Maybe a silly question, but never the less, i,m going to ask. Does PMR, or even beeing on Pred, lower ones immune system? The reason for my question, is simply, i appear to catch one cold after another. As soon as one appears to have left me, along comes another.
Kindest Regards.
No silly questions. Yes is the answer. I caught a cold from my 8 month old nephew. Try to avoid sick people.
Hi
The steroids are reducing the inflammation caused by your PMR - which is why you are taking them - but it also reduces your entire immunity system, so you are more prone to cough colds etc.
“Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. Inflammation is a process in which the body's white blood cells and chemicals can protect against infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. ... Steroids reduce the production of chemicals that cause inflammation.16 Mar 2015”
From -
my.clevelandclinic.org › drugs
ahhhhh. Well that answers that then. Thank G-D i,m nowhere near whuan then.!
Don’t think anyone wants to be there! Just hope it doesn’t spread too far!
We have a handful of cases in UK , but the health authorities keep saying we lose a lot more through the annual flu than is likely through the Coronavirus , or Corvid 19. Let’s hope they’re correct!
Take care
Thank you. You too.
Depends on the person I think - it will possibly be the pred which does suppress the immune system to some extent but I have had fewer or less severe colds since being on pred. Just the one humdinger per year on average but that has happened for years and years.
Handwashing, handwashing, handwashing - and avoid crowds as much as possible.
As DL showed , taking any steroid medication for whatever condition you might have lowers the immune response that is part of the way it works.
If you are in general good health overall , you may catch more viruses or infections , but won't necessarily have them worse or for longer than anyone else in the general population.
The Steroid treatment should only suppress the immunity enough to control your condition but not severly affect your ability to cope with an acute illness as long as you can work on keeping your overall Body Health strong.
It's when you whole system gets more run down , possibly from uncontrolled symptoms and side effects , or because you had another infection which has affected you ability to defend and recover , that you can end up having a run of infections that then last longer or have more complications than normal.
That's why it is really important to be Disease and Hygiene aware when you are on Steroid Medication and take extra care to keep away from those carrying infections or enviroments or situations that can bring on an infection . If you can avoid an infection it's better to do so. Not all hugs and kisses are therapeutic!😋
Keeping your Diet Healthy , using vitamin and mineral supplements , good fluid intake and a little light exercise each day , reducing Stress all help anyone , of any age , on Steroids to reduce the effect of those infections by keeping the Body stronger and more able to cope with it as well.
Mind you - I imagine the point for us it is being used to suppress inflamamtion as opposed to the immunosuppressive effect. Which is why we titrate the dose ...
The old advice... wash your hands a lot.
Immune system
Compromised immune system & Coronavirus Part 2
Immune system down 
Supplements -- immune system
immune system compromised
