Dangers of steriod use

During chronic inflammation, the liver often suffers from the “friendly fire” of these healing messengers that are directed at the pathogen, toxins, or invading virus. The efforts directed by the white blood cells to counteract the pathogen end up acting on the liver. The responses from the immune system ultimately cause the damage associated with hepatitis. The disruptions in the functions of the liver are elicited as the symptoms of hepatitis that include elevated liver enzymes. This leaves localized scar tissue on the liver. If this process continues unabated, scarring reduces the functional area and abilities of the liver.

The scarring is referred to as cirrhosis. What happens to fresh hamburger as it cooks on a grill is exactly how the cirrhotic process occurs. If the inflammatory fires are not abated, liver cancer can ensue. The driving force in chronic hepatitis is the ability of the pathogens or toxic wastes to break through the host immune defenses or weak cellular defenses and cause excessive immunological response that causes cirrhosis. Hence cirrhosis is caused not by the pathogens or viruses but our own immune responses that become overzealous. It’s like a group of overzealous cats munching on a mouse.

Joseph C. Maroon MD - "Did you know that the root cause of serious chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, arthritis, and asthma has been identified as chronic inflammation? Although numerous studies have confirmed these findings, few physcians are aware of or consider the fact that the battle against inflammation is at the forefront of the fight for health and well-being of the global population. Authors Joseph Maroon and Jeffrey Bost have set out to reverse that trend with "Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory." Supplementtion with omega-3 fatty acids can restore the body's balance and mitigate the effects of inflmmatory factors. Fish oil and Flaxseed oil are the best source of omega-3 fatty

The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids can include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), and decreases in HDL (good cholesterol). Other side effects include kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling. In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:

Steroids are fast catching up with antibiotics as the most abused class of drugs in your doctor's black bag. There's no doubt that the discovery of steroids a half century ago was a major advance in medicine-a life-saver for those like the late President John F Kennedy, who suffered from Addison's disease, a disease of the adrenal glands causing insufficient hormone production. Steroids mimic the action of the adrenal glands, the body's most powerful regulator of general metabolism. John Stirling, director of the vitamin company Biocare, credits a very short course (three injections) of steroids with jump-starting his failing adrenal system after anaphylactic shock and saving his life. The problem is, like antibiotics, steroids appear to be a miracle 'cure'. Patients with crippling arthritis or asthma seem to be instantly better on steroids.The wheeze, the swelling, the pain go away. So doctors turn to steroids as the first, rather than last, line of attack for their anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.

As with antibiotics, what was once reserved for the extreme emergency is now being used on the most trivial of conditions. Steroids are now handed out as readily as antibiotics, even to babies, at the first sign of inflammation of any sort. The latest drug set to replace gripe water for babies with croup is a steroid (budesonide); hydrocortisone is included in the latest over-the-counter medication for piles. Steroids make up many OTC skin drugs, and are considered the drug of choice for asthma, eczema, arthritis, back problems, bowel problems like ulcerative colitis-indeed, for any and all inflammations or allergic reactions-and new uses are still being invented. The sole exceptionis Addison's Disease, where steroids act as a replacement therapy of cortisone, much as insulin is given to diabetics.

Far from being a wonder drug 'cure all', steroids cannot cure one single condition. All they do is suppress your body's ability to express a normal response. In a few instances, this type of suppression will give the body a chance to heal itself. But more often, the effect is immediate, devastating and permanent damage. And we are only now realizing just how quickly damage can occur. Despite what doctors say, that steroids only have side effects after many years of use, there is no such thing as a safe dose.

Studies show that steroids cause permanent, debilitating effects after a single dosage. With long term use, some of the more common side effects of steroids include changes in appearance, such as acne, development of a round or moon-shaped face and an increased appetite leading to eight gain. Steroids may also cause a redistribution of fat, leading to a swollen face and abdomen, but thin arms and legs. In some cases, the skin becomes more fragile, which leads to easy bruising. These take weeks to begin appearing.

Psychological side effects of steroids include irritability, agitation, euphoria or depression. Insomnia can also be a side effect. These changes in appearance and mood are often more apparent with high doses of steroids, and may begin within days. Injected Triamcinalone (see above), or oral dexamethasone seem to cause these changes less, but as they stay in the body an undesirably long time, rendering them second choices.

An increase in susceptibility to infections may occur with very high doses of steroids. Prednisone may also aggravate diabetes, glaucoma, and high blood pressure, and often increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. In children, steroids can suppress growth. These effects are reversed once the steroids are stopped.

Long-term damage: quick and dirty

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

"The degenerative disease epidemic that wracks the nation came coincidentally with the introduction of engineered fats and oils. It is the type of fats and oils that we consume that is directly correlated to the rise of epidemic degenerative disease; it is not the amount of fats and oils that we eat that causes the problem. It is by chronically consuming the fats and oils that cause degenerative disease that we impair our ability to consume healthy fats and oils. We also impair our ability to consume carbohydrates and thus become Diabetic and Obese." Thomas Smith, author of Insulin: Our Silent Killer . Learn how FOOD can powerfully transform your health, boost your energy and even eliminate inflammatory pain in just 60 days.

Fred Pescatore, M.D - "Many of our most debilitating diseases can be traced to an inflammatory cause."

Dr. Hyman MD - "Inflammation is a central player in the 5 Forces of Illness, cutting across traditional boundaries and specialties in medicine. Anywhere there is pain; fatigue or aging, there is likely to be inflammation. Typically, inflammation is recognized with the four classic signs - tumor, rubor, calor and dolor - Latin for swelling, redness, heat and pain. If we have had an acute injury or a sore throat we are very familiar with this process. However, the real concern is not our acute response to injury, infection or insult, but the chronic smoldering inflammation that slowly destroys our organs, our ability for optimal functioning and leads to rapid aging. Our common treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs, or steroids like prednisone, though often useful for acute problems, interfere with the body's own immune response and lead inevitably to serious and deadly side effects. (Recall that as many people die from taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen as die every year from asthma or leukemia - stopping these drugs would be the equivalent to finding the cure for asthma or leukemia."

A groundswell of nutrition conscious doctors and veterinarians are beginning to recommend to their clients that they supplement their diet with a daily dose of flaxseed oil. These doctors are finding remarkable results in clearing up skin conditions, relieving arthritic and inflammatory pain, as well as improved overall health. Flaxseed oil and other healthy oils, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in immune anti-inflammatory responses.

Dr. Jessica Black - "The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe book was developed with the idea of reducing overall inflammation in the body which allows the body to function more efficiently. As naturopathic physicians, I and many of my colleagues use this particular diet with each and every patient. Everyone that adopts this diet sees some positive change. I have seen arthritis patients drop 50 percent (or more) of their pain, people with seasonal allergies or asthma become disease-free, and chronic disease sufferers receive hope from the health improvements they noticed upon beginning this diet. Because we are working to improve body metabolism, this is the perfect diet to use to slow the aging process. Our society is demanding a new revolution in healthcare and this diet is the perfect adjunct to natural treatments of various kinds. Anyone who wants to take control of their health and begin feeling more vibrant needs to begin this diet. What makes this diet different than many other diets on the market is that it is designed to be a therapy for the body to begin its own process of healing. This diet is not a binge diet to use when you want to lose weight, although that is one positive result often experienced from adopting this diet. It is truly designed to promote a whole lifestyle change and to stimulate the natural healing mechanism that is present in each and every one of us. This diet can help to reduce chronic disease in adults and children, reduce the symptoms of aging, and promote optimal health in those who use it, thus building a better future for us, our children, and our world."

The connection between inflammation and heart disease, arthritis, and other chronic ailments has become increasingly clear. Many food allergies and poor dietary choices over stimulate the immune system and cause inflammatory responses that erode the body’s wellness and pave the path for ill health. Based on her naturopathic practice, Jessica Black has devised a complete program for how to eat and cook to minimize and even prevent inflammation and its consequences. The first part of the book explains the benefits of the anti-inflammatory diet with an accessible discussion of the science behind it. The second half contains 108 recipes. The author offers many substitution suggestions and includes a healthy ingredient tip with each recipe. Most of the dishes can be prepared quickly and easily by even novice cooks. A week of sample menus for summer months and another for winter are included, as well as a substitutions chart, allowing readers to modify their favorite recipes to increase their healing potential.