Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. POWER UP YOUR HEART WITH GRAPE SEED EXTRACT, INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 641 Hosted by Amanda Williams, MD, MPH *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where …
Melissa Bistricer, RDN dives into the benefits of our Circulation Health Program and other beneficial activities for your circulatory system.
steroid drugs
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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Today, I’d like to talk to you about corticosteroid drugs, which are commonly called steroids. We’re not talking about sex steroids here, we’re talking about the ones used for inflammation. They’re very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. Some examples of steroid drugs that you could be prescribed are hydrocortisone, prednisone and methylprednisolone. They’re typically used to treat inflammatory-related diseases such as rheumatological diseases, asthma, severe allergic reactions, severe muscle pain and more. A major issue with these drugs when they’re used for an extended time period is that they have a bundle of side effects. Today, I’m going to talk about the more common ones. Many important nutrients are depleted by these steroid drugs, but this is not really talked about by doctors and pharmaceutical companies. This can have serious health consequences.†
Corticosteroids are made in labs. They closely resemble our own hormone, cortisol. That’s a hormone that’s made by the adrenal glands. In the body, we release our own steroid hormones for a variety of activities. We release cortisol and epinephrine to wake up in the morning. They squeeze your blood vessels and make your heart race a little bit and beat faster, which allows blood to reach your brain and muscles and increase your blood sugar. This is good, but you can imagine long-term, if you’re releasing these hormones inappropriately, how bad it would be for your system.†
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The same thing can happen with steroid drugs. They work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of your immune system. It’s calming down the white blood cells. The problem is that sometimes the body’s own immune system is attacking and damaging its own tissues. You get this in arthritis with joint damage and severe pain, with asthma in your lungs and more. Over time, severe inflammation can destroy tissues. The steroids reduce the chemicals that cause this inflammation. This helps keep the tissue damage to a minimum.†
If it’s a low dose of a steroid, generally there aren’t problems. For instance, if you’re using prednisone at 5mg, it doesn’t usually cause a problem. But if you’re using higher doses, the longer you use it, the more likely it is that you will have problems.†
Here are some common side effects of steroid drugs:†
These drugs can also impact nutrient levels in the body. They can cause your sodium to build up and lose potassium in your urine. These two changes can cause swelling and can also impact the heart and blood pressure levels.†
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In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. begins a conversation about corticosteroids. He explains how steroid drugs work in the body and also details many of the side effects that commonly come with them. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode, coming soon!†
Key Topics:
Thank you for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.
Millions of people have been prescribed medication for high blood pressure, but these drugs can create nutrient deficiencies that negatively impact your immune system.
The mineral magnesium is responsible for over 300 functions within the body, but it is especially important for proper heart functioning and healthy blood pressure levels. Learn more about this important nutrient and which form might be best for you from Amanda Williams, MPH.
magnesium
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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Magnesium is a very, very important mineral. It’s a macromineral, which means you need more of it than of some other minerals. Unfortunately, many Americans do not get sufficient magnesium from their diet. Various medications and diseases may also cause levels of this mineral to decrease.†
Magnesium is needed for hundreds of processes in the human body. If you lack this nutrient, your body just does not work well. This can contribute to issues with blood pressure, heart health, blood sugar, energy levels, bone health and more.†
Here are some other ways that magnesium functions in the body:
Magnesium is one of the nutrients that people consistently lack as they grow older. Diabetics also lose this mineral in their urine, which is tragic because it is needed to help control blood sugar and for insulin to work correctly. Drinking alcohol also depletes magnesium levels. People with digestive tract issues have trouble absorbing the nutrient. People with kidney disease as well as asthmatics may also lack this important mineral.†
Many people do not get enough of this vital mineral through their diet. Magnesium is found in foods such as legumes, green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains and avocados. But for those who do not eat enough of these foods, supplementing is a very good idea.†
Adult women need about 310 mg of magnesium a day, while pregnant women need about 350 mg. Adult men under 30 need 400 mg a day, but when men and women are past the age of 30, they actually require additional magnesium. Women need at least 10 mg more a day and men need at least 20 mg a day.†
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. explains the important role that the nutrient magnesium plays in the body and why it is so crucial to ensure you’re getting adequate amounts. He offers recommendations for supplementing with this mineral and details several studies about it.†
Key Topics:
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
