What is a corticosteroid?

Corticosteroids are generally known to be steroid hormones that are either produced by the body itself are human-made. To the best of my knowledge, there are about two forms of corticosteroid, which include; the systemic corticosteroid and the synthetic corticosteroid. The previous refers to the corticosteroids that are orally administered or injected. The later mimic the actions of naturally occurring corticosteroid and is being replaced with an adrenal gland that is able to produce the required amounts of corticosteroid, although are in most cases used higher than recommended dose is used to treat immunity disease, water balance, and inflammation.

It should be noted that naturally secreted corticosteroid is produced by the outer part of the adrenal gland (cortex). One more thing is to know that corticosteroid are classified into two which includes; Glucocorticoids (anti-inflammatory) which counters inflammation and helps break excess fats, Mineralocorticoids (retains salt) regulates water-salt balance in the body.

Corticosteroids are any cluster of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. There are two types, which are glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. They maintain numerous metabolic functions, and some are used to treat inflammation. They are engaged in a plethora of physiological processes, including stress response, immune response, control of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte status, and behavior.

Some more common naturally occurring steroid hormones are cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, and aldosterone. Aldosterone and cortisone share-alike chemical formula; however, the structures are not the same. The principal corticosteroids produced by the adrenal cortex are cortisol and aldosterone. The corticosteroids are produced from cholesterol within the adrenal cortex.