Anti-Inflammatories stifle exercise benefits

[saevel25]

I was recently listening to a podcast about inflammation and it's role in depression (a very interesting topic). They got on the subject of exercising and its role in helping with depression. Out of that discussion they talked about how Anti-Inflammatory drugs can stifle muscle gains and the benefits exercise has on preventing and alleviating depression.

Depressions is linked to inflammation. A bit off-topic, but they found that higher inflammation is good for people who live in the old hunter-gatherer or early agricultural societies that had to worry about pathogens. The higher inflammation was actually associated with longer lifespans (typically humans wanted to make it to 40 years old). They studied this by talking to and taking blood samples from people who live in those societies in areas untouched by modern advancement. In modern society, high inflammation actually is a bad thing because we do not need that protective mechanism, and it can lead to chronic inflammation. Which we are seeing today.

What they found was, that a spike in the right type of inflammation can actually have long term benefits in lowering other inflammation and counteracting depression. One way to do this is by endurance exercising. Taking anti-inflammatories block this mechanism, even drinking or taking Vitamin-C (a natural anti-inflammatory) takes away exercises benefits. Other studies have shown that anti-inflammatories will also inhibit muscle growth.

https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes

Another interesting thing they found was raising the human core temperature actually produces the same inflammation  shock that is beneficial to combating depression. Taking that occasional sauna session is a good thing. He found that through out history cultures have used heat as a way to try to gain spiritual awareness and health benefits. Humans have intuitively found that subjecting themselves to heat have these benefits.

 

[Marty2019]

"...Anti-Inflammatory drugs can stifle muscle gains..."

But aren't steroids anti-inflammatories?   And since steroids are commonly used to enhance muscle growth by reducing inflammation and thereby reducing recovery time, wouldn't that cast some doubt on the theory that anti-inflammatories inhibit muscle growth? 

Edited March 21, 2018 by Marty2019

[saevel25]

30 minutes ago, Marty2019 said:

"...Anti-Inflammatory drugs can stifle muscle gains..."

But aren't steroids anti-inflammatories?  And since steroids are commonly used to enhance muscle growth by reducing inflammation and thereby reducing recovery time, wouldn't that cast some doubt on the theory that anti-inflammatories inhibit muscle growth? 

I think it depends on the steroid.

From WebMD,

Quote

Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. They are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases and conditions

The question may be, how much do the reduce inflammation? Then the next question is, are the athletes workout so much that they go above and beyond the negative effects of the steroids?

It might just be the nature on how OTC anti-inflammatory drugs work. Example, Aleve does not help me with head-aches. but Advil will. Aleve is fantastic for muscle aches and spams. I am not sure what mechanism steroids are utilizing to reduce inflammation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170828125123.htm

[No Mulligans]

2 hours ago, Marty2019 said:

"...Anti-Inflammatory drugs can stifle muscle gains..."

But aren't steroids anti-inflammatories?   And since steroids are commonly used to enhance muscle growth by reducing inflammation and thereby reducing recovery time, wouldn't that cast some doubt on the theory that anti-inflammatories inhibit muscle growth? 

Quote

Anabolic steroids, or anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are the synthetic (made in a lab) derivatives of the naturally produced hormone testosterone. They promote thegrowth of muscle (anabolic effect) and the typical male characteristics of puberty (androgenic effect).

Quote

patients treated with corticosteroids for various disease states, such as arthritis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, frequently suffer from muscle wasting as a side-effect of the treatment 

Two types of steriods.  I've taken prednisone for years, it has the side affect of muscle atrophy.

[Buckeyebowman]

When are you most willing to work out? When you're sore, or when you're not?