital and Mount Sinai Medical Center Dr. Keri Peterson recommends the following tips:

1) Be mindful of food choices

Many foods and beverages can contribute to heartburn. Ice cream, wine and lemonade are some of the top culprits. Limiting, or even avoiding when possible, the consumption of fatty, fried or spicy foods can help diminish the chance of heartburn rearing its ugly head. While these foods are often known to lead to heartburn, every person is different. If you start to see a pattern of certain foods triggering your heartburn, it is best to cut your intake of them.

2) Be prepared

Despite sufferers’ best efforts, sometimes heartburn is inevitable and current treatment options are not conducive to their busy lifestyles. Cue new store brand Omeprazole Delayed Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets 20 mg., the first and only orally dissolving form of omeprazole, the No. 1 selling PPI ingredient in heartburn treatment, available for people suffering from frequent heartburn, defined as heartburn that occurs two or more days per week. Find it at retailers nationwide under each store’s brand label. This product is not intended for immediate relief; it may take 1-4 days for full effect. Omeprazole ODT is a 14-day treatment program that is not to be repeated for four months.

3) Opt for smaller meals

Eating smaller, more frequent meals as opposed to three big meals each day can help reduce the chance of heartburn. When there’s a larger quantity of food in the stomach, the stomach stays enlarged for a longer period, increasing the chance that food or acids will find their way back up into the esophagus. With smaller, lighter meals, you decrease your risk of this happening.

4) Consider losing weight

If you are overweight, consider an exercise and diet regimen to improve your health. Carrying excess weight can put pressure on your stomach, driving more acid up into the esophagus.

5) Check the time

Eating within two to three hours of lying down can lead to heartburn, as the meal just consumed can slide up into the esophagus. Avoid lying down for at least two hours after eating. When you do lay down, use extra pillows to raise your head a bit off the mattress. Sleeping at an elevated angle can help stop the acid backup.

6) Channel your stress

From the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling brought on by anxiety to hunger pangs caused by seeing tasty food, the emotions a person feels have strong, direct links to their stomach. Stress has been found to induce heartburn in some people because when a person is stressed, the body will often slow down digestion, causing food to stay in the stomach longer and providing more time for stomach acid to make its way up to the esophagus. Try to reduce your stress by doing some light exercise, meditating, getting a good night’s sleep or watching a funny movie to relieve stress through laughter.

For more information, visit dissolveyourheartburn.com.

2018-07-13T13:57:00

(BPT) – This article is sponsored advertising content from Amgen, Inc.

Count to 40. Then again. Two people in the United States (U.S.) just had a heart attack. Every 40 seconds equals one more person.¹ While these individual experiences may be unique, these are life-changing events for everyone involved.

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading health issue in the U.S., with 790,000 heart attacks and 795,000 strokes annually.¹ High cholesterol—particularly high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—is a leading modifiable risk factor for heart attack and stroke.^2,3

Take Mahendra Mahabir, for example. A 43-year-old man, living in Florida with his wife and children, Mahendra has familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder which makes the body unable to remove LDL-C from the blood. Elevated LDL-C, also known as “bad cholesterol,” increases Mahendra’s risk for heart attack and stroke.⁴ Mahendra has had seven stents put in and has suffered from four heart attacks since the age of 17.

One way of reducing the risk for heart attack and stroke is by taking steps to reduce high cholesterol. Drug treatment is a long-standing, effective measure for reducing cholesterol. One category of drugs called statins is widely prescribed and effective for many patients. However, some patients, like Mahendra, need more to lower their LDL-C. In spite of diligently taking his statin medication, he still struggles to achieve his LDL-C target, leaving him vulnerable to a cardiovascular event.

Repatha^® (evolocumab) is a groundbreaking treatment that dramatically lowers LDL-C by helping the liver remove bad cholesterol from the body. It does this by blocking an enzyme—called PCSK9—whose function is to prevent the liver from clearing bad cholesterol.⁵ Repatha^® is proven to dramatically lower LDL-C levels, significantly drops the risk of a heart attack or stroke, and reduces the need for a stent or open-heart bypass surgery in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Repatha^® is the first and only medication of its kind to offer an every-two-week or single monthly at-home injection option.^5,6

For people with high cholesterol, like Mahendra Mahabir, who have been diagnosed with FH or who have established cardiovascular disease, Repatha^® may be an effective option.

“Several people in my family, including my father, passed away from heart disease at a young age. I had my first heart attack when I was just seventeen and have had three more since,” said Mahendra. “I have been on statins for a number of years and my LDL cholesterol levels were still high. I kept an optimal diet and weight and exercised regularly, yet was unable to get my LDL cholesterol levels where they needed to be. I was finally prescribed a PCSK9 inhibitor, Repatha^®, and have since significantly lowered my LDL cholesterol levels.”

A recent clinical trial with over 27,500 patients demonstrated the efficacy of Repatha^® in preventing heart attack and stroke in high-risk individuals with established cardiovascular disease. Repatha^® plus a statin reduced the risk of a heart attack by 27 percent and the risk for stroke by 21 percent.⁶ The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Repatha^® as the first and only PCSK9 inhibitor to prevent heart attacks, and strokes, and to prevent the necessity for a stent or open-heart bypass surgery in patients with established cardiovascular disease.⁵ The most common side effects of Repatha^® include: runny nose, sore throat, symptoms of the common cold, flu or flu-like symptoms, back pain, high blood sugar levels (diabetes) and redness, pain, or bruising at the injection site.

Important Safety Information

Do not use Repatha^® if you are allergic to evolocumab or to any of the ingredients in Repatha^®.

Please see additional Important Safety Information below.

According to Mahendra’s cardiologist, Seth J. Baum, M.D., Repatha^® offers a viable treatment option for those who have tried other treatments with no success.

“People who have had a previous cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or stroke, are at a very high risk for another event and may need to lower their LDL cholesterol levels beyond what is possible with statins alone,” says Dr. Baum. “There’s an urgent need to lower LDL cholesterol in high-risk patients with established cardiovascular disease. Repatha^® is an effective way to do so.”

If you have any of these risk factors, you should ask your doctor about Repatha^®:

• Genetically high cholesterol (known as familial hypercholesterolemia)
• History of heart attack or stroke (established cardiovascular disease)

“I am elated when I see my high-risk patients get their LDL down to very low levels. Doing so will reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. This is the preventive cardiologist’s mission, to prevent cardiovascular events. Dramatically lowering LDL cholesterol is unquestionably one of the best ways we can accomplish this goal,” said Dr. Baum.

Talk to your doctor about how a PCSK9 inhibitor, like Repatha^®, can help lower your LDL cholesterol level. For more information, visit www.Repatha.com.

Important Safety Information

Do not use Repatha^® (evolocumab) if you are allergic to evolocumab or to any of the ingredients in Repatha^®.

Before you start using Repatha^®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to rubber or latex, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The needle covers on the single-use prefilled syringes and the inside of the needle caps on the single-use prefilled SureClick^® autoinjectors contain dry natural rubber. The single-use Pushtronex^® system (on-body infusor with prefilled cartridge) is not made with natural rubber latex.

Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take.

What are the possible side effects of Repatha^®?

Repatha^® can cause serious side effects including: Repatha^® may cause allergic reactions that can be serious. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any symptoms of an allergic reaction including a severe rash, redness, severe itching, a swollen face, or trouble breathing.

The most common side effects of Repatha^® include: runny nose, sore throat, symptoms of the common cold, flu or flu-like symptoms, back pain, high blood sugar levels (diabetes), and redness, pain, or bruising at the injection site.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Repatha^®. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Product Information.

REFERENCES

1. AHA. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2017. https://healthmetrics.heart.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Heart-Disease-and-Stroke-Statistics-2017-ucm_491265.pdf. Accessed November 9, 2017.
2. NIH. How to Prevent and Control Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors. https://nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hd/prevent. Accessed October 30, 2017.
3. Kuklina. CDC. Vital Signs; Prevalence, Treatment, and Control of High Levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol United States 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6004a5.htm. Accessed October 30, 2017.
4. CDC. High Cholesterol Facts. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/facts.htm. Accessed on April 6, 2018.
5. Repatha^® (evolocumab) U.S. Prescribing Information. Amgen.

6. Sabatine MS, Giugliano RP, Keech AC, et al, for the FOURIER Steering Committee and Investigators. N Engl J Med. Evolocumab and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. 2017;376:1713-22.

2018-06-25T07:01:00

(BPT) – Cada año, al menos 1.7 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos presentan septicemia, y casi 270 000 mueren por su causa. Aunque cualquier persona puede contraer una infección, y casi cualquier infección puede ocasionar septicemia, solo el 55% de las personas en los EE. UU. han escuchado hablar sobre la septicemia.^[1]

La septicemia es la respuesta extrema del cuerpo a una infección. Es potencialmente mortal, y sin tratamiento oportuno, puede causar muy rápido daños en los tejidos, insuficiencia orgánica y la muerte. La septicemia ocurre cuando una infección que usted ya tiene —en la piel, los pulmones, las vías urinarias o en alguna otra parte— provoca una reacción en cadena por todo el cuerpo.

Inicie hoy la conversación sobre la septicemia con su médico o enfermero haciendo estas cinco preguntas:

1. ¿Cómo puedo proteger a mi familia de la septicemia? Es importante conocer los signos y síntomas, y actuar con rapidez si se sospecha que se trata de septicemia. Los signos y síntomas de la septicemia pueden incluir alguno o una combinación de los siguientes: confusión o desorientación; dificultad para respirar; frecuencia cardiaca alta; fiebre, escalofríos o sensación de mucho frío; dolores o molestias extremos; y piel pegajosa o sudorosa. Una infección que no mejora o que empeora puede ocasionar septicemia. Obtenga atención médica de inmediato si sospecha que puede ser septicemia.
2. ¿Cómo podemos prevenir las infecciones? Hable con su médico o enfermero sobre las medidas que usted y su familia pueden tomar para prevenir las infecciones que pueden causar septicemia. Para prevenir las infecciones, controle bien las afecciones crónicas y póngase las vacunas recomendadas. También, practique buena higiene, lavándose las manos y manteniendo limpios los cortes y cubriéndolos con vendas hasta que sanen.
3. Ayer, mi hija de seis meses tenía fiebre leve y tos. Pero hoy, no está alerta, está orinando menos y tiene dificultad para respirar. ¿Podría esta infección causar septicemia? Si usted o un ser querido sospecha que tiene septicemia, o tiene una infección que no mejora o que empeora, pregúntele al médico o enfermero: “¿Podría esta infección causar septicemia?”. ACTÚE RÁPIDO y busque atención médica INMEDIATAMENTE.
4. Mi padre es anciano y tiene diabetes. ¿Podría tener un mayor riesgo de sufrir infecciones que puedan producir septicemia? Algunas personas tienen un riesgo más alto, como los adultos de 65 años o más; las personas con afecciones crónicas, como la diabetes, las enfermedades pulmonares, el cáncer y las enfermedades de los riñones; las personas con el sistema inmunitario debilitado; y los niños menores de 1 año de edad.
5. ¿Cómo se puede tratar la septicemia? Una persona que contrae septicemia debería ser tratada con antibióticos lo más pronto posible, además de recibir otras terapias que el médico o enfermero decida que sean apropiadas para ese paciente, como mantener el flujo de sangre a los órganos o recibir líquidos por vía intravenosa. Además, el médico o enfermero debería chequear al paciente con frecuencia y volver a evaluar el tratamiento con antibióticos dentro de las 24 y 48 horas para suspenderlo o ajustarlo según sea necesario.

Recuerde, la septicemia es una emergencia médica. Mejorar la identificación de la septicemia y brindar tratamiento oportuno aumenta sus posibilidades de sobrevivencia y disminuye la posibilidad de tener efectos a largo plazo.

Para saber más sobre la septicemia y sobre cómo prevenir infecciones, así como para descargar nuevos materiales GRATUITOS en español para ayudarlos a usted y a sus seres queridos a ACTUAR RÁPIDO si se sospecha que es septicemia, visite www.cdc.gov/sepsis. Para aprender más sobre el uso de los antibióticos, visite www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use.

2018-06-14T07:01:01

(BPT) – Los CDC instan a las familias a tomar conciencia sobre los antibióticos

Los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC) animan a los padres, los abuelos y a las otras personas que cuiden de un familiar a que Tomen Conciencia sobre los Antibióticos al hablar con sus profesionales de atención médica sobre el uso seguro de los antibióticos. Es importante saber que los antibióticos salvan vidas, pero que solo se deben usar cuando son necesarios. Cada vez que se usan antibióticos, estos pueden causar efectos secundarios y llevar a la resistencia a este tipo de medicamento.

Qué tratan los antibióticos

Los antibióticos solo se necesitan para tratar las infecciones causadas por bacterias, pero incluso algunas infecciones bacterianas pueden mejorar sin el uso de antibióticos. Se pueden usar antibióticos para tratar una variedad de infecciones comunes, como las estreptocócicas de garganta y las urinarias, así como afecciones potencialmente mortales, como la septicemia.

Qué no tratan los antibióticos

Los antibióticos no funcionan contra los virus, como los que causan los resfriados, la influenza (gripe), la bronquitis o el moqueo, aunque las secreciones sean espesas o de color amarillo o verde. Tampoco se necesitan antibióticos para algunas infecciones bacterianas comunes, incluidas muchas infecciones sinusales y algunas de oído.

Efectos secundarios de los antibióticos

Cuando usted o un miembro de su familia necesitan antibióticos, los beneficios generalmente superan el riesgo de que provoquen efectos secundarios o de que lleven a la resistencia a este tipo de medicamento. Pero cuando no los necesitan, no ayudarán y los efectos secundarios podrían incluso hacerle daño a usted o a alguien en su familia.

Los efectos secundarios comunes incluyen sarpullido, mareo, náuseas, diarrea e infecciones por hongos (candidiasis). Los efectos secundarios más graves incluyen reacciones alérgicas graves e infecciones por Clostridium difficile (también llamadas C. difficile o C. diff), las cuales provocan diarrea que, a su vez, puede causar daño grave en el colon y la muerte. Los pacientes y sus familiares pueden hablar con el médico si tienen alguna pregunta sobre los antibióticos o si estos provocan efectos secundarios, especialmente diarrea, ya que podría tratarse de C. difficile, lo cual debe tratarse de inmediato. El médico les puede explicar los riesgos de cualquier antibiótico que recete.

Los peligros de la resistencia a los antibióticos

Es importante recordar que “resistencia a los antibióticos” no significa que el cuerpo se haga resistente a los antibióticos; sino que son las bacterias las que desarrollan la capacidad de derrotar a los medicamentos diseñados para eliminarlas. Cuando las bacterias se vuelven resistentes, los antibióticos no pueden combatirlas, y estas se multiplican. Algunas bacterias resistentes pueden ser más difíciles de tratar y podrían potencialmente propagarse a otros miembros de la familia.

Lo que puede hacer para combatir la resistencia a los antibióticos

Para ayudar a reducir la propagación de las bacterias resistentes a los antibióticos, puede ayudar a su familia y a sus amigos a entender lo importante que es limpiarse las manos. El lavado de las manos es una de las medidas más importantes que usted y su familia pueden tomar para evitar enfermarse y para evitar propagar microbios a otras personas. Los padres, los abuelos y cualquier persona que tenga parte en el cuidado de la familia también pueden animar a los familiares enfermos a que se cubran la boca cuando tosan y a que no salgan de la casa mientras sigan enfermos.

Por qué son importantes las vacunas

Recibir las vacunas recomendadas, según el calendario de vacunación, ayuda a proteger a su familia y a aquellos a su alrededor. A lo largo del tiempo, las vacunas han prevenido cantidades incontables de casos de enfermedades infecciosas y han salvado millones de vidas. La mayoría de las vacunas recomendadas están disponibles en el consultorio de su médico, en centros de atención médica, departamentos de salud y centros de medicina del viajero. También puede haber vacunas disponibles en ciertas farmacias en su área.

Puede sentirse mejor sin antibióticos

Debido a que los antibióticos solo sirven para tratar ciertas infecciones causadas por bacterias, pregúntele al médico qué los está enfermando a usted o a su ser querido. Por ejemplo, los virus respiratorios generalmente desaparecen en una o dos semanas sin tratamiento. Dígale a su médico, enfermero, farmacéutico u otro profesional de atención médica de confianza si su enfermedad o la de su familiar empeora o dura más de lo previsto. Su profesional de atención médica puede ayudar a determinar cuál es la mejor manera de ayudar a que se sientan mejor.

Para saber más sobre la prescripción y el uso de antibióticos, visite www.cdc.gov/antibioticos.

2018-07-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – Golden Globe Award-winning actress, producer, director, author and mother Drew Barrymore knows summer is the perfect time to kick back, enjoy life and embrace the possibilities of the season. Of course there’s no better time to let your personality shine, whether that means trying a new summer activity, bonding with the kids or feeling comfortable in your own shoes.

To ensure you’re ready for whatever summer adventure awaits, stock up on Barrymore’s favorite summer must-have’s:

Slide sandals

Drew fell in love with Crocs’ Swiftwater Sandal after partnering with the fun footwear specialist in its “Come As You Are” campaign. She calls this versatile slide-on style “An absolute must-have.” Why? The minimalist design easily takes you from a casual walk on the beach to a night out enjoying great food, great conversation and balmy evening breezes with friends. Perhaps best of all, the ultra-comfortable straps gently hug your feet as you walk, but they’re flexible enough to slip on and off whenever you choose.

Sensational shades

“Choose your summer sunnies with care!” cautions Barrymore, who is currently into sunglasses with metal trim like the Sheila Sunglasses.

Versatile tees

“Summer is about ease,” says Barrymore. “The Love Lane Short Sleeve Washed Tee is casual and easy, but still stylish and sweet. Can be worn over a bathing suit or paired with a dressy skirt.”

Superb setting spray

Barrymore’s favorite is Seal the Deal Hydrating Setting Spray. “It hydrates, refreshes and is humidity-proof for your best summer look,” she says. “A purse staple to keep your look together, plus it’s sweat-proof to last through the day at the beach.”

Pressed powder

Excess oil doesn’t stand a chance on a hot summer day thanks to Flower Miracle Matte Pressed Powder. “This will absorb excess oil and keep your look flawless all day!” Barrymore says.

Terrific travel dryer

Barrymore adores the You Are Adventurous travel dryer. “Tiny yet powerful, this hair dryer can be tossed in your bag for a quick dry after a day at the pool!” she says.

Terrific tunes

Summer isn’t summer without music, so customize your own playlist with the vibes that make you smile. “Personalize your summer now,” suggests Barrymore, “and when you listen back in the chilly winter months, it will remind you of all your great summer experiences.”

Comfy classic clogs

Barrymore’s pick: Crocs’ White Classic Clog. She describes the timeless style as “before trend, on-trend and beyond trend.” Think of this bright, clean accessory as a blank slate that can effortlessly (and very comfortably) accompany any casual-themed outfit you choose to pull out of your closet, no matter the color or style.

Bluetooth travel speaker

You need something to rock those summer tunes wherever your daily adventures lead you! “I take a speaker with me everywhere,” says Barrymore. “Make sure to get one small enough to fit in your bag so you can have traveling music.”

Backyard sprinkler

Never forget simple summer pleasures! “This is a major crowd-pleaser,” says Barrymore. “My kids love running around in the sprinkler on those way-too-hot days in August.” (You might catch her running in it here and there too!)