Steriods Essay Research Paper 2

Steriods Essay, Research Paper

“Steroids.” It’s a familiar word with typically negative connotations, yet they have

benefits behind the drug also. No doubt you’ve heard about athletes who abuse

steroids. Or you may be all too aware of the bad side effects associated with

steroid medications. Well I?ll be talking about steroids in depth. What steroids

are composed of, development of steroids, how it was given a bad name, how it

works in the major parts of the body, and better way steroids can be used.

What are Steroids? Steroids are a class of hormones synthesized from

cholesterol. All steroids share the same basic four-ring carbon structure, but

differ in the number of carbon atoms attached to the number 17 carbon atom in

the structure, and in the manner in which hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and the

hydroxyl (OH) groups are attached to the carbon atoms. There are various types

of steroids. For example, corticosteroids, such as prednisone or cortisone, are

anti-inflammatory, catabolic compounds that break tissue down. They are

completely different from the substances known as anabolic steroids. The term

“anabolic steroids” commonly refers to steroids which are synthetically produced,

molecularly altered derivatives (or “analogs”) of testosterone. Naturally occurring

testosterone is the primary sex hormone found in men, produced primarily by the

testes. The adrenal glands are the primary source of testosterone in women,

where testosterone is produced in a much lesser (10 to 15 times lesser) amount.

The development of anabolic steroids, which testosterone, has both

anabolic (tissue building) and androgenic (masculinizing) qualities. The anabolic

effects are primarily muscle growth. The androgenic effects are the development

of secondary male sex characteristics, such as growth of facial and body hair and

deepening tone of the voice. Obviously, the anabolic effects are desirable for

sports performance and cosmetic appearance. In fully developed adults,

especially women, the androgenic effects are not so desirable at all. By the early

1950’s, scientists were trying to isolate testosterone’s muscle building properties

without the masculinizing effects. Synthetic anabolic steroids were developed in

this pursuit. Researchers discovered that by making certain modifications to

testosterone, such as by adding or removing certain elements at specific locations

on the molecule, the resulting compound had high anabolic effects with a

substantially reduced androgenic effect. The term “anabolic” instead of

“androgenic” steroid promotes the modification of the molecular structure to

enhance tissue building and minimize masculinizing effects. (However, because

the anabolic and androgenic qualities of these substances cannot be completely

separated, some experts prefer the term “anabolic/androgenic steroids.”) It is also

quite common to see both testosterone and anabolic steroids generically referred

to as androgens. One of the pioneers in the history of anabolics was John Ziegler,

M.D., who in collaboration with the pharmaceutical manufacturer CIBA,

introduced the oral steroid Dianabol to weightlifters in 1956. By the mid 1960’s,

scientists had created many different anabolic steroids and thousands of strength

athletes were using them, even to day.

Steroids got a bad name after dramatically improving arthritis symptoms

in the 1940s, cortisone was hailed as a “miracle drug.” But problems emerged.

People taking cortisone for months in doses high enough to relieve inflammation

routinely experienced harmful side effects. Physicians now recognize that

prolonged use of corticosteroids can lead to widespread problems affecting:

Metabolism–Your body tends to accumulate fat in your abdomen, around your

face (”moon face”) and on the back of your neck. Also, levels of blood sugar

increase, sometimes leading to or worsening diabetes. Muscular weakness

develops. Bones–Formation of new bone is inhibited and calcium is lost in the

urine. Osteoporosis and, sometimes, joint damage result. Eyes–Incidence of

cataracts increases. Skin–Thinning occurs. Blood vessels near the surface of

your skin become more visible. Skin bruises more easily. Wounds heal slowly.

Blood pressure–Elevations are common. Immune system–Your body produces

fewer disease-fighting antibodies, making you more susceptible to viral, bacterial

and fungal infections. Emotions–Some people develop agitation, euphoria,

insomnia and, rarely, psychosis.

Even though all these side effects are possible with use of corticosteroids,

it’s unusual for one person to have them all. These side effects don’t occur with

birth control and estrogen medications.

Anabolic steroids work in the body when steroids are taken orally. Then

proceed through the gastrointestinal tract to the liver, where they are processed

before going into the blood; steroids injected, go directly into the blood stream.

Eventually, however, all anabolic steroids wind up in the blood stream, carried

along with thousands of other types of molecules. How anabolic steroids work to

increase muscular size and strength is best explained on a cellular level. The cells

within the tissues of our bodies have certain areas that are receptive to some

free-floating molecules within the blood. These areas are called receptor sites.

There are receptor sites with an affinity for steroid molecules in our skeletal

muscle cells, for example. A steroid molecule being carried along in the blood

enters the muscle cell by diffusion and binds to one of these receptor sites. The

connection that is formed permits the steroid molecule to deliver a cellular