Swollen legs, difficulty breathing due to using "imported" functional foods containing Corticoid

Electrolyte disturbances in the body

After 7 days of treatment, Mr. PMQ (78 years old, Binh Tan, Ho Chi Minh City) was able to eat, drink and walk normally. Liver and kidney function test results returned to normal.

Master Doctor Do Truc Anh, Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that when admitted to the hospital, Mr. Q. had Cushing's syndrome and electrolyte disturbances with severe hypokalemia. If not treated promptly, the patient could fall into shock, arrhythmia, convulsions, coma, and death.

Leg swelling and difficulty breathing due to using imported functional foods containing corticosteroids image 1 — Mr. Q's legs were less swollen when he was admitted to the hospital. (Photo courtesy of BVCC).

Mr. Q. said he had sciatica and joint pain, so he bought a functional food product with a red and white box labeled as Malaysian. He took one pill a day for 3 months and gained 10kg even though his diet did not change. His face gradually turned red, his legs swelled, and his belly became fat. Suspecting that the medicine had side effects, Mr. Q. was afraid and stopped taking it. After stopping taking the medicine for 2 weeks, Mr. Q. experienced symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, so he was taken to the emergency room.

During her shift, Dr. Truc Anh determined that the patient had typical symptoms of Cushing's syndrome and that these symptoms appeared after using a dietary supplement containing dexamethasone (a type of corticosteroid with strong anti-inflammatory effects). When the drug is suddenly stopped, the patient may fall into a dangerous state of adrenal insufficiency due to long-term use of the drug, which inhibits the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

As Dr. Truc Anh predicted, the test results showed low blood cortisol levels, low potassium levels of 2.5 mmol/L (normal range is 3.5 – 5.1 mmol/L)… many other test results increased and decreased beyond normal levels. These results were due to side effects of long-term corticosteroid use.

"Miracle drug" loses money and gets sick

Dr. Truc Anh explained that the adrenal gland has the function of producing the hormone cortisol to manage the body's use of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, reduce inflammation, increase blood sugar, regulate blood pressure, control sleep and wake cycles, and reduce stress. And synthetic corticosteroids also have the same function as the body's cortisol to have anti-inflammatory, strong pain-relieving, anti-allergic, and immunosuppressive effects. That is the reason why Mr. Q. no longer feels pain in his bones and joints after taking it.

Leg swelling and difficulty breathing due to using imported functional foods containing corticosteroids, picture 2 — Mr. Q. is being instructed by a rehabilitation technician on breathing exercises to help clear phlegm. (Photo courtesy of BVCC).

However, the use of corticosteroids must be prescribed by a doctor. If taken for a long time, it will lead to excess cortisol in the blood, causing Cushing's syndrome, causing symptoms such as: fat accumulation in the abdomen and face, red face, thin skin, stretch marks, easy bruising, swollen legs, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high blood sugar leading to diabetes, weakened immune system, susceptible to infection...

Long-term use of corticosteroids can also inhibit the adrenal glands, causing loss of the ability to secrete cortisol, leading to adrenal insufficiency. When corticosteroids are suddenly stopped, the body will lack cortisol due to the previously affected adrenal insufficiency. This causes electrolyte, blood sugar, and blood pressure disorders. If not treated promptly, the patient will become severely dehydrated, hyponatremic, leading to shock, convulsions, coma, and death.

Doctor Truc Anh warns that corticosteroids are like a double-edged sword. They can temporarily reduce inflammation and pain, but if abused and treated without a doctor's prescription, they can endanger health and threaten life.

Corticoids are hidden in some functional foods of unknown origin, making consumers think that they are a panacea for all diseases. In addition, corticosteroids are also found in skin creams to treat inflammation, itching, pain relievers, etc. Therefore, to avoid complications due to corticosteroid abuse, people should take medication as prescribed by a doctor. Avoid self-medication, do not use functional foods of unknown origin, not inspected by the Ministry of Health .

Le Trang

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