Steroid therapy is the use of steroid medicines, also identified as corticosteroids, to treat several types of autoimmune illness, which includes myasthenia gravis, lupus, and various sclerosis, and other issues, such as asthma. Steroid drugs consist of medications like prednisone and cortisone. Corticosteroids can be prescribed to be taken orally or in other ways, such as by inhalation.

According to Western medicine, steroid medications are medically essential to treat lots of conditions and illnesses. It is significant not only to adhere to the recommendations of your health-related skilled with regards to steroid use, if you have decided steroid therapy is suitable for you, but also to explore other healthcare choices if you have second thoughts about steroid medications.

Is steroid therapy right for you?

Steroid medicines have main effects on the metabolism of calcium and bone. Steroid therapy can result in severe bone loss, osteoporosis, and broken bones. High dosage of steroid medications can lead to rapid bone loss, up to as substantially as 15 percent per year. If you are on steroids, you are more than twice as likely to have a spine fracture as compared to a particular person not taking steroids. Fracture danger increases as the daily doses of steroid medications increases. The big influence of steroid medication on bone is fractures (broken bones) that occur most generally in the spine and ribs. There are diverse rates of bone loss amongst individuals on corticosteroids. Bone loss occurs most swiftly in the 1st six months after beginning oral steroid medications. Just after 12 months of chronic steroid use, there is a slower loss of bone. On the other hand, it must be mentioned that not all individuals who take steroid medications encounter bone loss.

Other adverse side effects of steroid drugs are elevation of blood pressure, weight gain, decreased resistance to infection, indigestion, thinning of skin, and possible improvement of cataracts and glaucoma.

Let me relate my personal practical experience with steroid therapy.

I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis many years ago. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular illness characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscle tissues of the physique. The hallmark of the illness is muscle weakness, which increases for the duration of periods of activity and anxiety, but improves following periods of rest and calm. Certain muscle tissues, such as these that control eyes and eyelid movements, facial expression, speaking, chewing and swallowing are generally involved in this disorder. In addition, the muscle tissues that handle breathing, neck, and limb movements may possibly also be impacted.

Due to myasthenia gravis, I had developed 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 well as slurred speech in several situations of myasthenia gravis.

I was prescribed steroid drugs and had been on a steroid therapy for three years. In addition, I was also provided medications to deal with bone loss and other side adverse effects related with the use of steroids.

In my case, there was some improvement, but not important sufficient to make me make a decision to continue the steroid therapy following 3 years of therapy. I had to balance the dangers of steroids and the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

My rude awakening came when I realized that my immune technique, which was the result in of the illness in the first spot, is not only an integrated network of cells that would protect me in times of an infection, but also a method with many regulatory mechanisms that, if uncontrolled, would turn into my enemy instead of my pal. More importantly, these steroids may manage the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, but they may perhaps also impair my immune method with lasting effects on my all round overall health and wellness additional down the road.

I recognized that the human body has a all-natural mechanism for self-healing, if offered the acceptable atmosphere. Accordingly, I took matters into my hands, and created a drastic decision to stop my steroid therapy with no consulting my doctor (Warning: I do not ask everyone to do the same.) I stopped the medication pretty slowly and steadily. Meanwhile, I did everything to enhance my immune system by means of a thorough detoxification program, and a alter of diet program. I did not achieve weight, my blood stress became regular and, most important of all, my myasthenia gravis conditions did not deteriorate. Up to this day, I still have some double vision, which I have discovered to cope with (I can nonetheless drive), but my other symptoms have disappeared. Roid Test have been off steroid therapy for a lot more than one decade currently.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, when stated: “No man is a much better doctor than himself, who knows his own constitution.” No 1 can make a decision for you what is very best for your wellness. A medical doctor can only give tips, but you are the a single who makes the decision on no matter if steroid therapy is ideal for you. Listen to your body.