People are always worried about the side-effects or damage that steroids can cause to our body. A lot of people believe that it is type of medication that can help you build a body like professional body-builders while others believe that they help in gaining mass. Let us try to understand the side effects on the human body that can occur if you consume inhaled steroids.
Inhaled Steroids Side Effects on Human Body
Thrush
People who make use of inhaled steroids always carry a risk of developing thrush. Thrush is a type of infection that occurs in your mouth. It is a yeast infection. People infected with thrush may or may not show any symptoms. In other cases, there are symptoms like sore throat, irritation in tongue, bumps of the back of the throat etc. The minor cases of infection can be treated by rinsing your mouth with a good anti-fungal mouth rinse. Severe cases require fluconazole (Diflucan) pills.
The best way to prevent thrush, which is one of the side effects of inhaled steroids, is to clean your mouth properly after consuming inhaled steroid. You can also a good alcohol based mouth rinse like Listerine in addition to brushing your teeth to prevent this infection.
Another Side Effect of Inhaled Steroids on Human Body is Hoarseness of Voice
Inhaled steroids can also affect vocal cords and make voice hoarse in human body. The symptoms of hoarseness are not stable and may only appear when you use the steroid.
The inhaled steroids that are in the form of dry-powder like Advair, Asmanex etc are more harmful.
Inhaled Steroid Side Effects in Children
One of the side effects of inhaled steroids in children is that Inhaled steroids can hamper growth of the children. Although, children continue to grow but the rate of growth is slow or retarded. However, it has been proven in research that these children are able to make up for the retarded growth in the later phase of their life called as “catch-up” phase and thus there may not be any difference in the height of normal child and the one who is using inhaled steroids.
Thinning of the Bone or Osteoporosis
Middle aged adults and older adults are at more risk of thinning of the bone or osteoporosis as a side effect of regular usage of inhaled steroids. Osteoporosis can further progress if the inhaled steroid is in high quantity. The best way to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis while taking inhaled steroids is by using calcium supplements of 1500 mg per day.
Glaucoma and Cataracts
Increase in the development of glaucoma and cataracts are another side effect of inhaled steroids in human body. If you are in a position where you have to take inhaled steroids for a long period of time, then it is suggested to go for occasional eye checkup so that glaucoma or cataracts are found in the early stages.
Other Side Effects of Inhaled Steroids in Human Body are:
Weight gain, cushing syndrome and mood changes are some of the other side effects of inhaled steroids which are seen in children and young adults.
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