It is common knowledge that body inflammation is one way the body responds to injuries or any auto-immune provoking complication. However, a few biology lessons will also teach you that this inflammation should not last and should begin to subside in a few days.
The process of controlling these inflammations, and the body to resume normality, is spear-headed by naturally occurring steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, which also prevent the white blood cells from attacking healthy tissues.
However, these hormones can also be lab-produced, a helpful regimen for those with auto-immune diseases. Therefore, you need to be on the lookout for the side effects.
Glucocorticoid Treatments
- Prednisone: This drug treats conditions such as arthritis, asthma, allergies, blood diseases, and severe skin diseases.
- Triamcinolone: This drug treats conditions like arthritis, eczema, skin disorders, and cancer.
- Methylprednisolone: This drug is used to treat eye conditions, rheumatic infections, endocrine infections, all forms of arthritis as well as severe allergies.
- Dexamethasone: These medicines are used to treat endocrine, dermatological, allergic, and rheumatic conditions.
Signs You Are Suffering from Glucocorticoids
If you have any of the following symptoms, there is a high chance that you have insufficient Glucocorticoids in your body.
1. An Emerging Sleeping Disorder
The Prednisone type of glucocorticoid is the biggest culprit in unusual sleeping patterns.
These pills are used for treating arthritis, asthma, and other allergies but are also known to affect melatonin levels by drastically lowering them, which leads to sleeping disorders among patients (melatonin is the hormone that controls your sleep-wake patterns).
Splitting doses for this type of medication is the most significant factor for disorders such as insomnia, as the cortisol production levels start getting varied.
These steroids also rapidly fastened other sleep Disorders, such as poor REM sleep latency or sleep-wave slackness.
Sleep disorder is prevalent in patients taking glucocorticoids for extended periods.
2. A Smudgy Eye Sight
It should be well-known that all steroid medication, including glucocorticoids, undoubtedly affects eyesight negatively. A prescription of more than two weeks could result in serious eye complications if the drug is abused or is not prescribed correctly.
Scientists inform this negative effect of glucocorticoids is based on increased eye pressure (ocular pressure) due to the building up of fluid under the eye’s retina. Further studies also indicate that this steroid promotes poor debris clearance of the aqueous layer, which could lead to more severe cases of cataracts and glaucoma, leading to complete loss of sight.
Also, check for short or long-sightedness and wavy or twisted visions.
3. Swelling of the Body
Glucocorticoids can also regulate the body’s water, sodium, and potassium balance, promoting fluid retention. They enhance the renal plasma flow, the glomerular filtration rate, and water diuresis. Tests also show that this steroid also promotes high sodium retention.
Most patients present this effect as swelling of ankles and the face.
4. Rapid Addition of Weight
Frequent and prolonged consumption of glucocorticoids by patients will change their body weight. This is attributed to the increase in fasting glucose levels. In addition, it indicates that your t4 hormones are not converted to energy-producing t3 hormones, therefore, low t3 levels.
This fat will commonly be stored in the lower abdomen, the face (commonly known as the moon face), and your neck and shoulders.
Many doctors will diagnose this side effect using the reverse t3 blood test and will most likely prescribe a much stricter diet with less salt and some other water-retention pills.
5. Bad Skin Conditions
The skin is the body’s largest and most upfront organ, making it most vulnerable to inflammation. That stated, it also means that a large amount of the Glucocorticoids will exit this organ.
As the steroid suppresses inflammation and determines the ways of protein degradation, it also produces degenerative activities of the epidermis (the most visible and thinnest part of the skin), primarily visible two weeks into treatment.
The side effects of the steroid’s catabolic nature include skin problems. And the problem is they can become permanent if not treated promptly. The skin issues include:
- Acne
- Erythema (redness and inflammation of the skin)
- Facial hirsutism (growth of facial hair)
- Easy skin bruising
6. Cognitive Disorders
Studies show that patients have complained of enhanced anxiety levels during the first few days of glucocorticoid steroid intake. However, they are said to subside within a few days, and an immediate sense of well-being takes over.
However, long-term intake of glucocorticoid steroids has been reported to cause severe depression among patients. And in some rare instances, psychosis.
Such adverse effects are usually in patients taking between fifteen to twenty milligrams of steroids daily.
More common than these are extreme mood swings levels, with episodes of anger being the most common.
7. An Exaggerated Appetite
Some reported an increase in appetite during the intake of systemic glucocorticoids. This is often associated with increased leptin production, the satiety protein located in the hypothalamus, which is the appetite regulator. What then follows is an increased weight gain and body mass index, which could finally lead to obesity and obesity-related complications.
However, this process is quite vague, as increased leptin should lower the appetite. However, some scientists argue that glucocorticoids act as a resistance to the leptin protein.
Excess glucocorticoids are also said to increase glucose uptake to the bloodstream and various body parts by increasing glucagon levels, promoting hunger.
8. Breathing Difficulties
Scientists suggest that the breathing difficulties associated with glucocorticoids are usually a sub-effect of other side effects such as weight gain, which leads to obesity and causes cardiovascular problems due to the accumulation of fat around the heart and insomnia, which could also accelerate stress levels.
Studies of patients taking prednisone and cortisone have indicated this to be accurate, with most breathing difficulties occurring when they are inactive (at night).
9. High Blood Pressure
High water retention associated with glucocorticoids will more often than not lead to high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus due to the circulation of the extra fluid.
As cortisone and prednisone regulate the water and electrolyte balance, they will raise blood glucose and lead to high blood pressure.
Patients taking over 20mg of glucocorticoids are often the most vulnerable to this side effect. However, artificial glucocorticoids are dangerous to people with diabetes.
10. Muscular weakness
Extended use of glucocorticoid steroids results in severe cases. This includes:
- Myopathy (muscular breakdown)
- Osteonecrosis (joint weakness)
- osteoporosis (bone loss)
Some muscular weaknesses, such as osteonecrosis, are due to obesity and surgery, leading to immobility.
Cases such as osteoporosis often start with the trabecular and cortical bone, usually rendered ineffective within the first six months of glucocorticoid therapy.
Possible Precautions You Should Take
- Have eye checkups before glucocorticoid therapy, and take regular eye checkups during treatment: It will allow your opthalmologist to closely monitor your eyes and make necessary suggestions to prevent blurry vision, cataracts, and glaucoma onset. Thus, helping you avoid eye damage.
- Live a healthy lifestyle: You can reduce the side effects of weight gain and obesity by eating a healthy diet, including all nutrients your body needs. Consult your physician before starting strict diets, as some diet regimens may do more harm than good. Additionally, ensure you take all prescribed supplements on time.
- Exercise regularly: Exercise will be good for your weight issues and controlling blood pressure, regulating cognitive disorders such as mood swings and anxiety, and even helping you with your sleeping disorders by relaxing the body.
- Regular assessment of bone health: Tests such as bone mineral density and fracture risk assessment measurement are necessary for bone risk assessment for patients under glucocorticoid therapy. It will help physicians to classify your bone health in the classified low, medium, and high-risk categories.
- Regular visits to the dermatologist: A skin health assessment by a professional will undoubtedly help address any damage to your skin due to the effects of glucocorticoid treatment and prevent any permanent damage.
- Mental therapy: Although it may seem quite a radical precaution, having sessions with your psychiatrists will work to curb or prevent potential cognitive disorders, including mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
- Take breathing exercises: Breathing exercises come in handy if you have insomnia. This is because they help you alleviate anxiety or even shortness of breath; breathing exercises have been proven to help expand lung capacities, increasing oxygen circulation to your brain, thereby reducing chances of dizziness, nausea, headaches, and body balance.
- Take water excretion pills: They will help reduce fluid retained by the body, thereby controlling the swelling of the body and regulating blood pressure.
- Always inform your physician of any body changes you might experience: It will help your physician determine whether to increase or reduce your dosage. He may also advise you on other cause of actions to take.
Final Thoughts
Glucocorticoid treatment is highly encouraged and even considered life-saving for people with auto-immune systems. However, it also has severe side effects, especially when taken for a long time and in large amounts or misused.
Still, the treatment is undeniably effective, and with proper precautions and care, a patient can prevent adverse effects of this therapy and even control the mild side effects.
The precautions mentioned above will not only do this but will improve your general well-being.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
