One of the main problems that men face as they get older is low testosterone. Testosterone is the most important sex hormone and when men get older, their levels start to dropping. Studies show that there is a link between low testosterone and an elevated risk of heart disease. But how does low testosterone cause an elevated risk of heart disease?

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that does more than just maintain your sex drive. Testosterone helps maintain overall health as well. Studies show that the peak time for sexual activity is during the teens and twenties. As men get older, they are less sexually active. Your body slows down the amount of testosterone that it produces which can lead to low testosterone over the course of time. Low testosterone can be a factor in the increase in fat, the loss of muscle bulk, and the hair loss with many men experience as their age progresses.

How Does this Affect My Heart?

When we consider how healthy our bodies have to be to increase the percentage of creating another life, we can see how a reduction the testosterone levels has an effect on the heart. We already know that an increase in the amount of body fat can increase your chance of getting heart disease since your heart has to work that much harder to push the blood around. One of the signs that your body is not getting the blood to circulate throughout the body correctly is a loss of hair to wherever the hair has been lost since it takes more nutrients to make the hair grow.

How Can I Treat Low Testosterone?

Many doctors will treat low testosterone with hormone replacement therapy. There have been debates on whether or not the replacement therapy actually helps the cardiovascular part of low testosterone. These studies are still ongoing but it could be that the hormone replacement therapy will not have any effect on heart disease. It is important to remember that most of the men that qualify for hormone replacement therapy have very low levels of testosterone which make it necessary for the treatment.

How Can I Raise My Testosterone Levels?

The best way to keep your testosterone levels up is to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your life. Eating right and exercising regularly are key to avoid many of the health related risks that are associated with old age. Many of the studies that have been completed show that men that exercise regularly are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, especially when they have been doing more cardio based workouts.

Working out and eating right also maintains healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. High levels of bad cholesterol have been linked to the arteries of the body hardening which can lead to damage to the muscle of the heart. This is one of the reasons that maintaining a healthy diet is so crucial to maintaining our bodies' health. Just remember that if you think that you have low testosterone levels, you need to discuss your concerns with your doctor before deciding what you are going to do to treat your lack of testosterone.

References

https://circ.ahajournals.org/content/100/16/1690.short

https://circ.ahajournals.org/content/112/3/332.short

Have you ever asked yourself if addictions are a choice or if there is not a choice at all? For many people, this question hits too close to home. Alcohol addiction has caused many families to separate, millions of domestic violence cases, and children to be ripped from their homes. With all of the horrible consequences, it would be all too easy for us to accept that it really boils down to family history so that we don't have to face the fact that these people don't want to be with us. So is alcohol addiction a choice or is it genetic?

The Case for Genetics

People can be predisposed to having an alcohol addiction. It is important to understand that predisposition does not mean anything other than you are more likely to like alcohol to the point that it can become an addiction. Children of addicts are around eight times more likely to become addicted but, that can be for any number of reasons. This could be due to the fact that they are raised around it and it could be seen as an acceptable� way to socialize.

Many people use genetics as a way to excuse themselves of their behavior. They blame their parents for their own problems. But how much of their alcohol addiction is their own choice?

Alcoholism is Choice?

Many people may not want to deal with the reality that they are the reason that they are addicts. When our ancestors needed to learn what to eat, they learned by trial and error. If their bodies consumed something that did not kill it, it would become addictive to ensure that we went back to eat the berries at a certain spot because the rest were poisoned. So, if the choice is made to go out and repeatedly drink alcohol, we run the risk of becoming addicted.

Genetic predisposition could play a role in how quickly this can happen. There are many people who�have complete control for their entire lives and some that become completely obsessed with it. Could people who have several generations be predisposed to the point that one drink and they are hooked? Many people argue that the person who suffers from an addiction has complete control and the ability to stop.

What Role Does Environmental Factors During Childhood?

We now understand that many of the things that happen during childhood have a lasting effect throughout the child's life. For many children of troubled households, that relief was found when they turned the magical number and were able to legally drink. Since it is legal, it is easy to get and the easier people have to alcohol, the more they drink it. Alcohol is well-known to be a misguided coping mechanism which is why it is so common for people who drink after breaking up with a partner or losing a close family member. The real question that still remains is at what point does it become a choice?

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_dependence

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcoholism/basics/definition/con-20020866

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/alcohol-abuse-and-dependence-symptoms�

There are a lot of fad diets that are floating around nowadays. From juice diets to cleanses, it can be really difficult to know exactly what is healthy and what is outright dangerous for your health. Celebrities can make it worse because they get praised for rapid weight loss that is impossible for many of us to achieve. So when you are about to jump on the fad diet train, make sure you remember these things.

Healthy? No Way!

Fad diets are widely unhealthy. Just remember that every time that you remove a certain food that you normally eat, you need to replace the calories and nutrients somewhere else. Instead of removing a specific food, make sure that you are replacing it with a healthier option so that you do not become deficient. Vitamin deficiencies are plaguing the country right now and can have serious side effects on the body. Not getting enough potassium and sodium can land you in the hospital over a heart attack years later.

A Dangerous Gateway

When you go on a juice fast, you are losing the solid food that normally makes you feel full. This can become a gateway to eating disorders because you are teaching yourself that feeling hungry is good. Many of the eating disorders that people suffer from can be avoided by maintaining a healthy diet that has all of the food groups represented. This keeps you from feeling like the cheerleader in high school who eats two celery sticks and prevents you from permanently damaging your body.

Break the Bank Much?

Most of the fad diets that are out there cost more and more as they come out. You might have to purchase those shakes or bars that cost an arm and a leg just to go on the diet. Millions of dollars are wasted on the fad diet of the week book. There are powders and pills but really the only thing that you should need is you. It might take a little time but, designing a different meal plan will be a longer lasting investment than the dollar eBook that promises instant results.

Where Did all that Come From?

Have you finished a diet and gained more than you lost? Many of the fad diets restrict what you are putting into your body. When you lose the desired weight, you start to come off the diet only to find that the weight suddenly comes back. This is because most of the weight that we lose on these diets is muscle and water. Weight gain is very common with fad diets which is one of the reasons that they keep coming out with them. Instead of jumping on the fast track, modify your diet to target your goal. Diet and exercise have been the most successful ways to lose weight for centuries. Losing weight is not something that you want to be temporary so why are you only making a temporary change to your lifestyle. Why not just change it once so you don't have to change it again?

See also:�https://www.doctortipster.com/19039-diet-pills-and-weight-loss.html

References

https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/the-truth-about-fad-diets

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/01/24/top-fad-diets-love-them-or-leave-them

Baby acne�(infantile acne) is a rough, pimple-like rash on the baby's face. It is most prominent on the baby's cheeks, nose and forehead. Baby acne is a common problem among newborns and young infants.It typically appears on the infant's face within one week to four weeks after birth. In most cases, it clears up on its own after a couple of weeks without the need of any treatment.

There is no clear explanation about the occurrence of acne among infants. However, experts often points out that it may be related to maternal hormones receive by the baby before a mother gives birth. These hormones are said to overstimulate the oil-producing glands in the baby's skin resulting in skin eruptions like acne. It becomes more pronounced if the baby's skin is irritated with saliva, dirt, spilt milk, rough fabrics or those that has been washed in strong detergents.

Certain medications, viral illnesses and allergic reactions can also contribute to the occurrence of baby acne. Thus, it is important to let your baby's doctor know about these so your baby will be given the appropriate treatment and care.

Symptoms

Baby Acne is usually characterized by small pimple-likered�bumps on the baby's cheeks, nose and forehead but can occur anywhere on the face and back. Whiteheads are sometimes present and possibly, some small pustules. The acne will be most prominent when the baby is hot or fussy due to the increased blood flow to the skin or when the skin is irritated. If the irritation appears rashly or scaly, or it appears elsewhere on the body, he may have other skin conditions such as cradle cap or eczema.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for baby acne as it usually clears up within a couple of weeks. However, if the unsightly appearance of skin eruptions concerns you, you can consult your baby's doctor whenever needed to discuss available treatment options and skin care restrictions or modifications.During your doctor's appointment, a thorough family and medical history may be obtained in order to determine the seriousness of the baby's acne. The doctor may ask you for a possible family history of severe acne or use medications that might have come into contact with the baby such as corticosteroids or iodine-containing drugs.

If the baby's acne becomes bothersome among parents, the doctor usually recommends the use of a topical cream. It is very important to consult the doctor before using over-the-counter medications to avoid unnecessary skin damage and untoward complications.

Home remedies

Although baby acne is normal, certain home practices can help prevent exacerbation of the baby's skin condition.

• �It is important to always wash the baby's face using mild facial soap and to dry the face gently.
• Lotions, oils and other face creams need to be avoided.
• Keep your baby from scratching his face by using hand mittens until the baby pimples disappear.
• Most importantly, do not pinch or scrub the acne to avoid irritation or infection.

See also:�https://www.doctortipster.com/18535-physical-activity-during-pregnancy-stimulates-brain-development-in-newborn.html

References

https://www.patient.co.uk/health/erythema-toxicum-neonatorum-leaflet

https://www.babycenter.com/0_baby-acne_72.bc

What is a rib contusion?

The meaning of contusion is bruise� which is actually a local collection of blood under skin due to rupture of blood vessels present there.

Usually, a rib contusion or bruised rib occurs when there is an injury to the rib causing it to break or dislocate. Most of the time a rib contusion is a result of serious trauma to ribs which causes them to break and rupture the blood vessels around them.

There are 12 pairs of ribs on each side of the body; the total number of ribs is 24; the ribs 1-9 are attached to the sternum (aka breast bone). The 11^th and 12^th�pair has free-floating ribs i.e. they are not attached to the sternum.

What may cause a rib contusion?

Trauma, most commonly by a direct blow to the ribs causes contusion. Sports injuries e.g. Foot ball and rugby etc. a motor vehicle accident or free fall may also cause rib contusions.

What are the symptoms of a bruised rib?

• Pain (breathing, coughing, sneezing etc)
• Feeling of getting winded
• Bruise at the site of impact may appear
• The ribs may be sore or tender
• Rib cage muscle spasms

A rib contusion is not always and necessarily because of a broken rib. There may be other reasons too. It is always good to make sure whether you have a broken rib or not by visiting your doctor.

If the rib is not broken, it may be relatively easy to treat it. If however the rib is fractured, serious care must be taken since the fractured part may dislocate and injure other organs (e.g. it may puncture a lung).

Treatment:

A bruised rib with a fracture normally takes 6 weeks to resolve. If the rib is torn away from the cartilage the least time for it to resolve is 12 weeks. Most of the treatments target or kill pain and let the injury heal by itself.

If the rib is not broken, following steps may help:

• Rest is important for a speedy recovery and relief from discomfort.
• Icing the injured area should be done. The ice should be wrapped in a towel and patted over the injured area. Use the ice for the first 72 hours and stay away from heat pad. Icing will alleviate pain and cause the bruising to go away aiding in rapid healing.
• Management of breathing patterns is helping. Take a deep breath few times a minute and inhale for a prolonged time. Release your breath slowly then. If the damage to ribs is severe, it's better to take one deep breath per hour.
• Do breathing exercises: inhale for 3 seconds, hold your breath for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds. Repeat once or twice a day.
• Quit smoking at least till your rib heals. Lung irritants may cause infection and impair healing.
• Take pain killers

What not to do?

Don't get a compression bandage. This old technique will only hinder your breathing and welcome complications.

References

https://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/injury-pain/bruised-ribs-what-you-need-to-know.html

Rib contusion: Causes, Treatment and Prevention

https://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/sport-injuries/chest-abdomen-pain/bruised-ribs

What is a referred pain?

A referred pain or reflective pain is one that is felt on the site other than where it is actually arising from.

For instance, heart attack�causes pain at sites like: arm, neck, shoulders and back. This is the most common example of referred pain. The pain is arising from the heart but presenting in sites other than that. This kind of pain can also be radiating pain which is different from referred pain.

Referred chest pain is a pain that is felt in the chest but the source of origin of the pain is different.

Referred chest pain appears due to reasons involving back. This pain points out any abnormality that may be associated with spine.

How would you know if your chest pain is referred pain?

Well, the most important thing to notice is that the chest pain is arriving without any injury at the area at all.

No injury or any other kind of manifestation is showing over your chest but it still hurts.

The pain may get worse if you take deep breaths or perform any activities that raise the pressure inside your chest e.g. coughing, sneezing etc.

Your chest pain may be a referred one if you have upper back area that feels sore and stiff. The muscles of that area would be tighter and painful. The pain would arise at the site that is affected but present on your chest.

Thoracic spines (in your vertebral column, in the area that covers the back of your chest forming its skeleton between the shoulder blades and the middle of the back) may give a referred chest pain. Most of the athletes experience this kind of chest pain.

Most of the time the referred pain initiates at a site is upper than the site where pain is manifested.

A referred chest pain may be because of several other causes. The most common joints involved are zygapophyseal joints� (these are the joints between the articular processes of the adjacent vertebra that lie superior and inferior to each other). These joints have a good mobility; remember: the mobile the joint, the more it is vulnerable to injury. So these joints degenerate owing to their heavy-duty job and undergo wear and tear as the person ages.

The pain may also arise from the joints known as costovertebral joints�. These joints are present between the ribs and vertebra.

Sometimes the muscle stiffness can lead to referred pain of the chest.

What can be done to kill referred pain of the chest?

The first and obvious thing is to treat the underlying cause.

The other treatments you might want to consider are given below:

–�������� To relieve the stiffness of muscles, some stretching exercises may be done. These strengthen the muscles.

–�������� To restore joint movement that is under pressure and is hurt, spinal procedures may be carried out. The spinal manipulation will not only kill pain but also treat nerve compression (if present).

–�������� A good way to deal with muscle pain is massage. Massage increases blood flow and alleviates pain.

References

https://www.medicinenet.com/chest_pain/article.htm

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/chest-pain-beyond-the-basics

What is sternum?

The sternum, colloquially known a s breast bone is the bone that is present in the center of the chest and supports and attaches to the ribs. This bone is sword shaped. Sternum itself has 3 other bones that combine to complete its structure; these are:

–�������� Manubrium sternum

–�������� Body of sternum

–�������� Xiphoid�process or Xiphi sternum

Sternum is a flat bone of the body. Flat bones provide support and a wide surface area for the attachment of muscles. One important function of flat bones is to produce RBCs and other elements of blood from red marrow (bone marrow). Sternum is therefore also involved in producing blood and its formed elements.

Sternum fracture (breakage) is seen in females more commonly than males and in adults above 50. Sternum fracture occurs most of the time due to direct blow over the bone.

Sternum is a strong bone and only a hard blow or impact to the bone can break it. This means that the blow will not only break the bone, it will be associated with other injuries too which might involve, vertebrae and ribs etc. soft tissues and organs present in the vicinity may also be affected and blood vessels may also rupture.

What are the causes of fracture?

The breast bone is broken usually because of:

–�������� Automobile accidents ( without airbags and seatbelts)

–�������� Contact sports e.g. football

–�������� Diseases that cause bone weakening (pathologic fracture)

The above causes indicate that the impact over the bone is the most important thing causing fracture. Pathologic fractures in this case are rare.

When does a sternum fracture become a medical emergency?

A sternum fracture becomes a medical emergency if the fractured part of the bone rips or damages vital organs like heart and lungs and causes contusions.

What signs and symptoms accompany a bone fracture?

–�������� Crepitus � a crunching sound that comes when the broken ends of bone rub against each other)

–�������� Intense pain (which may increase with coughing, sneezing etc.)

–�������� Tenderness and bruising

–�������� Swelling

–�������� Deformed appearance of ribcage.

Most fractures occur on the body of sternum. Sternum fracture is confirmed by an X-ray.

Treatment :

People who have pathologic fractures of sternum are treated for the underlying cause (or disease).

The severity of fracture is checked first of all so that the treatment may begin accordingly. If any organ is involved or other injuries are present, they are taken care of firstly. Surgery may also be performed in these cases.

If only bone is fractured, rest is advised. The fracture heals in 10-24 weeks.
Icing is also helpful and causes the pain to alleviate pain. Ice may be wrapped in a towel to pat it over the injured area. No direct application is to be done.

Pressure application is also to be avoided. No weightlifting or any other work that conveys stress to the bone.

Painkillers may be taken to relieve pain for chest pain is normally witnessed during healing period.

Non union or mal union of the bone is rarely seen in sternum fractures.

See also:

https://www.doctortipster.com/18976-new-technology-reducing-need-for-pain-meds.html

References

https://www.physioadvisor.com.au/14651050/sternal-fracture-fractured-sternum-physioadvis.htm

https://www.mdguidelines.com/fracture-sternum-closed

Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Back Pain is a very common problem among adults aged 35 and 55 years old. It can either be intermittent and constant mild, moderate, severe or dull. It is the most common reason for work-related absences and frequent visits to the doctor in the United States.

It comes in many forms- upper back pain, middle back pain, lower back pain and lower back pain with sciatica. Acute back pain can be a result of any back trauma such as strains or fractures. It can be triggered by poor posture while sitting or standing, improper bending, or incorrect lifting. Other risk factors include obesity, poor physical condition, smoking, stress, poor sleeping position or other skeletal irregularities.

Generally, back pain is not a serious condition and usually disappears on its own. In most cases, it is also successfully treated by pain medications and mobility. Back pain can be chronic if it lasts longer than three months.

Symptoms

• Shooting or stabbing pain
• Swelling or any burning sensation on the back
• Limited flexibility or range of motion
• Tingling, weakness and numbness

Test and Diagnosis

There is no specific diagnostic test that can confirm the cause of back pain. If you see a doctor, he or she will examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. If the doctor suspects any underlying cause, certain diagnostic tests are recommended such as X-ray, CT scan or Bone Scan.

Treatment and Drugs

Most back pains are usually managed with over-the-counter painkillers and continued mobility. Bed rest can be of help but continued light activities are more recommended if tolerated. However, if any activity increases the pain, bed rest is necessary.

Medications

Pain relievers are usually the first-line treatment for back pain. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) are both effective in relieving back pain. These medications should be taken as prescribed because overdose can cause serious side effects. If mild to moderate back pain doesn’t get better with over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants are usually prescribed. Driving activities are discouraged while taking these medications because it can cause dizziness.

Stretching is also recommended to treat back pain.

Prevention

�Proper body mechanics is the hallmark of back pain prevention. This includes:

• Standing properly. Good posture can reduce the amount of stress placed on back muscles.If you must stand for long periods of time, place your feet alternately on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
• Sitting properly.�Choose a seat with good lower back support, arm rests and a swivel base. Placing a pillow or rolled towel in the hollow of your back can help maintain its normal curvature. �Change your position frequently, ideally at least once every half hour.
• Lifting properly. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid simultaneous lifting and twisting. Ask for assistance if the object is heavy.

Regular low-impact aerobic exercises can also increase the strength and endurance of your back to allow muscles to function better. Moreover, maintaining a healthy weight can also help prevent unnecessary strain on back muscles that can be brought by obesity.

References

https://www.medicinenet.com/low_back_pain/article.htm

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/backpain.html

Why is it dangerous to lose weight fast

The number of people of all ages suffering from obesity is increasing rapidly over the years.� There are several reasons for this ranging from genetics and individual metabolisms to unhealthy lifestyle habits; and there are just as much unwanted consequences of excess weight including life threatening heart diseases, stroke and diabetes.

Of course, the best way to avoid these complications is to shed weight, of which there are several ways to achieve.� However, as tempting as the thought is, losing weight fast is far from ideal for a good number of reasons:

Fast Weight Loss Sends Your Metabolism Plummeting.� By losing a lot of weight quickly, the body is tricked into thinking that it will soon run out of energy and viable calorie sources.� This causes the body to slow down all metabolic processes in an effort to conserve your remaining energy; and a more sluggish than usual metabolism will hamper anyone’s weight loss process in the long run.

�It Might Not Be Even Fat You’re Losing.� Several quick weight loss diets usually involving fasts and set schedules of minimal food intakes do make good with their claims of helping some shed their weight.� The problem is, most of the time, the weight actually lost is either water weight or lean muscle mass.� This is bad because not only do the majority get their weight back once they’re off the diet, but also because the loss of lean muscle mass slows the metabolic rate even further.� Not eating properly also deprives you of the essential vitamins and minerals to maintaining overall health and can even spike insulin levels up, increasing high sugar cravings.

Weight loss pills have dangerous side effects.� Unfortunately, there are many non-FDA approved quick weight loss diet pills in the market.� Many of these pills contain dangerous ingredients such as ephedra, a FDA banned compound found to increase risk for heart attacks and strokes.� Other side effects associated with diet pill use include seizures, fatigue, dizziness, electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition and tissue damage.� Also, there’s no guarantee that the weight you did shed is really fat or actually muscle mass.

�Quick weight loss makes you more prone to gallstones.� Losing weight quickly is found to be one of the leading causes of gallstones formation.� It is believed that because the body is losing weight faster than anticipated (at most one should shed only 2 lbs/week), imbalances in salts and cholesterol levels in the gallbladder can form crystallized stones.� Accumulating too many or too big gallbladder stones can then cause gallbladder infection and eventual removal.

Liver damage is also a possibility.� Some experts now believe that, other than excessive alcohol intake, rapid weight loss can be another cause for fatty liver.� This damage is believed to be cause by the same reason behind gallstones formation during rapid weight loss.� Fatty livers don’t function as optimally in breaking down fat and eliminating toxins as well as putting you at risk for other liver diseases such as cancer.

Temptations promising quick weight loss are rampant in the modern-day market.� But losing weight by means of diet pills, fad diets and the like are not only ineffective but also dangerous for your health.� The best way to lose weight is to do it the traditional, uphill battle way: through moderation of a proper, healthful diet and regular exercise.� That way, not only do you get to lose weight, you are also most likely to acquire healthy lifestyle weight watching habits.

References

https://voices.yahoo.com/why-fast-weight-loss-bad-weight-loss-120897.html?cat=5

https://www.mayoclinic.org/fast-weight-loss/expert-answers/faq-20058289

Steroids are used on patients for several benefits.� They help relieve pain, reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of allergic reactions.� But like all drugs, steroids are not with their side effects such as weakness, weight gain, mood and behavioral changes and most importantly, a decreased resistance to infections.� Still, you’re taking steroids and was just given a go signal by the doctor to stop taking steroids, the change shouldn’t be done abruptly.� Lest, you experience a painful bout of withdrawal symptoms, usually experienced by patients have suddenly and quickly halted their steroid intake.

What causes steroid withdrawals?

Like with addictive drugs such as pain medications and alcohol, steroid withdrawal happens when the body suddenly experiences a sharp decrease in steroid levels after a prolonged period of intake.

Among the several systems affected by steroids is the endocrine system in charge of hormones and the production of the body’s natural corticosteroid.� The excess amount of corticosteroid due to the drugs makes the body decrease its own production to compensate.� So if the influx of corticosteroid were to stop so suddenly, the decreased production will not be able to cope with the loss, hence causing the hormonal imbalance that will manifest as withdrawal symptoms.

What symptoms are we talking about here?

The symptoms brought by steroid withdrawal range from mildly disturbing to those mimicking manifestations of serious and even life threatening illnesses.

Withdrawal symptoms caused by steroids include the following though manifestations of these differ from person to person.

More commonly, a withdrawing patient may experience overall body weakness, dizziness and fatigue, loss of appetite that can lead to weight loss, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Blood pressure can drop dangerously low and blood sugar changes can lead to hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes.

Less common but possible symptoms also report experiencing fever muscle and joint pains, decrease in calcium levels and behavioral effects including increased irritability and depression.

Menstrual changes may also be noted in women.

How can withdrawal symptoms be prevented?

Tapering, or gradually decreasing the dose of steroids, is the best solution to this.� Doctors taking patients off steroids should take the initiative to gradually cut down the patient’s prescription of steroids for every period until they can finally stop taking them completely.� How quickly steroids can be reduced and discontinued will depend on how well the disease stays controlled even with the continued tapering and how well the body adjusts to the decreased steroid intake.� Most patients’ tapering periods last from four to six weeks.

Unfortunately, some patients still experience withdrawal symptoms even while undergoing steroid tapering.� Research is still inconclusive as to why it is as such though there are findings suggesting possible psychological dependence on steroids.� Reactions to stress such as a flare-up or a high stress procedure can also be a factor.

Finally, if you are experiencing any withdrawal symptoms, especially the more alarming ones including blood pressure changes, body weakness and fainting, always keep your doctor informed for, as previously mentioned, signs of several serious ailments such as gastric disorders and�cancer�can be mistaken for mere withdrawal symptoms.

References

https://www.medicinenet.com/steroid_withdrawal/article.htm

https://www.medicinenet.com/steroid_withdrawal/page2.htm�

https://www.patient.co.uk/health/oral-steroids