Steroids - Articles

Not all steroid use is illegal.  Obviously, most of what we hear in the news these days is bad. Professional baseball players, NFL players, WWF stars, and other athletes sometimes look to gain an edge. Most people consider this sort of edge to be cheating. But some people aren't trying to get an edge on the competition. They are battling for their life.

There are many types of steroids. They occur naturally in plants and animals but there are also artifically created synthetic versions. One particular group is anabolic steroids. Related to testosterone, they date back to the 1930s. Building up tissue is their primary purpose.

As previously mentioned, some athletes will use these drugs to increase their muscle mass or to help them recover more quickly from strenuous workouts. However, athletes are not the only people who want to build muscle.

Anabolic steroids have legitimate medical applications. They can be used, therapeutically, to treat individuals who are battling cancer or suffering from other diseases that cause muscle tissue to waste away. Some well known wasting diseases are Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Aids, and ALS, also know as Lou Gherig's Disease. No one would consider this cheating, and it certainly is not illegal.

Unfortunately, this completely legal use of steroids still comes with the potential for adverse effects. Side effects of prolonged use of these drugs include increased cholesterol, liver damage, high blood pressure, and heart damage. Despite these possibilities many consider the benefits to far out weigh the risks involved.

Asthma is another condition that can be treated with steroids. For the person suffering from asthma the treatment reduces swelling and inflammation in the airway. This makes it much easier to breathe and reduces the possibility of an asthma attack. While some of these drugs are taken orally, inhalers are considered the most effective way of administering the medication. Asthma sufferers who take advantage of this treatment can expect to experience better control of their symptoms and lessen the likelihood of hospitalization as a result of an asthma attack.

There are potential side effects with use of these steroids as well but they are quite less severe. The risks are not the same as those related to the use of anabolic steroids.

Arthritis is a disease for which the anti-inflammatory quality of a steroid also provides a great benefit. Steroids reduce the inflammation of joints, resulting in much needed pain relief for the arthritis sufferer. Unlike those used to treat asthma, these steroids are most often given by injection. This insures that an adequate amount of the medicine will get to the right area of the body. Again, the possible side effects are different and much less likely than those associated with the muscle building type.

Eczema is a painful skin condition that can be treated with a topical steroid. Inflammation of the skin, as well as itching, is reduced by the steroid. Most steroids require a prescription but their are hydrocortisone creams that are available over the counter and easily found in a pharmacy or grocery store. If the non-prescription cream is not effective, a doctor can prescribe a version with greater strength. There are possible side effects with a topical steroid.
 
Regardless of their potential benefit, steroids are not an option for everyone. People with infection, hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, or glaucoma may not be able to take them at all. As with almost any medication, it will require consultation with a physician or healthcare provider. They will be best qualified to help with understanding the potential risks and benefits of various treatment options.

Sensational stories of dirty athletes give steroids a bad name. These three examples show just a few of the legal uses of steroids.