All of a sudden, the papers were full of stories from people who had experienced side-effects from steroids. This kind of bad press does not help doctors to reassure patients that steroids are an effective and, when used properly, an extremely safe treatment for many conditions. By far the most common condition treated with steroids is asthma, but other illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, kidney and liver disease, and blood cancers can also be treated with steroids. Steroids, or more correctly corticosteroids, are derivatives of the corticoid hormones that are naturally produced in the body. The steroids that athletes and body-builders use are called anabolic steroids and mimic the male sex hormone testosterone.
Corticosteroids used in the treatment of asthma are completely different to anabolic steroids.
The major action of steroids in treating asthma is that they reduce the amount of inflammation, swelling and mucus in the airways, all of which cause breathing difficulties. Steroids prevent asthma symptoms - which is why we commonly call them preventers. By far the most commonly used are inhaled steroids which usually come in brown or orange inhalers, but can be white or yellow. These inhalers are designed so that the medication goes straight to the lungs where they are needed. Adults inhaling standard doses of steroid absorb virtually none into their bodies, so the risk of side-effects is minimal.