Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced naturally by the adrenal glands in response to stress. These hormones play a significant role in human physiology, affecting many physiological processes such as metabolism, immune function and stress responses. They are also widely used in medicine as a treatment for a variety of conditions, ranging from allergies and asthma, to chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Corticosteroids are also used to reduce inflammation and swelling after surgery, to combat the side-effects of certain drugs, and to treat autoimmune conditions.