Steroid therapy is the use of steroid drugs, also recognized as corticosteroids, to treat a lot of forms of autoimmune disease, including myasthenia gravis, lupus, and a number of sclerosis, and other issues, such as asthma. Steroid drugs include things like medications like prednisone and cortisone. Corticosteroids can be prescribed to be taken orally or in other methods, such as by inhalation.
According to Western medicine, steroid medicines are medically essential to treat lots of conditions and ailments. It is essential not only to stick to the suggestions of your health-related qualified regarding steroid use, if you have decided steroid therapy is ideal for you, but also to discover other health-related possibilities if you have second thoughts about steroid drugs.
Is steroid therapy suitable for you?
Steroid medications have key effects on the metabolism of calcium and bone. Steroid therapy can result in extreme bone loss, osteoporosis, and broken bones. High dosage of steroid drugs can trigger speedy bone loss, up to as a lot as 15 % per year. If you are on steroids, you are extra than twice as likely to have a spine fracture as compared to a person not taking steroids. Fracture danger increases as the day-to-day doses of steroid medicines increases. The main effect of steroid medication on bone is fractures (broken bones) that happen most commonly in the spine and ribs. There are distinct rates of bone loss among people on corticosteroids. Bone loss happens most quickly in the first six months soon after beginning oral steroid medications. Soon after 12 months of chronic steroid use, there is a slower loss of bone. Nevertheless, it ought to be mentioned that not all individuals who take steroid drugs encounter bone loss.
Other adverse side effects of steroid medications are elevation of blood stress, weight gain, decreased resistance to infection, indigestion, thinning of skin, and prospective improvement of cataracts and glaucoma.
Let me relate my personal practical experience with steroid therapy.
Roidtest was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis various years ago. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The hallmark of the illness is muscle weakness, which increases in the course of periods of activity and anxiety, but improves after periods of rest and calm. Particular muscle tissues, such as those that manage eyes and eyelid movements, facial expression, talking, chewing and swallowing are typically involved in this disorder. In addition, the muscles that control breathing, neck, and limb movements may perhaps also be impacted.
Due to myasthenia gravis, I had created ocular symptoms, such as ptosis (drooping of eyelids) and diplopia (double vision), and weak neck and limb muscles. Thankfully, I did not have weakness of the pharynx muscles, which could cause difficulty in chewing and swallowing, as properly as slurred speech in several circumstances of myasthenia gravis.
I was prescribed steroid medications and had been on a steroid therapy for 3 years. In addition, I was also offered medications to deal with bone loss and other side adverse effects associated with the use of steroids.
In my case, there was some improvement, but not important sufficient to make me decide to continue the steroid therapy right after three years of treatment. I had to balance the risks of steroids and the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.
My rude awakening came when I realized that my immune program, which was the result in of the disease in the 1st place, is not only an integrated network of cells that would protect me in times of an infection, but also a program with many regulatory mechanisms that, if uncontrolled, would turn into my enemy rather of my friend. Much more importantly, these steroids may possibly manage the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, but they may well also impair my immune system with lasting effects on my all round health and wellness further down the road.
I recognized that the human body has a organic mechanism for self-healing, if offered the appropriate environment. Accordingly, I took matters into my hands, and created a drastic decision to quit my steroid therapy without the need of consulting my physician (Warning: I do not ask anybody to do the same.) I stopped the medication extremely slowly and progressively. Meanwhile, I did almost everything to improve my immune technique by means of a thorough detoxification program, and a modify of diet program. I did not gain weight, my blood pressure became normal and, most critical of all, my myasthenia gravis situations did not deteriorate. Up to this day, I still have some double vision, which I have learned to cope with (I can nonetheless drive), but my other symptoms have disappeared. I have been off steroid therapy for extra than one particular decade currently.
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, after stated: “No man is a greater physician than himself, who knows his personal constitution.” No one particular can determine for you what is most effective for your health. A medical doctor can only give guidance, but you are the one particular who makes the selection on no matter if steroid therapy is suitable for you. Listen to your body.