A gut feeling
If you've taken enough antibiotics, you've probably had an uncomfortable bout of diarrhea to show for it at least once before. A recent study has shown, though, that just taking a good probiotic can stop that effect and still allow you enjoy the benefits of the antibiotic.
In case you haven't heard me talk about it before, antibiotics often kill off the good bacteria in your gut along with the bad bacteria. When this happens, those antibiotics can also cause a serious complication called Clostridium difficile disease (commonly referred to as c. diff), which is the leading cause of antibiotic-related diarrhea and colitis. During this recent study, researchers learned -- just like I've always said -- that taking a probiotic supplement can negate that problem.
To conduct the study, the researchers examined the results of 25 different controlled trials in which probiotics were used to treat c. diff or other antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
When they were done, they saw that probiotics had a significant effect on reducing the risks of AAD and c. diff.
Some of the probiotics they found most effective for treating AAD included Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, which was also the only one that proved effective for treating c. diff.
The first probiotic can be found in a widely available product called Culturelle. You can find it online at www.culturelle.com. The second -- Saccharomyces boulardii -- is made by a company called Florastor (www.florastor.com). Both products are backed by a good bit of science and research.
Back in the game (of life)
One of the hardest parts about getting sick or injured is what comes afterward -- the struggle to regain a normal life. And the more serious the health problem, the harder your comeback might be, especially if you're learning to live with a serious disability, like heart problems or being paralyzed. So let me offer just one small bit of advice.
The most important factor in your comeback is you.
Participating in your recovery can mean everything from dietary changes to exercise and physical therapy. But it can also mean having a good attitude and a willingness to do whatever you need to get your life back.
Over and over again, research has shown that the people who have the most confidence, the best attitudes, and who participate most in rehabilitation, are the most likely to make a good recovery. And even if they don't walk again, or even if they still need help getting through daily tasks, their overall success is better because they're happier.
There's a fancy term for this determined, stick-to-itiveness: self-efficacy. The power of the mind to heal is not some new age fantasy. It's a hard scientific fact that I've observed repeatedly in my own practice.
Here are some tips from the National Institute of Health on helping out your own recovery:
Set meaningful goals: Both long-term and short-term goals are important. Short-term goals are things you should reasonably be able to do in one to two weeks. They are the building blocks to get you to your ultimate long-term goals, and may be revised many times over the course of rehab.
Communicate with your rehab team: Often there's more than one way to achieve results. If one exercise isn't working for you, let your team know. They may be able to recommend another approach.
Know your value to the team: Be an active participant in your own recovery. In rehab, it is all about you!
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
