The study involved 164,000 people from Scotland, almost half of who had received at least one glucocorticoid prescription between 1993 and 1996. Glucocorticoids, also known as corticosteroids, are related to cortisol, a steroid hormone naturally produced by the body.
Researchers found that the higher the dose of the drug taken, the greater the risk of heart disease appeared to be.
Among people who had taken the drug at the highest doses for 10 years, about two percent of the group, the risk of heart disease in those over 40 years of age increased from about 19 people in every 100 to 32 in 100.
Additionally, the drugs are associated with several serious side effects including thinning of the bones, infections, susceptibility to bruising, diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, high blood pressure and weight gain.
However, researchers noted that it is unclear whether the underlying conditions or the medication were causing the increased risk of heart disease.
They say that doctors should be cautious in prescribing high doses of the drugs for long periods of time, especially in cases where the patient is already at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
BBC News March 24, 2003
Asthma is a serious issue as the number of adults suffering from asthma has more than doubled in the last two decades, with steroid prescriptions increasing six-fold.
Well, there appears to be some controversy on this issue of whether or not these inhalers increase the risk of asthma. I did post a report four years ago that documented the association between asthma drugs and heart disease. I really wouldn’t be surprised if they did increase heart disease by 70 percent as the author of the above study suggests.
However, even if inhaled steroids don’t increase the risk for heart disease they are undoubtedly associated with a number of other serious complications that you wouldn’t want to expose yourself or your children to.
These include:
Fortunately, there are some basic strategies that will typically improve asthma and decrease the severity and frequency of attacks. There are three primary dietary interventions that are important.
The first is to remove all sugar and fruit juices from the diet, as this will increase inflammatory reactions in the body. If you are overweight then elimination of all grains, as referenced in my new book The No-Grain Diet, will also be helpful.
Secondly, removing all pasteurized dairy products from the diet is frequently helpful. Raw milk, however, is often well tolerated and may actually improve the condition.
Thirdly, you will want to optimize your fish oil intake and decrease other vegetable oils in your diet. Last year I had a letter published in Thorax that reviewed these concerns.
Always remember omega-3 fats are essential to your, and your children's, health. The best source for omega-3 is fish oil and cod liver oil, as, unlike other sources such as walnuts or flax seeds, it is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. The human brain is also highly dependent on DHA--low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.
When choosing your fish oil or cod liver oil, it is important to remember that not all brands are the same. In my research--and in my clinical experience with my patients--I have found that:
It is likely not the only brand in the world of such high quality, but up to this point it is the only one of such quality that I can recommend, so I now offer the Carlson's fish oil and cod liver oil on Mercola.com; you can also check your local health food store to see if they carry it.
As for fish itself, patients consuming nearly every type of fish these days are showing high levels of mercury in their systems. In short--and sadly, as it would otherwise be one of the healthiest meats on the planet--I now advise against consuming most fish from any source, including fresh water, farm-raised or ocean, because most are contaminated with mercury. If you do consume fish, you should be certain the provider can demonstrate that the fish are free of detectable levels of mercury and other toxins (Carlson's fish oil/cod liver oil has been entirely purified so you don't have to worry about these toxins.)
Early last year we did an extensive testing on the fish from a company that takes the salmon from the interior of Alaska and were surprised and delighted to find that the mercury levels were virtually unmeasurable.
So, if you enjoy salmon, which is very high in omega-3 with DHA and EPA, half as much as I do and are concerned about mercury damaging your brain, then please consider the Alaskan salmon that I have been able to arrange to distribute.
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