Types of Medical Steroids

The use of steroids within the medical field is standard procedure in cases which warrant their use. Though most are derivatives of chemicals found in the body, their effects on the body when administered are more powerful than in their natural state. Today, medical steroids are federally regulated. They are well known, and heavily used within the area of sports performance enhancement.

Identification

Steroids are chemicals made up of natural and synthetic organic compounds. Most are fat-soluble. What distinguishes them from other organic compounds is their structural make-up of 17 carbon atoms arranged in rings of four each. Steroids come in the form of hormones, plant compounds and alcohols. Human skin manufactures Vitamin D as a steroid, when it is exposed to ultraviolet light. The cholesterol materials that we hear so much about are also steroids.

Features

Medical steroids come in two types, anabolic and cortico. Anabolic steroids are derived from male sex hormones, like androgen and testosterone, whereas corticosteroids are a synthetic version of cortisone. Cortisone is a natural hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex. Its normal function within the body is to regulate inflammation that occurs as a result of injury. Corticosteriods are used to treat allergies, arthritis, asthma, colitis and most any other condition where inflammation plays a role.

Anabolic steroids are protein builders that help the body to build muscle mass. They are used to help patients gain weight in cases of HIV or other debilitating diseases. They are also administered in cases of delayed puberty in males. Their ability to enhance muscle mass has made them incredibly popular within the world of sports performance enhancement.

Function

The muscle building mechanism within anabolic steroids causes cells to retain nitrogen and calcium which are needed materials in muscle formation. Nitrogen and calcium also play a role in the formation of bones and bone marrow production. As such, anabolic steroids have been used to treat the occurrence of osteoporosis. Dianabol, Estandron and Catapres are just a few of the many forms of anabolic steroids on the market.

Corticosteroids, like their cortisone counterpart, work with the immune system to repair damaged cells and tissues within the body. Their anti-inflammatory effects aid in area circulation and help restore normal tissue function. In cases of arthritis, corticosteroids are administered along with immuno-suppressive medications to decrease inflammation, which in turn allows the immuno-suppressive medication to take effect.

History

A great deal of history surrounding hormones has to do with their role in sports competitions dating as far back as the 1800s. "Doping" is the term used to describe the use of steroids in sports performance enhancement. The first reported instance of doping occurred in a swimming competition in Amsterdam in 1860. During those times caffeine, strychnine, heroin and cocaine were used as doping agents.

Steroid drugs were first developed in Germany in the 1930s. Some experiments involved administering the drugs to dogs, and to malnourished prisoners for the purpose of keeping them alive. The 1950s saw European and Russian athletes ingesting steroids to better their performance, which soon led to a series a world records being set by European and Russian athletes. It wasn't until 1991 that anabolic steroids were labeled as a controlled substance that could only be obtaining with a doctor's prescription. Pharmaceutical companies who manufactured these steroids were aware, as early as 1958, of the adverse side effects caused by prolonged steroid use.

Warning

As with any drug, the risk of side effects is always a concern. The risk of suffering side effects from using medical steroids on a long-term basis is high. Individual body types will show different reactions depending on the amount of steroids ingested per day, and the number of days used. Prolonged use eventually results in the breakdown of the body's normal healing process. As steroids are synthetic versions of chemicals that the body produces naturally, the ongoing presence of these chemicals in the system works to weaken the body's ability to manufacture these chemicals on its own. Common side effects are psychological and physiological, some of which include increased aggression, high cholesterol, increased risk for heart attack and stroke and liver problems.

Resources

• Anabolic steroid names
• More about anabolic steroids
• Information about corticosteroids