Exercise 1 Change words in brackets to complete the gaps.

The use of steroids.

Corticosteroids, often referred to by the (SHORT)…………………..…. term steroids, are drugs that closely
resemble hydrocortisone, a hormone (NATURE) …..…………….. produced by adrenal glands.
Corticosteroids should not be confused with anabolic steroids that are sometimes used (illegally) by
athletes and bodybuilders. Anabolic steroids contain an entirely different type of hormone which
stimulates tissue (GROW)……………………..., particularly muscle tissue.

Steroid medications come in several forms that vary in how easily they dissolve or how long they stay
in the body. Steroids are administered either (SYSTEM) ………..………….… or topically. Systemic steroid
treatments include oral preparations, (VEIN)……………….……………….. or intramuscular injections.

Topical steroid treatments include joint injections, eye drops, ear drops, and skin ointments or gels.

The action of steroids.

Steroids work by decreasing (FLAME)………………….….. and reducing the activity of the immune system
by affecting the function of white blood cells. Steroids are used (SELECT)…….……………. to treat a
variety of conditions such as: acne, asthma, dermatitis, encephalitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, sepsis,
psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. When inflammation (THREAT)………………………... to damage critical
body organs, steroids can prove organ-saving or even life-saving medications. The may prevent the
progression of nephritis (kidney inflammation), which leads to kidney (FAIL)………………………. in
patients suffering from lupus. In such cases, steroid therapy may eliminate the need for kidney
dialysis or transplantation. Low doses of steroids may be a significant (RELIEVE)………….……………. from
pain and joint stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis. Temporary use of higher doses of steroids can help to
recover from a severe flare-up of arthritis.

Possible side effects.

The (OCCUR)………………………… of adverse effects depends on the dose, type of steroid, and
(LONG)……………….………. of treatment. They also vary in their (INTENSE) …………..…….., ranging from
relatively mild, moderate to potent. The most common side effects of systemic steroids include:
water (RETAIN) ………………….……., swelling, increased appetite, weight gain, muscle weakness, blurred
vision, increased growth of body hair, lower (RESIST) …………..... to infection, osteoporosis,
hypertension, (NERVE) …………………..………, restlessness, insomnia, cataracts or glaucoma.

Exercise 2 Fill in the blanks with a proper word from the box to complete the text.

Synthetically ovaries prescription rubbed discovered stimulate

Aggression advantage banned smuggling reversible damage

Anabolic steroids

Definition

Anabolic steroids are 1)…………………………… produced variants of the naturally occurring male
hormone testosterone. Both males and females have testosterone produced in their bodies: males in
the testes, and females in the 2)………….…………. and other tissues. Currently, there are more than one

hundred different types of anabolic steroids and each requires a 3)………………..….. to be taken legally.
Anabolic steroids can be administered
orally, injected intramuscularly, or 4) ..…………....…. on the skin when in the form of gels or creams.

History.

Anabolic steroids were 5)…………….…………. in the early 1930s and are now used in medicine to
6)………………………. appetite, bone and muscle growth, puberty. The most widespread medical uses of
anabolic steroids are for chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer or AIDS. One of the first medical
uses of steroids was the treatment of chronic wasting experienced by concentration camp prisoners
and prisoners of war. During World War II, German scientists worked on synthesizing other anabolic
steroids, and conducted experiments on prisoners. They aimed to increase the 7)………………….………….
of their soldiers.

Non-medical and illegal use.

Anabolic steroids have been used by competitors many different kinds of professional sports
(weightlifting, bodybuilding, cycling, baseball, football, boxing and martial arts) to obtain
8)………………. or to recover from injuries. The use of anabolic steroids is 9)…………….. by all major
sports bodies including FIFA, BNA and UEFA. The most common illegal source of anabolic steroids is
from 10)…………………. Less frequently steroids found in the illicit market are diverted from legitimate
sources (e.g. thefts ) or produced in clandestine laboratories.

Side–effects.

Side effects can be divided into short and long teRm ones. The abuse of anabolic steroids has is
associated with a wide range of adverse effects from acne and breast development in men, elevated
cholesterol level or hypertension. Most of the effects are 11)……………..…… if the one stops taking
them, but some can be permanent. In addition to the physical effects, anabolic steroids can also
increase irritability and aggression. Long-term effects include: liver 12)……………………………,
cardiovascular diseases, heart infarcts and strokes. Steroids also increase the risk of blood clots
formation.

Exercise 2 Find the synonyms:

1. ELEVATED - I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. CURRENTLY - N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3. LIVER DYSFUNCTION - LIVER I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4. AILMENT – D _ _ _ _ _ _

5. INITIAL - F _ _ _ _

6. LEGITIMATE - L _ _ _ _

7. TO RUN EXPERIMENTS – to C _ _ _ _ _ _ EXPERIMENTS

to P _ _ _ _ _ _ EXPERIMENTS

8. IRRITABILITY - N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9. FLARE UP - R _ _ _ P _ _ ; R _ _ _ _ R _ _ C _

10. ELIMINATE - O _ _ _ ; E _ _ _ U _ _
Exercise 3 Explain the concepts in your own words.

1. excessive doses

2. widespread use

3. chronic wasting

4. illicit market

5. critical body organs

6. osteoporosis

7. systemic drugs

8. flare-up of arthritis.

Exercise 4 Supply the missing word.

Corticosteroids are drugs similar (1)………. the natural corticosteroid hormones (2)………. are produced
by the cortex (3)………….. the adrenal glands. Corticosteroid hormones are divided (4)………… three
groups: androgens (testosterone) – male sex hormones, mineralocorticoids – regulate the water-salt
balance and glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone) – reduce inflammation and decrease (5)………. immune
system activity. Hydrocortisone, secreted (6)……….. the adrenal cortex, regulates the metabolism of
immune response, cardiovascular functions, growth, lipids, hydrocarbons, proteins. (7)........ anti-
inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids are successfully used (8)….….. the treatment of various
inflammatory conditions: asthma, arthritis, colitis, dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and chronic hepatitis.
(9)………. role is to suppress the inflammation (10)…..…… lowering the levels of lymphocytes and
decreasing the release of phospholipids from the cell membranes. Corticosteroids in the form
(11)………... injections are used (12)…….……. pain control. Corticosteroids have been used in oncology
and transplantology: (13)…………… drugs are effective in the prevention of rejecting a transplanted
organ and in the treatment of lymphoma and leukemia.

Exercise 5 Supply the proper form of the words in brackets.

Like all drugs, corticosteroids may evoke (WANT)……………………. Side effects depending on the
duration of the therapy, doses and individual patient’s (REACT)……….……………... These symptoms may
include: disturbed (GROW)……………….…. in children, osteoporosis, (TENSION) ………….…………, peptic
ulcers, weight gain, muscle (WEAK) …….……………., cataract and hyperglycemia. Patients often
experience higher (SUSCEPTIBLE) …………………………….. to infections, as the function of the
(IMMUNOLOGY) ……………………….… system is affected by the drugs. Therefore, corticosteroids are
recommended for a (RELATIVE) …..…………………. short-term use with the lowest possible (THERAPY)
……………………..…….. doses.

Exercise 6 Choose the word from the box to fill in the blanks.

collect inflammatory inflammation antibacterial dryness

oedema exacerbates effective treatment inhibit secondary

Topical steroids are used in the (1)………..………. of various dermatoses, e.g. eczema, psoriasis as well
as in asthma. In eczema (dermatitis) lymphocytes (2)…….…………….. in the dermis causing the
(3)…………………..… of the dermis and epidermis. The main symptoms of this are (4)………………….….,
itching, formation of vesicles leading to skin (5)………….……………. and cracking. If a
(6)…………………………. infection of the skin develops, it (7)…………………….. the dermatitis. The most
(8)…………………………. treatment of skin diseases is based on the use of topical corticosteroids and
(9)………………………..……… preparations. Corticosteroids (10)……………… the release of phospholipids
from the cell membranes, preventing their change into prostaglandins and other mediators of
(11)……..…………………………. process.