Young women who use inhaled steroids to control their asthma may be putting themselves at risk of developing osteoporosis and hip fracture over the long term.
The study revealed that inhaled steroids, which are among the most effective drug treatments for persistent asthma, were associated with a loss of bone density in the hip and upper thighbone, and that higher doses correlated with greater bone loss in premenopausal women.
The results indicate that healthcare providers should prescribe the lowest possible doses of inhaled steroids for premenopausal women with asthma and take steps to minimize bone loss among patients who receive higher doses.
Women who inhaled more than eight puffs a day experienced more bone loss than women consuming four to eight puffs daily, and both groups lost more bone from key areas compared with a group of women who did not take inhaled steroids. In fact, each additional puff was associated with a decline in bone density in certain areas of the skeleton.
The New England Journal of Medicine September 27, 2001;345:941-947, 989-991
Inhaled steroids for asthma, such as Flovent, Azmacort, and many others must be used with great caution. They are rarely the best long-term option. However, they can be useful in keeping severe asthmatics alive while they are in the process of identifying what the causal factors of the asthma are.
In addition to decreasing bone density they also contribute to cataracts, stunted growth in children through impairment of the adrenal, pituitary, hypothalamic axis and an increased risk of diabetes.
Based on these findings, physicians should not start inhaled corticosteroids in patients with mild and moderate COPD. Not only do they not work, but they will also cause osteoporosis and increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cataracts.
Steroids should also be avoided for long-term asthma treatment, as there are so many better options. Following the proper eating plan is the first step as many foods can trigger asthma. It is also quite common for there to be an underlying emotional element and for that I would clearly recommend EFT.
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