What Are Mitochondria and How Fluoroquinolones Affect Them

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In today’s episode, Dr. Hugh will talk about mitochondria and how they play an important role in your health. This episode is especially helpful if you’ve been affected by antibiotics like fluoroquinolones, which can damage mitochondria.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What are mitochondria?
  • Mitochondria are the energy makers of your cells. They help produce power so your cells can work properly.
  • Each cell in your body can have between 15 and 2000 mitochondria, depending on the cell type.
• How do fluoroquinolone antibiotics work?
  • Medications like Cipro and Levofloxacin target the DNA of bacteria, stopping it from copying itself. This is how the bacteria are killed.
  • However, these antibiotics can also damage your mitochondria because your mitochondria have DNA that is similar to bacterial DNA.
• Why are mitochondria at risk?
  • Unlike the nucleus of your cell, which is well-protected, mitochondria have ring-shaped DNA that is exposed.
  • This makes it easy for antibiotics to damage mitochondria, leading to long-term health problems.
• What happens when mitochondria are damaged?
  • Damaged mitochondria can cause nerve pain (neuropathy) and make you feel tired.
  • Mitochondria also help cells decide when to live or die, so when they’re harmed, it can cause your cells to stop working properly.

Dr. Hugh explains how fluoroquinolone antibiotics can affect your body by targeting the mitochondria. If you’re struggling with side effects from these drugs, this episode will help you understand why and how to begin your path to recovery.