I very recently read a post by a well-meaning person warning us about the dangers of long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids. One of the people responded by saying that they chose to breathe because breathing beat anything that was in second place. I have been faced with choices that were not black and white. We need to remember Newton’s third law of motion which states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This natural law works in medicine and just as it is in the natural world, there are side effects (reactions) that may or may not have been expected. Just as an example when you straighten out a spring and then let go the spring goes back to its natural state. In the process of returning to its original state, it creates a very big disturbance in the air causing a breeze, and sometimes it causes enough disturbance to produce a sound. The breeze and sound could be likened to the side effects of the drugs. I used to point out to my students that all medications have side effects and they would respond, but I was sick and had to take it as though that alleviated the side effect.

I had to choose between an increased chance of getting cancer or death. In that case, I chose life. I was also advised of the side effects of inhaled corticosteroids and the increased risk of pneumonia among other side effects. I have to side with breathing beats whatever is in second place just as I chose life years ago.

This is not to say that you may make a different decision and for you that may be the correct decision.