Steroids' excessive use could weaken
bones
Excessive use of steroids is increasingly causing a
slew of health complications including thinning of skin, high blood sugar level
and weaker bones, doctors have warned. According to
the doctors, if a patient tries to quit steroids after a long time, there are
chances that the person may suffer from severe depression.
"Steroids, although considered as life-saving medicines, can also cause certain side-effects. These side-effects even include thin skin, a higher blood sugar level, dry mouth, and irregular menstrual cycles," said Behram Pardiwala, consultant, internal medicines, Wockhardt Hospitals, in a statement. He said some steroid users often turn to other dangerous drugs to deal with the pain of steroid use.
"Continuous steroid abuse can lead to harmful health risks as well. Users inject intramuscularly or ingest them in liquid or pill form, as well as absorb through tropical creams. More health risks, including suffering from a stroke, liver failure or heart attack, are common."
According to a study, 20 percent of the deaths caused in body builders is due to the high doses of steroids which they use to build up their muscles. According to Sanjeev Chaturvedi, a medicine expert at Safdarjung hospital, steroids are not a medicine to be taken often.
"One should know that when the body is under stress it makes extra steroids. If one overdoses on steroids for a long time, the body may not be able to make enough steroids during times of stress," he said.
"The most common side-effects of steroids are aggression, uncontrollable mood-swings, and many psychiatric disorders. Violence and panic symptoms arise due to prolong use of steroids," he said.
The doctors, however, stated that certain types of steroids in medicines help to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome, autoimmune diseases, joint and muscle diseases and allergies and asthma. But the only problem with steroids is that they too should not be overdosed, doctors suggest.
"Oral steroids can help to treat many diseases and certain types of cancers, to treat autoimmune diseases, to increase the red blood cells, for delayed puberty and as a recuperating measures post-surgery," Chaturvedi said.
"However, there are many occasions when there is a reaction to the use of steroids, which should directly be reported to the doctors," he added.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
21.10.2015
The
ill-effects of antibiotics
We're leading such a fast-paced lifestyle that
often, to keep up with our schedules, we may pop antibiotics whenever we fall
sick. While they may give your temporary relief, in the long run, they can
cause irreversible damage to your body. Here are a few:
They increase the risk of obesity.
According to studies,
industrial raised animals are given low doses of antibiotics to make them
fatter, which could also occur in humans.
Can cause type I diabetes.
Since antibiotics kill the beneficial bacteria in the
intestines, they play havoc with your immune system. If you consume a large
dose of them since an early age, it can cause your immune system to attack the
pancreas, thus affecting your insulin-making process, causing diabetes.
They can destroy bacteria like H. pylori.
Though a bad bacteria, it is the reason which protects people
from asthma. Killing it can lead to asthma.
Resistant to infections.
The biggest disadvantage of taking antibiotics on a regular
basis is that it increases the risk of antibiotic resistant infections.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
21.10.2015
Challenges
are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful
Joshua J. Marine
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