The Problem with Z-paks

All doctors have been prodded by their patients to prescribe a Z-pak, and most, if not all, have begrudgingly succumbed to that request at some point. The reluctance is universal and has less to do with the patient crossing an unspoken boundary and more to do with the physician not wanting to add to the huge problem of antibiotic-resistance.

Some important facts:

  • Between 90 - 98% of acute sinusitis are viral and won’t respond to antibiotics.

  • There are over 200 viruses that cause the common cold.

  • Only 5 - 10% of sore throats are caused by strept throat.

  • The average duration of an upper respiratory tract infection is 7 - 21 days.

  • The average duration of a cough is 18 days.

  • The most common cause of ER visits in children is from adverse side effects from antibiotics.

  • Z - pak’s increase the risk of fatal heart events.

  • The incidence of antibiotic-resistant infections in the US is currently over 2 million per year and climbing.

At BreatheMD, we use next-generation DNA sequencing to identify what is living in the sinuses of patients with chronic sinus problems, whether it’s bacteria, viruses or fungi. The test identifies 100% of microbes within a sample with 99.9% accuracy, provides information about antibiotic resistance, and gives an appropriate antibiotic recommendation if necessary. For more acute infections, we are able to test for strept throat and influenza virus on-site.

The common cold cannot be cured with a pill, but here are some things to do to shorten its duration:

  • Do everything you can to thin the mucous.

    • Hydration

    • Saline irrigations at home, adding a drop of baby shampoo and betadine to each batch

    • Mucinex, an over-the-counter medication that thins the mucous (but make sure to take with a full glass of water)

    • Stop taking (or lower the dose) allergy pills that thicken mucous (unless your allergies are severe)

    • Plenty of hot tea and chicken noodle soup

    • Slow down your caffeine intake

    • Hot showers/steam room

  • Rest. Listen to your body.

  • Sinus Therapy at our clinic to drain the mucous

  • Echinacea, turmeric, elderberry, ginger, and vitamin C

  • Infrared Sauna to decrease inflammation and increase circulation

  • For night-time cough, warm up a dollop of raw honey and swallow (don’t give to infants under 1).

  • Cold air through the mouth can trigger cough so focus on nasal breathing if possible. At night, keep the room warmer than usual if mouth breathing is an issue.

Please feel free to add any tricks you’ve found helpful to kick your colds in the comments section.