Justines Asthma pages

 I do not have any nice things to say about these drugs. I hate taking them. I have been on and off  steroids tablets all my life. (more on than off). I suppose they helped me years ago but not any more. I think I must be immune to them now (thank goodness) so I don't take them. Well they made me very bad tempered when I was on them and give me this never ending hunger. They made me look like I'd been pumped up with air. I hated them aghh! I had injections of them last year but they did not work for my asthma so the Doctor took me off them. The very last time I was on them I filled up with fluid. My feet really swelled up and my throat and arms were very itchy and red. The doctor thought I was allergic to them but this is what they give you for an allergic reaction. Well it's all confusing to me too so I don't take them any more. Amen to that.

Steroids are preventer medicines used to prevent asthma attacks (not to cure them). They are taken in different ways. By inhalers, tablets, nebulisers and injections. They are taken to reduce the swelling (so stops the narrowing) of the small tubes inside the lungs (airways). People with asthmas lungs are very sensitive to dust etc,etc (as we know) and steroids reduce the imflamation and narrowing of the airways that lead to the symptoms of asthma. This in turn reduces the production of mucus in the lungs which also causes shortness of breath. Becotide is the most widely used inhaled steriod.

Corticosteroids are medicines that help and prevent asthma symptoms by reducing inflamation in the airways. Cortisone is a steroid which is produced by the body to help it function properly. Corticosteroids are developed from cortisone and decrease inflamation. This medicine is used in different forms, to treat many different conditions. They help to reduce itching, swelling, redness and allergic reactions. They are used as the main treatment in asthma. Corticosteroids might be part of the steroid family, but they are not the same as the ones athletes and body builders use to increase their muscles and gain strength. These ones are anabolic steroids and have seious side effects. Inhaled steroids are given to patients of every age with different degrees of asthma. They work by dampening down the inflamation in the airways and are the most effect treatments to date for treating asthma. Taking inhaled steroids reduce the asthma symptoms and prevent serious attacks occuring. To work properly they need to be taken once or twice a day every day. They have no effect if taken now and again. They are preventers used to prevent asthma attacks happening. Some preventers can take up to four weeks to become effective. Others might take a few days. These steroids are the same as the ones your body naturally produces. Inhaled steroids have hardly no side effects. Steroids given orally (by mouth) are usually given during severe asthma attacks or for severe asthmatics that may be dependant on it. I have written a list of side effects. Usually thiese tablets are taken for around 5 days or until Doctors say so. Stopping these drugs abruptly can cause serious breathing problems. Injections and IV steroids are given to severe asthmatic attack patients to relieve airway restrction.

                                              Steroids taken orally often have the most serious side effects as they have to travel in the bloodstream causing damage to other parts of the body. Inhaled steroids cause the least side effects but can cause a husky voice, throat infections and eye problems. Other side effects are adrenal suppression which is the production of natural hormones from the adrenal glands. Also easy bruising was found (especially among the elderly). Long term use of steroids can also suppress the immune system.High doses and long term use can cause reduction in bone mass and osteoporosis (Yes. I am on calcium tablets for this). I also know (from experience) that they cause slow growth in children, mood swings and a huge appetite. The Doctors always said to me "you have to outway the side effects of steroids with asthma its self " MMm. (maybe). I am not convinced though.

People with asthma sometimes take steroid pills for long peroids of time. Steroid pills are strong medicines that decrease swollen airways. Thet also have some nutritional side effects to be aware of. Steroids have the potential to interfere with the way the body uses specific nutrients, including calcium, potassium, sodium, protein and vitamins D and C. If you take steroid pills for your asthma, it is very important to eat a well balanced diet. A healthy diet that includes foods from each of their groups. Over a long peroid of time, steroid pills can increase your chances of  calcium loss in the bones. It is very important to eat foods high in calcium, such as dairy products. To prevent other side effects, limit the use of salt and foods high in sodium and limit fats in your diet also. In addition, calcium and vitamin tablets may help.

The natural role of cortisol on the body plays an important role in the regulation of:

Protein, carbohydate, lipid and acid metabolism.

Inflamation and immune response.

Distribution and excreation of water.

Secreation of hormone from the pitituary gland.

This natural steroid cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland.

Systemic steroids are man made and work in the same way as natural ones to help prevent and treat lots of different conditions like asthma, allergies and many others.

The most effective group of medications for the prevention and control of asthma are inhaled corticosteroids. Corticosteroids reduce asthma symptoms, improve lung function protect against attacks, reduce hospitalization with asthma and improve the quality of life for most asthma suffers. These inhaled steroids can be inhaled directly into the bronichal tubes where imflamation takes place. By breathing the steroid medication into the airways can avoid all the unwanted side effects of taking steroids by mouth. Or do they? Recent studies of the inhalation of steroids say they might be harmful to the eyes.Is it possiable that some amounts of the steroid inhaled into the bronichal tubes might make there way into the blood stream after all (like steroids taken by mouth) and after using them for a long time (years) cause cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) or glaucoma (damage due to high pressure in the eye). It is know that taking steroids by mouth is more likely to give you glaucoma or cataracts. Might the same thing be for inhaled steroids? Researchers have found that patients taking high doses of inhaled steroids have elevated eye pressure. High doses of inhaled steroids increase the risk of elevated eye pressure and glaucoma to 40% than normal. Low dose inhaled steroids do not pose any threat to glaucoma. High doses of inhaled steroids do pose a threat.

Excessive cortisicosteroid use is one of the causes of cushing disease. Below is a long list of side effects steroids cause. Of course some people would not be alive today if it was not for steroids, but the side effects of these drugs can be severe also.

Sleep disturbance.

Increased appetite.

Weight gain.

Psychologic effects

Increased and decreased energy.

Heart failure.

Peptic ulceration.

Diabetes.

Necrosis of the hip

These side effects are from short term use. Long term use effects are below.

Nearly every one on steroids for more than a month has had some sort of side effect. These may include any of the list below.

Reduction in your own cortisol.

Stress, injury, infection could lead to more serious illness.

Osteoporosis.

Reduction of growth in children (not all).

Muscle weakness, mainly shoulder and thigh.

Destruction of the hip joint.

High blood sugar (diabetes).

Moon face.

Salt retention.

Leg swelling.

High blood pressure.

Weight increase.

Heart failure.

Shakiness and tremor.

Eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts.

Insomia, mood changes and depression.

Headaches.

More prone to infections.

Peptic ulcer.

There is also side effects from reducing the dose and stopping it. These include tiredness, depression, muscle aches and headaches. Steroids also cause a lot of skin problems like, easy bruising, skin thinning, fragile skin, acne and stretch marks. This is quite a lot of side effects from steroids, but as I have said before they out way the risks of dying especially from asthma attacks, but I choose not to take these drugs now.