1. Ease the Pain
Glucocorticoids are hormones that reduce inflammation. They are produced naturally in the body and synthetically as a treatment for inflammation. Inflammation occurs after an injury. Red blood cells rush to the site of the injury to aid in the healing. You might feel heat and see redness and a rash when the healing begins. Through its natural progression of healing, the body sends glucocorticoids to the area once the problem is repaired. You can tell its better when the swelling goes down. Sometimes, a breakdown in this process occurs and the inflammation remains long after its needed.
2. Send in the Chemicals
Synthetic glucocorticoids are injected in the spot to reduce the unnecessary inflammation. Before using this steroid hormone though, the doctor should check for other issues that could be causing the inflammation to persist. The body's defense mechanisms may be going haywire, signaling more serious issues, such as Crohn's Disease or TB. There also may be something there that doesn't belong, some kind of foreign body that you aren't aware of.
3. Good Steroids
Glucocorticoids are not the same as the steroids taken by athletes to pump up. These hormonal steroids are catabolic, instead of anabolic. They break down substances, rather than build them up. Naturally, glucocorticoids are produced in the adrenal glands, near the liver. They can be made in the pharmaceutical laboratory are typically administered orally. Some examples of glucocorticoid drugs are prednisone and dexamethasone. Hydrocortisone is a cream version of glucocorticoid and is applied externally directly on the inflammation.
4. Boosts Insulin Processing
Glucocorticoids serve another important function in the body as well. They keep the metabolism stable and help to process insulin so that blood sugar levels remain a constant. They go into overdrive when you are deprived of food. They get working in the liver and produce glucose to stabilize your system. Glucocorticoids also break down insulin when necessary to prevent the storage of sugar in the body's fat reserves.
5. Know the Side Effects for Glucocorticoids
While glucocorticoids can be lifesavers and prescribing the drugs can relieve pain and aid in the healing process, prolonged use can have some serious side effects. They mess with the body's immune system and can make you more susceptible to injury and infections. They prevent the proper usage of calcium in the body and can lead to osteoporosis. Glucocorticoids can create skin problems as well as affect the brain. Diabetes, convulsions and cataracts have been reported to result from the overuse of these hormone drugs.
