How to Simple_Talks_About_SteroidsFirst,

Simple_Talks_About_SteroidsFirst,

 Let's talk about the chemistry of steroids. Steroids are a type of fat and are derived from cholesterol. 

 Unlike other fat molecules, their structure consists of rings. 

A typical steroid molecule consists of four rings connected by 17 carbon atoms. 

Different steroids have various functional groups attached to them, which give them their distinct properties.Now, let’s discuss the biology of steroids. 

Steroids are found in almost every cell, but their primary role is as hormones. There are three types of hormones in our body:

1. Protein-based hormones

2. Amine-based hormones

3. Steroid-based hormonesNearly all sex hormones are steroids. For example, the primary male sex hormone, testosterone, is a steroid, and other male hormones derived from testosterone are also steroids. 

Similarly, the primary female sex hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, are also steroids.Apart from sex hormones, some other hormones are steroids as well, including certain hormones produced by the adrenal glands, such as mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and male hormones (androgens) secreted by the adrenal glands.

Additionally, a specific type of steroid called corticosteroids helps reduce inflammation in the body. 

What is inflammation? When an injury, disease, or allergy causes blood vessels in a particular area to dilate, blood accumulates there, making the area warm, swollen, and painful—this entire process is called inflammation. 

Corticosteroids help reduce this inflammation.

The purpose of explaining all this is to understand the role of steroids in the body. So far, we’ve seen two main roles of steroids:

👉 Acting as male and female sex hormones

👉 Serving as anti-inflammatory agents (reducing or preventing inflammation)For these two purposes, steroids are given externally as medication.

Let’s discuss the first purpose—steroids used as sex hormones. For example, bodybuilders take the male hormone testosterone because it helps increase muscle mass. However, the long-term use and overdose of these anabolic steroids can lead to heart, brain, kidney, and liver problems, which is why we often hear about young bodybuilders dying prematurely.

Let's now discuss the second purpose, which is to use steroids as anti-inflammatory agents. 

For this, steroid drugs containing glucocorticoids are used, such as methylprednisolone and prednisolone, which are available in the market under various brand names.