Ergogenic Aids – Corticosteroids Human Growth Hormone and Creatine
Ergogenic aids
3-7-12
Corticosteroids Human growth hormone and Creatine
Corticosteroids are drugs that are closely related to the chemical cortisol. Cortisol is a chemical found naturally in the body produced in the adrenaline cortex. When produced naturally, adrenaline is released in to the blood which then stimulates adrenal glands to release the chemical. Naturally when the adrenaline is no longer being produced the cortisol production stops as well. Within the course of a day your body usually produces about twenty milligrams, but if needed can produce up to five times that amount. Cortisol works by acting on your immune system to block substances that induce an inflammatory response, by impeding the work of white blood cells.
When the body receives extra cortisol it helps cope with infection, trauma and emotional problems, But in doing so the chemical can also increase risk of infection due to reduction in white blood cell action. In corticosteroids there are other drugs in addition to cortisol. They also include betamethasone, budesonide, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone. Corticosteroids can be given by injection to veins, muscle or joints, as well as orally and topically to the skin. Prednisone, a type of corticosteroid, is usually the one given orally. Corticosteroids are mainly used for musculoskeletal injuries because of the maximum concentration at the site of the injury. Therefore it is a top choice for injuries such as bursitis, joint syovitis, adhesive capsulitis, tendonitis, and mixed connective tissue disease. The drug can either be used as a short term or a long term treatment but both come with their side effects.
Although most side effects occur when drug is taken orally, they also occur with injection. Side effects include the inhibition of collagen synthesis and tissue repair, infection avascular necrosis. When multiple injections of corticosteroids are given there is also in increase of risk to the rupture of tendons. Studies have shown that fifty percent of patients that ruptured tendons were given injections of the drug. Ninety seven percent of patients that ruptured tendons had degenerative changes. The study also showed, that of people that ruptured tendons, but hadn’t received injections, had no histological differences than the patients that did receive injections. The long term effects also depend on the does and the frequency of the injections.
Due to the side effects it is recommended not to receive more than three or four injections of corticosteroids in a year. Also there are nasty side effects of the drug can also be used to help heal patients. It allows a window of opportunity to successfully rehabilitate a patient of their symptoms. Although the drug seems to get rid of pain and “cure” patients, this is not the case.
The advantage