When actress Cameron Diaz was young, she had acne. “I had terrible skin,” she says. “I tried to get rid of it with medication: oral, topical, even the harshest prescriptions.”

Then she realized her body was sending her a message. “Acne was my body's way of telling me to stop eating fast food,” she explains.

Certain fast foods — including those that contain saturated fat, simple carbs, and salt — cause acne. And while antibiotics are sometimes the go-to prescription for acne, it turns out that women may want to think twice before committing to long-term use of antibiotics for non–life-threatening conditions.

A study of 36,500 women published in the European Heart Journal found that those over age 60 who took antibiotics for two-plus months were 32% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, and women ages 40-59 taking long-term antibiotics were at a 28% increased risk.

Did you know that the amount of antibiotics prescribed to women ages 35-54 is 40% higher than is prescribed to men the same ages? The most common reasons for the prescriptions were respiratory and urinary tract infections and dental care.

How does long-term antibiotic use harm the cardiovascular system? By narrowing blood vessels, which makes heart attack and stroke more likely; and by disrupting your gut microbiome, which weakens your immune response and increases inflammation.

Of course, you may need antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia or persistent UTIs. But before starting any course, ask your doctor about other options or about taking antibiotics for a shorter duration.