Dangers of Steroid Abuse

What Steroids Are

The dictionary definition of a steroid is any of a large group of fat-soluble organic compounds, as the sterols, bile acids, and sex hormones, most of which have specific physiological action. Steroids appear naturally in all plants and animals. Generally steroids in humans control growth, metabolism, and blood chemistry. There are two main kinds of natural steroids. There are corticosteroids and sex steroids. They are both located in the adrenal glands of the body. Corticosteroids regulate protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It also influences the mineral and water balance in the body. The encyclopedias description of corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior (Wikipedia). Sex steroids in females are usually progesterone and estrogens and in males its testosterone. Sex steroids can determine many things and control the primary and secondary sex characteristics. The hypothalamus controls steroid release into the body and determines how the body will develop in puberty.

Synthetic corticosteroids are legally made as medicine. They reduce tissue swelling and help treat arthritis, muscle strains, and muscle tears. Anabolic steroids are synthetically made of the male steroid testosterone. Anabolic steroids help people with extremely weak constitutions gain more muscle. They also reduce the time needed to recover after a major surgery. Anabolic steroids is what athletes mainly abuse so they can get more muscle. It is illegal in the USA without a prescription and if you are caught without a prescription then you will receive a jail sentence (usually 3 months to 2 years depending on situation) and a hefty fine. Artificial Steroids are also legal veterinary medicines. Cow breeders use it all the time to give their cows muscle and therefore increasing the extra lean beef they produce. Shows like horse and dog races give their animals steroids to improve their performance in the show so more people will come and watch. Other steroids such as estrogen pills are used as birth control for women.