Benefits Of Corticosteroids For Treating Bell's Palsy
Americans suffering from Bell's palsy have various options for treatment to choose from. Oral medications, therapies, medications that need to be injected and topical creams are among these treatments. One of the latest treatment said to be effective are corticosteroids. This type of medication should be taken within the first seven days after the onset of Bell's palsy.
Corticosteroids are proven to provide spontaneous improvement. However, this type of medication is still controversial. Some doctors claim that corticosteroids may be more effective if taken within 72 hours of diagnosis and less effective if taken after 7 days of its onset. Given this controversy, a patient suffering from Bell's palsy needs to be aware of its benefits and risks, before choosing this type of medication.
The effects of corticosteroids imitate the effects of hydrocortisone and cortisone. These are hormones which are naturally produced by your body. This type of medication primarily helps in controlling inflammation, immune function and injury. Known to have a potent anti-inflammatory action for people suffering from Bell's palsy, corticosteroids can lead to the reduction of facial nerve inflammation, decreasing swelling and relieving nerve compression. This benefit can minimize or even prevent damage to the affected nerve. This medication can also help in improving one's chances of recovering fully from the condition.
Corticosteroids are widely available and can be taken in various forms. This medication can be taken orally (tablets and capsules), as intranasal spray and inhaler, topically or by injection. One of the commonly used corticosteroids oral medications is prednisone. With an early prescription, this medication can decrease the duration of one's recovery from Bell's palsy as well as effectively improve a patient's facial functional outcomes. Moreover, to optimize the delivery of this medication, a patient should know which delivery technique is most effective. A patient's doctor should be able to advice on this. Risks of Corticosteroids and reducing its side-effects Taking corticosteroids may result in adverse side-effects including serious health problems since this medication affects your whole body, not just specific areas like other medications. To avoid potentially fatal health problems, it is always a good idea to be familiar with its risks so that you can take initial steps in controlling its impact to your overall health. The side-effects of corticosteroids depend on its short-term or long-term use. When taken on a short-term basis, its side-effects include glaucoma, increased blood pressure, mood swings, weight gain, and fluid retention which lead to sweating in your lower legs. When taken on a long-term basis, corticosteroids side-effects include the development of high blood sugar which may result in diabetes or even worsen diabetes if one is diabetic; it may also result in cataracts, menstrual irregularities for women, increased risk of infections, calcium loss from bones which can later on lead to fractures or osteoporosis, and the suppression of the production of adrenal gland hormone. Given these risks, you should know how to reduce these side-effects. Before you go ahead and take corticosteroids, work with your doctor first and discuss ways in effectively reducing any possible side-effects to ensure its benefits outweigh its risks.
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