March 19, 2007 — Antibiotics are still being widely overprescribed for sinusitis, though the majority of these illnesses are caused by viruses, new research shows.
Studies suggest that only about 3% to 5% of acute sinus infections are bacterial in nature, meaning that they respond to antibiotic treatment.

Antibiotics Overused for Sinusitis
WebMD Medical ReferenceAntibiotics are still being widely overprescribed for sinusitis, though the majority of these illnesses are caused by viruses, new research shows.Studies suggest that only about 3% to 5% of acute sinus infections are bacterial in nature, meaning that they respond to antibiotic treatment.Using data derived from two national studies of prescription practices, researchers concluded that antibiotics were prescribed for slightly more than four out of five patients with acute sinusitis and two-thirds of patients with chronic sinusitis.

Related to sinusitissymptoms, acute sinusitis, ethmoid sinusitis, sinus headaches, nasal congestion, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, sinus X-ray, sinus surgery

Using data derived from two national studies of prescription practices, researchers concluded that antibiotics were prescribed for slightly more than four out of five patients with acute sinusitis and two-thirds of patients with chronic sinusitis.
“By the current guidelines it does appear that antibiotics are being overused,” study researcher Donald A. Leopold, MD, tells WebMD. “This may be due to the fact that we feel the need to give patients something and there are not a lot of effective treatments. And it could be that antibiotics really do help patients feel better.”
Antibiotics Prescribed Most OftenRhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal passageway and sinus cavities. Symptoms are considered acute when they last up to four weeks and chronic when they persist for three months or longer.
Acute sinusitis is usually caused by viral infections. The causes of chronic sinusitis are not as well understood, but they are thought to be driven by inflammation.
Though there has been a general feeling that antibiotics are overprescribed in the treatment of sinus infections and other sinus-related illness, little research has been done to confirm this.
In the newly published study, Leopold, Hadley J. Sharp, and colleagues from the University of Nebraska Medical Center examined data from two National Center for Health Statistics surveys assessing prescribing practices for sinus infections in physicians’ offices and hospital ERs.
The surveys were conducted between 1999 and 2002, and they included roughly 14.2 million health care visits for chronic sinus infections and 3.1 million visits for acute sinus issues during the time period.
The most widely prescribed treatments for both acute and chronic sinus infections were antibiotics, followed by antihistamines, nasal decongestants, inhaled corticosteroids, and expectorants and other antimucus agents.
Penicillins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, followed by cephalosporins — another class of antibiotics. Antibiotics were prescribed 70% of the time during health care visits for chronic sinus infections and 83% of the time for acute sinus infections.
“The vast use of [antibiotics] makes the statement that they seem to be effective in reducing symptoms or preventing relapse, or they would have been abandoned,” Leopold and colleagues write. “Another important possibility is that many patients have self-limited disease that will resolve regardless of treatment, and their physicians could be prescribing what they think will work.”
Inhaled Steroids and Saline SpraysEar, nose, and throat specialist Michael Benninger, MD, tells WebMD that the overprescribing of antibiotics is largely driven by patient expectations.
He points out that in Europe, antibiotics are rarely prescribed for sinus infections.
“In this country, I really don’t think we have gotten to the point where we tell patients they don’t need antibiotics.”
Benninger adds that he is somewhat surprised by the latest findings, given the concerns about antibiotic overuse spurring resistance to the drugs.“The bottom line is we should not be treating a virus with an antibiotic, and we should not assume that antibiotics are the best treatment for acute or chronic rhinosinusitis,” he says.
Inhaled steroids, used to reduce inflammation, appear to be a better approach for many patients with chronic sinus problems, he adds.But this treatment was prescribed only 16.4% of the time to patients in the study with chronic symptoms.
Leopold and Benninger agree that one of the best treatments for nonbacterial acute sinus infections is also one of the simplest.Flushing the nose frequently with a saline nasal spray is a highly effective, over-the-counter therapeutic approach, Leopold says. He recommends that patients start using saline sprays when they feel upper respiratory symptoms coming on.
“My patients are sick of hearing about this, but saline therapy is cheap, effective, and underutilized,” he says.

Antibiotics Overused for Sinusitis | Most Sinus Problems Caused by Viruses, Inflammation

A Typical Fasting Day

7:00 AM: Detox Drink (every three hours) Only if you are doing the mucoid-plaque removal program
Brush your teeth and mouth and scrape your tongue well
Nasal deuce (with ozonated water if available)
Drink a glass of water with the juice of ½ lemon
Dry Brush massage followed by a hot and cold shower
A cup of herbal tea (warm, not hot)
Yoga, T’ai Chi, Qigong (Chi kung) etc., along with pranayama (controlled breathing)
8:30 AM: Herbal Supplements (every three hours) Only if you are doing the mucoid-plaque removal program
Ozone Colonic (At least once a day, preferably twice. Your second colon cleanse could also be an enema or a colema board colonic using freshly ozonated water if available.) If you do not have access to a colonic machine then use a colema board or an enema instead.

Wheat grass juice with coconut water or pure water
Meditation, relaxation, concentration, visualizations, affirmations, chanting, prayer, etc.
10:00 AM: Detox drink
Far infrared sauna (with ozone if available)
5 to 30 minute sunbath (at least once a day, preferably twice)
Vegetable or fruit juice (diluted fifty-fifty with water)
11:30 AM: Herbal Supplements
Colloidal silver or gold
Exercise: Walking, swimming, water exercises, dancing, bicycling, spinning,
rebounding, etc.
1:00 PM: Detox Drink
Vegetable juice or vegetable broth
Massage (including lymphatic drainage and stomach-intestinal massage)
2:30 PM: Herbal Supplements
Thai herbal steam bath
Ozone rectal insufflations
Parasite zapper treatment
Rest
4:00 PM: Detox Drink
A cup of herbal tea or coconut water
30-minute sunbath
Therapeutic water, light, color, sound, vibration, music, flotation, crystal and
gem treatments, etc. Quantum enerchi balancing, photon laser therapy, photo luminescence, ion cleanse etc.
5:30 PM: Herbal Supplements
Vegetable juice or vegetable broth
Aromatherapy, Aloe Vera wrap, clay packs or other body and beauty
treatments
7:00 PM: Detox Drink
Massage, reflexology, shiatsu, reike, rolfing, body work, acupressure, etc.
Ozone colonic, enema or colema board
8:30 PM: Herbal supplements
Yoga, pranayama, meditation, etc.
Read books on diet, nutrition, fasting, spiritual matters, etc.
Laugh and think positive thoughts throughout the day
Take one Probiotic formula capsule at least half an hour after your last
herbal supplement and one hour before you sleep For maximum
absorption into the intestines it is best to remain in an upright position for
one hour after taking the probiotic formula.

Herb Tea

Dry Brush massage followed by a hot and cold shower

You may change the above schedule to suit yourself and/or the spas schedule, however it is important that you do the detox drinks and herbal supplements on the recommended hour and a half alternating schedule if you are doing the mucoid-plaque removal program. The above protocols are various possibilities that one can do during a fast. Do not feel you have to do too much on any given day. I would however advice that you practice the various protocols in the Suggestions and Advice section of this paper daily if possible. It is important that you have daily at least 1 vegetable broth and 1 vegetable juice (fresh organic green vegetable juices are the best for cleansing, a great combination is carrot, beet, celery, cucumber, ginger, garlic, parsley, cilantro and other green leafy vegetables.) You may have a fruit juice in the morning if you must, however I have found that many people suffer unconsciously from Candida and/or other intestinal fungal conditions which the high sugar content in fruit juices aggravates. Dilute your fruit and vegetable juices fifty-fifty with water. If you prefer you may drink the juice pure and follow each sip of water with a sip of juice. Besides all the liquids you are drinking, if you are thirsty drink pure water, ozonated water or structured water.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

ADVICE ON DETOXIFICATION AND HOW TO
MAINTAIN OPTIMAL PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND
SPIRITUAL HEALTH THROUGH A PROGRAM OF
PROPER DIET, NUTRITION, EXERCISE,
OCCASIONAL FASTING, CONTROLLED
BREATHING, SUNSHINE, MASSAGE, SWEATING
AND VARIOUS FORMS OF MIND, BODY AND
SPIRIT WORK.

WHY DETOX?

With the constant input of toxins into our systems and the devitalization of our food in todays environment, it has become necessary to practice various forms of detoxification in order to maintain good health and prevent and/or treat illness, disease, and premature aging. Some of the best ways to achieve detoxification and maintain optimal physical, mental and spiritual health is through a program of proper diet, nutrition, exercise, occasional fasting, controlled breathing, sunshine, massage, sweating, and various forms of mind, body and spirit work. With this in mind, a program using the above protocols is presented here that will allow you to achieve and maintain optimal health and detoxification in a safe, easy, and fun manner.

You are what you eat, you are what you ate! If you are consuming devitalized, poisoned, and dead foods, then that is exactly what you are getting back, loss of vitality, poisoning, and death. However, if you are consuming raw, living, organic foods, then you are getting back life, vitality, energy and clarity. The gastro-intestinal system is where more than half of your immune and detoxification systems reside. With todays diet and environmental toxins most peoples gastro-intestinal systems are clogged with several kilos of mucoid plaque (a lining in the gastro-intestinal system made up of decayed fecal matter, mucous, toxins, worms and parasites, etc.), which prevents the system from absorbing and utilizing nutrients properly. This leads to the accumulation of waste products in the tissues that in turn devitalizes the nourishment of cells. This causes an imbalance of proper cell breakdown and replacement, which is the main cause of ill health, disease, and premature aging. In this detox program, this process is reversed resulting in the proper balance between the elimination of unhealthy, diseased, damaged, aged, dying, and dead cells and the building of new healthy cells. During a fast when your body is deprived of needed proteins and fats it will begin to burn and digest its own tissues, this process is known as autolysis or self-digestion. In your bodies wisdom during the fast it will start to feed upon the most inferior and impure parts of your body, such as dead cells, tumors, damaged tissues, morbid accumulations, abscesses, fat deposits, etc. without harming vital organs, such as essential tissues, the glands, the nervous system the brain, etc. This allows for normalization and rejuvenation of physical, mental, and nervous functions and helps to reverse the effects of illness, disease, and premature aging.

For the above-mentioned reasons, it is of great benefit for ones physical, mental and spiritual health to begin a program of occasional fasting. Fasting has been known since ancient times to be one of the most effective healing methods known to man. For our purposes of detoxification and rejuvenation, juice fasting is far superior to water fasting for a number of reasons. Raw juices and freshly made vegetable broths are very rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements and enzymes which are easily assimilated into the blood stream without putting a strain on the digestive system, while supplying needed elements for the bodies healing and cell regeneration and bringing your acid-alkaline balance to a healthy level. If you are not ready to start a mucoid-plaque program then you may want to begin with a normal juice fast and work your way up to a mucoid-plaque removal program. However, for the reasons listed above, it is necessary at some time to do a series of mucoid-plaque removal programs in order to remove this life threatening plaque from your digestive system. For your first fast you should try to fast for a minimum of 5 days and ideally fast for 7 to 10 days. The longer you fast, the more you detoxify and rejuvenate your entire system.
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Thailand has some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, with dramatic scenery, superb beaches, warm seas and several excellent beach resorts.

Phuket:
A 75-minute flight southwest from Bangkok lies Phuket, the largest island in Thailand. Mountainous and heavily forested, the island enjoys a tropical climate. This region of southern Thailand has beautiful stretches of coastline and some of the most magnificent scenery in Asia. To the west of Phuket lies the Andaman Sea and the Similan Islands, while to the east lies the protected Gulf of Phuket, home to Phang Nga Bay and the beautiful islands of Koh Phi Phi. The islands make great day-trip destinations by boat from Phuket, and also offer superb scuba diving. As well as stunning beaches, the resorts we have chosen on Phuket offer first-class accommodation and facilities including watersports, tennis, spas and excellent Thai cuisine. Phuket also has a number of good golf courses, and the nightlife of Patong Beach.

Hua Hin:
On the mainland, half an hour’s flight south of Bangkok and overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, lies the coastal resort of Hua Hin. This is Thailand’s original beach resort, and in contrast to some of the country’s other beach resorts with their bright lights and nightlife, Hua Hin remains a much more peaceful, family-oriented place. As well as beaches and watersports, activities in the vicinity of Hua Hin include trekking, elephant riding and golf. Hua Hin town has good shopping, including a nightly street market.

At Hua Hin, The latter is a destination spa that focuses on healthy living and specialises in providing guests with personalised programmes to put them on a path to greater well-being and vitality.
Phuket, Hua Hin, Thailand

Phuket wouldn’t be attracting over four million visitors a year if it didn’t have some of the best beaches in the world. Not only that, it has fantastic variety, from the all-out manic, water sport-mad, kinky allure of Patong to the relaxing and peaceful sands of Kata Noi and Laem Sing.

Although it’s Thailand’s largest island, going from one extreme to the other won’t take you long as Phuket’s best beaches are chiefly grouped along the Andaman (west) coast and are easy to get to by car, motorbike, bicycle, taxi or bus.

Patong Beach is without doubt the islands’ best known. After suffering from extensive damage at the hands of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the beach area was quickly rebuilt and the promenade looks better than ever. While not the most dazzling beach on the island, Patong has plenty of distractions and is best known for its hedonistic nightlife and its ‘anything goes’ attitude. You might find it a crowded nightmare or exciting playground, but it does have the best facilities on offer, with plenty of watersports and backed up by an extensive tourist infrastructure. More on Patong beach.

Karon Beach is Phuket’s second beach in terms of visitor numbers and activity base, and it lies just over a headland to the south of Patong. Karon is much less in your face than its noisy neighbour and boasts a better stretch of sand. It has grown considerably in recent years and is no longer the sleepy alternative to Patong, with its burgeoning yet less visible night scene and more upmarket and exotic hotels and resorts.

Heading south again on the same beach road from Patong and now virtually adjoining Karon, Kata Beach is fast becoming a better and more laid back alternative with a much nicer beach area, cheaper prices and some excellent hotels and restaurants. Kata is more family-orientated than the other two and the sweeping, tree-lined bay - far removed from the main road - and easy-going nature of the whole area is quite refreshing. Kata is also Phuket’s best surfing beach.

An even better beach again for the more discerning beach lover looking for peace and quiet yet within shouting distance of reality, Kata Noi Beach, just south of Kata, is perhaps Phuket’s most attractive beach.

This peaceful retreat is separated from the larger Kata Beach by a headland and has just enough shops and restaurants to not be classed as ‘built up’. Kata Noi is a dead-end so there is hardly any traffic and furthermore, there is no road immediately behind the beach. The sands here are exquisite and the backdrop of lush jungle and lack of high-rises invokes a feeling of bliss. The main hotel accommodation on Kata Noi is the Kata Thani and if you can get a room in the Thani Wing, which is right on the beach, you won’t be disappointed. More on Phuket beaches.

The next significant beach south of Kata Noi is Nai Harn Beach, a very popular retreat for locals and on par with Kata Noi in size, beauty and peacefulness. Nai Harn is also on a no-through road and has some of Phuket’s most exclusive resorts including the upmarket Le Meridian. The snorkelling is great here and numerous yachts anchor during the high season.

Continuing to the southern tip of Phuket, Rawai Beach is an up and coming hangout for locals and expats alike, backed by numerous quality seafood restaurants. The beach here isn’t as good as the others for bathing and swimming and is actually quite unsightly when the tide is fully out, yet it is worth some time if only for its intriguing atmosphere.

Heading in a northerly direction over a winding and precipitous road from Patong beach, Kamala Beach is a lot quieter and more discreet than Patong and on par with Karon. Although the town area is fairly nondescript and the beach somewhat developed, it’s a better bet for families and yet within easy reach of Patong for those who prefer a more raucous nightlife. The beach seems to stretch for miles and miles and isn’t rimmed with private resorts or bustling activity. This beach too suffered greatly from the Tsunami and all the coconut palms had to be rebuilt.

As you continue along the west coast of Phuket from Kamala, each main beach becomes less developed and more unique. Laem Sing lies between Kamala and upmarket Surin and is a real gem. It’s easy to miss this one as its way below the cliff road with the only indication being a sliver of a car park and a ‘beach this way’ sign. Laem Sing is a refreshing and relaxing change from some of the busier beaches of Phuket, although the climb down and the hike back up to the road dissuade many.

Just a short jaunt from Laem Sing, Surin Beach is more accessible and flanked by lofty villas and resorts of the well to do crowd. A line of seafood restaurants and natty shops hug the promenade, and the atmosphere of the undeveloped beach appeals to locals and tourists alike. Bang Tao Beach is just around a headland to the north of Surin and is a huge sweeping bay with extra fine, tree-lined sands. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’re on a more secluded island when visiting Bang Tao, even in the high season, as it is much more sparsely populated yet several world-class hotels are hidden away here.

Phuket’s most northerly main beach lies just to the south of Phuket International Airport and is known as Nai Yang. Although not Phuket’s finest, Nai Yang Beach has the attraction of being close to the airport, is nice and quiet and is a lot cheaper than most other beaches. That said, there’s not much happening here so head south if noise is your persuasion.

Phuket’s eastern shores are fairly unattractive and uneventful in comparison with the west and there’s not much to see. The only real half-decent beaches on this side are situated on the southeast of the island, just up from Rawai. Of note is the aptly named Friendship Beach, which takes its name from the cute resort here.

The beaches of Phuket in Thailand