Corticosteriods Case

Corticosteroids

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Corticosteroids OR GLUCOCORTIOSTERIODS are a category of steroids hormones that are man-made replicates of the naturally occurring hormone CORTISOL.

Cortisol is produced in the adrenal cortex within the kidney. It is an essential hormones needed for the vitality of the human body. Cortisol is functionally important to maintain normal blood sugar levels, to regulate salt and water and most importantly it helps the body breakdown protein, lipids and fat (Barnes 1998).

Corticosteroids are widely known for their anti-inflammatory and therapeutic ability, they works effectively on the body because they blocks the production of prostaglandins, prostaglandins are hormone like substances that trigger inflammation and allergy response. And by corticosteroid being able to block the trigger, its able to control inflammation (Webster and Dacvim, 2001)

They are many ways in which corticosteroids can be administered within the human body, but the most widely used are either as an inhalant for asthma or as a tablet form for allergies.

The anti-inflammatory property of corticosteroids make it an effective drug to treat a broad spectrum of diseases, however some of the side effects of taking corticosteroid over a long period of time is osteoporosis ,hypertension diabetes and weight gain

CORTICOSTERIODS IN RELEVANCE TO ASTHMA

People suffering from asthma have an underlying chronic inflammation of the airways exemplified by activated mast cells, eosinophils, and T-helper lymphocytes, which are called inflammatory genes (Dennis, 2003). These inflammatory genes increase the sensitivity of the airways to triggers such as exercise, allergens, and air pollutants, hence causing the airways to constrict when the trigger is stimulated.

Corticosteroid is widely effective in treating asthma because it decreases the multiple inflammatory genes that are activated in an asthmatic's airways thus reducing airway hyperresponsiveness (Webster and Dacvim, 2001).

CORTICOSTEROID IN ASSOCIATION TO VENTOLIN

People suffering with chronic asthma are treated with inhaled b2-agonists as bronchodilators (such as ventolin) and also inhaled corticosteroids. Recent studies show that b2-agonists enhance the action of corticosteroids.

HYPOTHESIS

Therefore the hypothesis stated in Joe's case, that corticosteroid and ventolin could counteract the effect of each other are false.

REFERENCES

* Barnes P (1998). Anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids: molecular mechanisms. Department of Thoracic Medicine Clinical Science 94: 557-572

* Dennis