11/16/2018 / By RJ Jhonson
Taking corticosteroids, such as prednisone, can increase your risk of suffering from irregular heartbeats, making you more likely to suffer from a heart condition, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Corticosteroids are naturally occurring hormones with a wide array of functions, including managing your stress response and regulating inflammation and the function of your immune system. An example of a corticosteroid is the “stress hormone” cortisol.
Artificial corticosteroids are medicines whose function imitate that of the natural hormone cortisone. This is why they are also called “cortisone-like medicines.” Their main use is to reduce the symptoms associated with inflammation, including redness, itchiness, swelling, and allergic reaction. Although how they are used depends on the doctor prescribing them, they are often administered for conditions like asthma and arthritis.
Unfortunately, taking corticosteroids also causes abnormalities in your heartbeat. This condition, called atrial fibrillation, is characterized by a disorganized twitching in the atria or the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation your heart cannot pump blood as efficiently as normal, preventing your body from receiving oxygen and nutrients normally supplied by your blood. This condition is accompanied by other symptoms, including palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
In very bad cases, atrial fibrillation causes blood to pool inside your body. Apart from causing heart failure, this can also lead to the creation of abnormal blood clots. Atrial fibrillation is one of the main causes of stroke.
The study followed and assessed 8,000 participants over a decade. The researchers noted that participants who took corticosteroids were four times more likely to suffer from atrial fibrillation than those who did not take the drugs. Those individuals who took a dosage of 7.5 milligrams (mg) or higher had up to six times more risk of developing the condition. People who took a lower dose lowered their risk to just two times.
The researchers, therefore, concluded that corticosteroids can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, the results depended not on how long people have been taking the corticosteroids, but how much of the drugs they were taking.
Both arthritis and asthma are caused by chronic inflammation. Following these steps can help reduce the occurrence of inflammation in the body:
Make the switch from synthetic medication to natural alternatives. Find out more at Cures.news.
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Tagged Under: arthritis, asthma, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, corticosteroids, Cortisol, cortisone, cortisone-like medicines, harmful medicine, heart attack, inflammation, irregular heartbeat, prednisone, stroke