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May 29, 2011 HEALTH 27 As reality TV’s Chantelle Houghton blames her latest break-up on ‘roid-rage’... split: Chantelle with her former boyfriend, Crimewatch By Dr Ellie TV presenter Steroids that Rav Wilding Cannon ’m not usually a follower of celebrity break-ups, but one such story last weekend caught my eye. Rav Wilding, the Crimewatch TV pre- senter, was accused by his Iformer girlfriend, Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton, of ‘roid-rage’ – aggressive, and even violent behaviour believed to be a WILL side effect of body-building steroid drugs. These claims were backed up with shocking photographs of Rav yell- ing at Chantelle as she wept in a save your park. But the story was not all it seemed. In his defence, Rav said he had taken steroids – but for asthma, rather than for body-building. I can’t even begin to diagnose the cause of their argument. But as a GP, I am acutely aware that Chan- telle isn’t alone in her confusion life, but about medicines. There are a large number of mis- conceptions and worries surround- ing steroids, which are some of the most commonly taken drugs in the world, and I hear them on an almost daily basis from patients. Steroids are a group of medica- tions that have very powerful anti- inflammatory properties and can FEATUREFLASH / REX treat a range of illnesses. They are used to control chronic conditions such as WON’T eczema and arthritis, as well as to calm down the immune system when it is overactive – in hay fever, for example. They are found in tablets, make you creams, inhalers and sprays and can be injected directly into a joint to reduce pain and inflamma- tion. You can even get ster- oid eye drops. Steroid treatment can be life-saving in some aggressive instances, for example in cases of acute asthma or a severe allergic reaction. accusED: Cyclist Lance Armstrong has denied doping allegations These drugs have noth- ing to do with the steroids taken by tence, kidney and liver disease and, symptoms. As the drugs are deliv- sportsmen to enhance performance yes, aggressive behaviour. ered directly to the lungs, with tiny (cyclist Lance Armstrong was again Excessive testosterone levels are amounts entering the bloodstream, accused of ‘doping’ last week). converted into oestrogen, so men side effects are minimised – and def- The steroids we use as medicine can also grow breast tissue. initely don’t include aggression. are a synthetic version of natural That isn’t to say steroid medicines Sufferers may also take a five-day hormones that exist in the body prescribed by doctors don’t have course of steroid tablets – known as known as corticosteroids. side effects. But do they make peo- prednisolone – when their asthma is The ones body-builders take are ple more aggressive? In the major- very bad. A small minority of asth- known as anabolic steroids, and are ity of cases, no. matics are on daily steroid tablets as well as insomnia and nightmares use the similar to the male sex hormone tes- Most asthma sufferers use inhaled for a longer period, and it is these – all of which can obviously contrib- smallest tosterone which builds up muscle steroids – known as a preventer patients who may start to suffer ute to aggression. Whether Rav falls a m o u n t , bulk in the body. The side effects inhaler – on a twice-daily basis to side effects. Long-term use can into this category we don’t know, but o f t h e can be dreadful: acne, high blood calm the inflammation caused by affect mood, often aggravating given his seeming healthiness it is mildest ster- pressure, high cholesterol, impo- asthma, and prevent any attacks of depression and causing irritability unlikely. oid for as short a period as possible. Steroids make patients more prone Side effects include thinning skin, to infection, as they damp down the facial hair, spots, losing skin colour, Professor Tim Spector, 52, consultant immune system, and can cause and stretch marks. For steroid cream rheumatologist at St Thomas’ Hospital, osteoporosis – bone-thinning – in to be effective, it needs to be used on London, was awarded the International long-term users. moisturised skin. Prize in Osteoarthritis Clinical Research in They also make people gain weight, My big worry when I see stories Doctor 2007. He lives with his wife Veronique and particularly around the face, and confusing the helpful steroids with their two children in London. cause high blood pressure, muscle the body-building kind is that Heal Thyself weakness and stomach ulcers. Ster- patients will be discouraged from oids increase blood-sugar levels and taking their medicine. FRUIT AND NUTS FOR LUNCH I ’M AGainst SURF’S UP can lead to diabetes. You must never suddenly stop A few years ago I was a stone MultiVitaMins It’s tempting to Children using long-term steroids taking steroid tablets. When we take overweight but I had neither the time I take a super-strength become a couch are at risk of stunted growth. These steroids, we stop producing the nor the inclination to go on a diet or Vitamin D supplement potato when in pain, side effects occur only in long-term natural steroids the body makes. exercise more than I already was. I in winter and an but the best thing use, which is more than a month, If you stop the tablets suddenly, worked out that my hospital canteen omega-3 rich fish oil to do is to keep and in those on high doses – and you have no natural steroids in the lunches were the culprit so, rather all year round but moving. I now do don’t happen to everyone. But all body either and this can cause dra- than drastically changing my that is it. I am against ten minutes of daily steroid users are monitored, for matic, even life-threatening, drops lifestyle, I decided to eat only fruit most multivitamins stretches and example, with regular blood- in blood sugar and blood pressure. and nuts at lunch. Now I’m thinner as some vitamin regular exercise. I pressure checks and bone scans. Don’t be scared of steroids . they and there’s the added bonus that I combinations love cycling to work Even steroid creams, such as might just save your life. can eat pretty much what I like in the cancel out the effect of and tennis – and I have hydrocortisone, available over the evenings, too. each other. even learned to surf. counter, can be dangerous if used l Follow Dr Ellie Cannon on for too long. Care must be taken to Twitter, www.twitter.com/dr_ellie.

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