Doctors are unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics for sinus infections. According to the study published in the March issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, US, antibiotics were prescribed for 82 per cent of acute sinus infections and nearly 70 per cent of chronic sinus infections.
This is a shocking finding as antibiotics can only kill bacteria and most sinus infections are caused by viruses, allergies or hormonal changes.
The study, by Hadley J. Sharp and colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, US, used national data from 1999 and 2002 to determine the drugs that were prescribed for sinus infections by general practitioners, outpatient and emergency departments. The data came from 2 national surveys by the National Center of Health Statistics and was representative of the US population.
There are 2 types of sinus infections: acute and chronic. Acute sinusitis occurs for up to 4 weeks and is caused by infectious agents. Chronic sinusitis is usually defined as an infection with symptoms that are persistent for more than 12 weeks. It can be caused by allergies, hormonal changes or facial anatomy.
There are currently no effective drugs for chronic sinusitis. According to Dr. Donald A. Leopold, chairman of the department of otolaryngology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, antibiotics are the best of a bad lot.
Many patients would call up their doctors and demand for specific antibiotics that may give them relief. They are aware of these drugs. They want prompt relief from the annoying symptoms of sinusitis. It's no wonder why doctors are giving in to their demands.
Although there are several tests to find out whether a sinus infection is caused by bacteria, they are often expensive and lengthy. The first test is an endoscopy, which involves inserting a small tube-like instrument into the nose to collect a sample of mucus from the sinus cavities. The second test is a nasal cytology, whereby a swab of mucus is taken from the lining of the nose to be examined. The third is taking an x-tray.
It is often difficult for doctors to determine the cause of a sinus infection just from observation. Even specialist doctors are not able to diagnose the specific cause without carrying out any tests. The symptoms of sinus infections are similar whether it's caused by bacteria, virus, allergy or other factors.
On the prevalent use of antibiotics, the researchers suggest that doctors could be treating secondary infections. Another possible explanation is doctors think that antibiotics work when their patients get better taking them. However, many infections resolve with or without treatment.
The researchers are concerned about the overuse of antibiotics giving rise to drug resistance and virulence of infectious bacteria. Although the public are aware of the increasing antibiotic resistance, many sinusitis sufferers are likely to continue demanding for antibiotics.
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Schwinn Exercise Bikes - A Great Investment
Schwinn has been making bikes since 1895. In the beginning, a single bike weighed twenty two pounds and were far too expensive for most consumers. Over the years, though, as bikes became increasingly available to people, Schwinn pioneered advancements in technology that helped build a better product. When the exercise craze of the late twentieth century hit, Schwinn exercise bikes hit the market with a vengeance.
Why Use An Exercise Bike?
-Exercise bikes help you strengthen and develop a number of major muscles including your quads, your glutes, and your hamstrings.
-It is joint friendly because there is almost no impact from the weight of your upper body because of the way the bike is used.
-It offers an excellent workout for your cardiovascular system.
-It is very safe because it is an indoor activity, and you can do it anywhere from your own home to a well attended fitness facility.
-You can enjoy other pleasures like reading, watching television, or listening to music while you are working out on an stationary exercise bike.
Some Schwinn Exercise Bikes
Schwinn Airdyne Evolution Comp Exercise Bike - This model offers great wind resistance that increases the more you exercise. It is a small, quiet fan wheel and an LCD display. The display informs you of time, distance, calories burner per hour, heart rate, rpm, and workload.
Schwinn 101 Upright Exercise Bike - This product has six preset workouts for variety. It also has a quiet drive belt system and a smooth ride. The adjustable seat and handle bars make the bike fit you better.
Schwinn 203 Recumbent Exercise Bike - This bike features a number of different options including twelve preset programs, four heart rate controlled programs, and one user defined program to add to the variety and quality of your workout. It also has a padded seat and adjustable handlebars for your comfort.
Dean Iggo is the webmaster of home-gym-buyers-guide.com providing treadmill reviews and ratings of used fitness equipment including, treadmills, ellipticals and dumbbells from top brands including Proform, Precor, Total Gym, Smooth, Weider and more.
Total Gym 1000 - Meeting All of Your Fitness Needs
The Total Gym 1000, the one with Chuck Norris as the spokesman, offers some excellent features for a piece of home exercise equipment. This fitness center, from Fitness Quest(r) offers a number of different models ranging in price from one hundred fifty dollars to one thousand five hundred dollars. For the average user, though, a basic model will fit your needs. Reviews indicate that you will not be getting more for your money if you pay for one of the higher end models.
The Total Gym 100 is meant for overall fitness, and will not build the rippling muscles you see on the late night television commercials in just a few weeks of use. It does help you strengthen and tone every major muscle group, and provides good stability for your workouts. For the most part, this series of equipment requires little or no assembly, which is great for someone who wants a quick workout out of the box. Moreover, the Total Gym 1000 has been around since the early nineties, which would indicate some level of customer satisfaction with the product.
Total Gym Features
There are more than sixty exercises you can do with this piece of equipment, and changing from one exercise to the next is neither difficult nor complicated. It is made to last with a solid steel construction. The Total Gym 1000 even comes with media materials including videos and books to help you get your workout off the the right start. Some current models even feature Pilates bars to add some depth and change to your workout.
If you decide you want to buy a Total Gym 1000, be sure to select the model that is best for you. Differences between the models include the frame construction, the max weight allowed for the user, the glide board size, the user height limit, and the warranty. As with any product, do your research before you purchase.
Dean Iggo is the webmaster of home-gym-buyers-guide.com providing treadmill reviews and ratings of used fitness equipment including, treadmills, ellipticals and dumbbells from top brands including Proform, Precor, Total Gym, Smooth, Weider and more.