Your body’s adrenal glands make a natural steroid hormone called cortisol, a powerful anti-inflammatory. But sometimes we need an extra punch of steroids in our bodies to fight off an acute illness or inflammation. This is when prescription steroids, like the commonly used prednisone, are valuable. Grossman describes prednisone as a ‘double-edged sword’ because when you start taking the medication ‘your adrenal glands will say, ‘Hey, we’re getting the steroid from a pill. Let’s go on vacation.’’
If you stop taking the steroid suddenly, your body’s adrenal glands will need about a week or two to wake up and start making cortisol again. Weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain may ensue, due to the low levels of cortisol in your system. A doctor can slowly wean you off the steroids and ease your body back into making cortisol on its own again without the horrible withdrawal effects.
There has been a particular antiviral pill discovered, one that allegedly can reduce the risk… Read More
Some of us have a few clues about which foods are high in calories and… Read More
Losing weight is no easy job, but when it comes to belly fat, it seems… Read More
The number of bowel movements you have in a day depends on a lot of… Read More
Depression is a mood disorder that makes you constantly sad and takes away any interest… Read More
Living a busy and active life can make you choose things that are fast and… Read More