| Medical Dictionary |
A Medical Dictionary of Medical Terminology
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You may have heard of anabolic steroids, which can have harmful effects. But there's another type of steroid - sometimes called a corticosteroid - that treats a variety of problems. These steroids are similar to hormones that your adrenal glands make to fight stress associated with illnesses and injuries. They reduce inflammation and affect the immune system.
You may need to take corticosteroids to treat:
Steroids are strong medicines, and they can have side effects, including weakened bones and cataracts. Because of this, you usually take them for as short a time as possible.
Polymyalgia rheumatica is a disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness in your neck, shoulders, and hips. It is most common in women and almost always occurs in people over 50. The main symptom is stiffness after resting. Other symptoms include fever, weakness and weight loss. In some cases, polymyalgia rheumatica develops overnight. In others, it is gradual.
The cause of polymyalgia rheumatica is unknown. There is no specific test for it. Your doctor will use your medical history, symptoms, and a physical exam to make the diagnosis. Lab tests for inflammation may help confirm the diagnosis.
Polymyalgia rheumatica sometimes occurs along with giant cell arteritis, a condition that causes swelling of the arteries in your head. Symptoms include headaches and blurred vision. Doctors often prescribe prednisone, a steroid medicine, for both conditions. With treatment, polymyalgia rheumatica usually disappears in a day or two. Without treatment, it usually goes away after a year or more.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Behcet's syndrome is a disease that involves vasculitis, which is inflammation of the blood vessels. It causes problems in many parts of the body. The most common symptoms are:
More serious problems can include meningitis, blood clots, inflammation of the digestive system and blindness.
Doctors aren't sure what causes Behcet's. It is rare in the United States, but is common in the Middle East and Asia. It mainly affects people in their 20s and 30s. Diagnosing Behcet's can take a long time, because symptoms may come and go, and it may take months or even years to have all of the symptoms. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on reducing pain and preventing serious problems. Most people can control symptoms with treatment.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Some medicines are safe to take during pregnancy, but many are not. If you're pregnant, check with your health care provider before taking any medicine. Some medicines can harm your developing fetus. This includes:
Always talk to your provider before you stop or start any medicine. You may take medicine to treat a health problem you had before pregnancy. Not using the medicine that you need may be more harmful to you and your fetus than using the medicine. For example, many pregnant women take prescription medicines for health problems like diabetes, asthma, seizures, and heartburn. The decision about whether to take a certain medicine should depend on the risks and benefits that go with it. You and your provider should make this choice together.
Can I take vitamins during pregnancy?If you're pregnant, you shouldn't take regular vitamins. They may have too much or too little of the vitamins you need. For example, everyone needs folic acid, a type of B vitamin. But if you're trying to get pregnant, it's really important. Getting enough folic acid before and during pregnancy can prevent birth defects of the brain or spine. During your prenatal care visits, your provider will talk about prenatal vitamins. These are a special kind of vitamin to take during pregnancy.
Food and Drug Administration
Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It happens when the body's immune system attacks the blood vessel by mistake. It can happen because of an infection, a medicine, or another disease. The cause is often unknown.
Vasculitis can affect arteries, veins and capillaries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body's organs. Veins are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that connect the small arteries and veins.
When a blood vessel becomes inflamed, it can:
Symptoms of vasculitis can vary, but usually include fever, swelling and a general sense of feeling ill. The main goal of treatment is to stop the inflammation. Steroids and other medicines to stop inflammation are often helpful.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute