The fluoroquinolones, according to the National Library of Medicine, are a broad class of antibacterial agents that have been widely used for 30 years to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections such as meningitis, gonorrhoeae, influenza, and even anthrax poisoning (2<\/a>).<\/p>\n But their therapeutic properties may be overshadowed by some serious health risks.<\/p>\n The FDA\u2019s review and subsequent announcement on December 20th, 2018 found that fluoroquinolones lead to increased risk of tears and ruptures to your aorta, which can lead to fatal internal bleeding. Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner, also made a statement saying, \u201cAlthough the risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection is low, we\u2019ve observed that patients are twice as likely to experience an aortic aneurysm or dissection when prescribed a fluoroquinolone drug.\u201d<\/p>\n The most at risk are the elderly, but increased risk is also associated with high blood pressure or any history of aortic blockages or abnormalities. If you have taken, or are currently taking any of the medications below, you should consult your physician immediately about their continued use.<\/p>\n These are commonly prescribed antibiotics that all contain fluoroquinolones:<\/p>\n Now we know. And knowing what not to do is often just as important as knowing what to do.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s take a step back: keeping yourself healthy throughout the cold season is the best way to prevent the need for antibiotics in the first place.<\/p>\n Diet and lifestyle are the best places to start. From better hygiene practices or something as benign as taking a daily vitamin or supplement, tiny changes can go a very long way.<\/p>\n Wash your hands. Seriously. Go do it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a> tells us that \u201ckeeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.\u201d And, believe it or not, a lot of people aren\u2019t doing it right.<\/p>\n It may seem overly explanatory, but the importance of washing your hands properly cannot be understated. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following steps:<\/p>\n Use hot or cold water; apply liquid, bar or powdered soap to a cupped hand; and lather well (4<\/a>).<\/p>\n Often neglected are the tops of your hands and between your fingers.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re wondering how long to wash for, the CDC recommends a solid 20 seconds, or approximately the amount of time it takes you to hum The Happy Birthday Song.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re done, rinse and dry your hands thoroughly with a clean towel or cloth and be sure to use the towel to turn off the sink. It would be a shame if the same bacteria and germs you just cleaned off got right back on your hands.<\/p>\n Working a multivitamin or supplement into your daily routine is a small but effective change to ensure you\u2019re getting all of the nutrients you need during the cold\/flu season and beyond. Multivitamins also check a lot of boxes at the same time. In fact, Natural Wellness\u2019s Clinical Multi-Vitamin<\/em><\/a> contains echinacea, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C and whole slew of B vitamins.<\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget about the D vitamins<\/a>. Vitamin D2 and D3 are essential for normal cell growth and function as well as helping maintain adequate blood calcium levels and cardiovascular and neuromuscular\/neurological function.<\/p>\n Making sure your immune system is supported is crucial during cold and flu season, especially as stressors tend to mount around this time of year, whether it\u2019s anxiety around spending time with family or the financial strain and emotional strain of gift-giving. Taking an immune-boosting supplement like Natural Wellness’s Immune System Support<\/em><\/a> is an easy and cost effective way to help your body increases its resistance to allergies, viruses, and bacterial infections.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that multi-vitamins and any supplement are baby steps to making more substantial changes to your diet and lifestyle behaviors.<\/p>\n Food wise, the best 5 ingredients to keep cold and flu season at bay are below:<\/p>\n The other half of the equation alongside diet is exercise. It should be no shock to anyone that exercise boosts metabolism and your chances of warding off infection.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re older and physical activity is an issue, you don\u2019t have to do a high intensity workout to see tangible improvements to your health.<\/p>\nWho\u2019s at Risk?<\/h3>\n
\n
Preventing the Need for Antibiotics<\/h2>\n
Starting Small<\/h3>\n
![\"Washing](\"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/washing-hands.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA Multi-Vitamin Per Day…<\/h3>\n
![\"Immune](\"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/N420_Large-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5 Foods and Spices to Keep You Healthy<\/h3>\n
![\"Eating](\"https:\/\/www.naturalwellness.com\/nwupdate\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/avocado.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Exercise<\/h3>\n