Pros & Cons of Steroids | Causes & Effects
Pain, wherever it is in the body, is no fun – no matter where or when it strikes. Whether it’s through illness or injury from exercise such as bodybuilding, it can cause distress and generally make people feel very unwell.
Steroids have long been used as successful anti-inflammatory treatments for pain relief, and also as an effective method of helping to build muscle mass and maintain training goals. As with all medications and treatments, there are pros and cons. Let’s take a look at these now.
Pros of steroid treatments
When they’re prescribed by a Doctor and sourced from a reputable pharmacy, steroid treatments for any number of health conditions are safe, effective, and can be taken long-term in low doses without issues.
For instance, bodybuilders rely on safe, accessible steroid treatments from Pur-pharma.is to help them with their fitness goals. When they’re taken as part of a well-balanced diet and exercise regime and with careful medical monitoring they can greatly assist with training.
Patients who have moderate to severe pain from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, polymyalgia, and fibromyalgia feel the benefit of a small dose taken every day to help with mobility and joint issues. They offer a chance to improve quality of life and make getting out and about a lot easier.
They’re also a very useful medication to have for people who suffer from seasonal illnesses such as hay fever, and skin conditions such as hives and eczema, that can cause inflammation, itching, and discomfort. Again, a low dose can vastly improve quality of life and mean the difference between staying indoors and getting out and about.
Cons of steroid treatments
Steroids can occasionally cause mild side effects. More often than not, once treatment stops these will abate with no further cause for concern.
If they’re being taken for bodybuilding or to help enhance an exercise regime then medical advice must be sought when tapering off or stopping treatment to ensure that any gained muscle mass isn’t lost too quickly.
This can sometimes happen when treatment hasn’t been monitored carefully enough, or if steroids are stopped abruptly with no real tapering-off period, which is essential to maintain good health and fitness. Speaking to a Doctor or other healthcare professional for advice in these situations is essential to ensure safe withdrawal from treatment with minimal side effects.
When they’re taken over long periods, some patients report that they have an increased appetite which can lead them to gain weight.
Others note that the most troublesome issue arising from taking steroids is insomnia and with it disturbances in mood.
Discussing any side effects with a medical professional is the best way to deal with these. If taking steroids long-term it may simply require an adjustment to the dosage, or altering the time of day the medication is taken.
Steroid treatments are a necessary lifeline for many patients. For those people who are fitness-oriented and want to see achievable results alongside their diet and exercise plans, they offer an accessible way to achieve this, provided it’s done under strict medical supervision and maintained appropriately for the length of time required.