The Differences in Steroids
Anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids, which have received much negative publicity, have been used by athletes to increase muscle mass and improveperformance. They are related to testosterone, the male sex hormone, and can result in serious side effects such as hepatitis, liver tumors, hardening of the arteries and heart disease.
Because of their serious side effects and because they give the user an unfair physical advantage over competitors, are banned in the Olympics and collegiate sports in the United States.
Natural corticosteroids
Natural corticosteroids are hormones secreted by the adrenal glands next to the kidneys. The corticosteroid given to people with allergies and asthma is a man-made cousin of the natural hormone and is used to treat a wide variety of diseases such as allergies, asthma, skin disorders and arthritis.
The Corticosteroid Medication used to treat allergy & asthma can be used by athletes in all sports – amateur and professional – as long as a physician prescribes them for medical purposes.