By the way, doctor: Why did my doctor prescribe steroids?
Q. I have been diagnosed with temporal arteritis and am being treated with a drug called prednisone, which the doctor says is a steroid. I know athletes use steroids to bulk up, and I can't see how that would have anything to do with temporal arteritis. Can you explain?
A. I understand your confusion.
The word steroid encompasses a large group of chemicals, each of which has very different effects on the body. Plants and animals contain hundreds of different kinds of steroids. Cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone — they're all steroids. Every steroid has a basic chemical structure that contains four rings of carbon atoms, but there are many variations beyond those four basic rings. Different steroids can have very different effects on the body because of those variations.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
