Women are more likely to develop an autoimmune disease than men. In the United States alone, about 75% of all patients diagnosed with an autoimmune condition are women. There are only a few, such as Crohn’s disease and psoriasis, which are not considered to be sex-related diseases. Why gender factors into the picture at all remains unclear. Fortunately, there are medications women can take to fight these diseases. A common treatment for autoimmune disorders is Prednisone.

Gender and Autoimmune Diseases

An autoimmune disease is one in which the body turns against its own tissues and cells. This means there is a problem with the body’s immune response. It basically cannot tell the difference between good cells and bad cells. Autoimmune diseases can be particularly difficult to diagnose. In fact, it is not uncommon for individuals who suffer from autoimmune disorders to experience multiple misdiagnoses before a correct diagnosis is made.

The prevalence of certain autoimmune diseases is greater in women. Females have greater rates of asthma and lupus among other autoimmune conditions. Women are more likely to suffer from environmental and food allergies. Unfortunately, due to external forces such as pollution and climate change, asthma and certain allergies are actually on the increase.

Benefits of Prednisone

When an autoimmune disease exists, you are likely to experience prolonged episodes of inflammation that can result in destruction of the surrounding tissue. The greatest benefit of the medication for women is that it quickly reduces inflammation that results from any autoimmune disease. This means that swelling and itchiness are eliminated. The drug basically serves as an immunosuppressant.

As a corticosteroid, this medication has been shown to slow the progression of certain autoimmune diseases by nearly 50%. It also appears to protect women who have rheumatoid arthritis from developing large B-cell lymphoma which is associated with the disease. Other possible benefits of the drug are being studied on an ongoing basis at research centers around the world.

Prednisone can help alleviate inflammation and pain in women who have autoimmune disorders. These types of diseases often become worse over time which can result in excruciating suffering that interferes with daily living activities. In addition to a proper diagnosis, effective treatment can help you manage the symptoms of your disease sufficiently so you can reengage with your loved ones. Women who use Prednisone may be able to get back to their lives much sooner than if they used another medication.