Prolonged steroid intake harmful to health

An orthopedic expert from the Philippine General Hospital has cautioned gym enthusiasts against prolonged intake of steroids to build their muscles, saying it could weaken their bones.

“Steroids should not be taken if they are not prescribed by doctors. They are not vitamins that can enlarge your muscles. Steroids are not for those purposes,” PGH - Department of Orthopedics trauma consultant Irewin Tabu said during the launch by the University of the Philippines-PGH of the Orthogeriatric Multidisciplinary Fracture Management Model and Fracture Liaison Service.

The launch was in line with World Osteoporosis Day last Friday.

Tabu said gym enthusiasts who take high-dose steroids for prolonged periods are prone to avascular necrosis, a condition characterized by the death of the bone tissue due to lack of blood supply.

“They may not feel the effects now but later in life, when they are 50 or 55, they will likely develop osteoporosis. Their bones are softer compared with those who did not take steroids for a long term,” he said.

The program, spearheaded by the UP-PGH’s orthogeriatric multidisciplinary team, was designed to raise awareness on osteoporosis, one of the emerging diseases that is expected to have severe consequences to Filipino families if not addressed immediately.

Low awareness

PGH - Department of Orthopedic chairman Edward Wang, meanwhile, said more than half of the Filipino elderly are at risk of osteoporosis but awareness about the is condition is still very low.

“With a growing elderly population in the Philippines, osteoporosis is one of the emerging diseases that will have severe consequences to millions of Filipinos and their families if not addressed and given attention immediately,” he said.