The Dangers Of Steroid Use

There are many reasons for not allowing physically-enhancing drugs in sports, like steroid use. Not only does it provide an unfair advantage, but there are dangers from unmonitored, not medical, use. Anabolic androgenic steroids were meant for medical use. Deciphering the name helps understand why they’re popular with bodybuilders and athletes. The word anabolic means tissue or muscle building. Androgenic refers to the androgen hormones. Steroid refers to the structure of the compound. Testosterone is the main androgen. Both males and females have them, but they’re higher in males. They come in pill form, injections, creams, patches, and implant pellets.

When you think of steroids and sports, you normally think of anabolic-androgenic steroids.

Some steroids are corticosteroids. These steroids help reduce inflammation and depress the immune system. They resemble cortisol that your body naturally produces. These types of steroids bring pain relief and aid for people with IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, and other diseases. Even though they’re prescribed, they have side effects. They can cause fluid to build in the body, high blood pressure, problems with mood management and mental functioning, digestive issues, increased belly fat, high blood sugar, and so many more. If your doctor prescribes them, ask about the side effects since each form—pill, injections, or inhaled—affects your body differently.

Anabolic androgenic steroids are the most dangerous because their use is often abused.

These synthetic androgens activate the androgen receptors to create the same effect as the natural anabolic steroids. While they have important and legitimate use, it’s the abuse of these drugs that causes the problems. Athletes use them to increase lean muscle mass and achieve increased strength. People with body dysmorphic disorder- a mental condition where people are obsessed with achieving body perfection and constantly find flaws, may also use them.

What are the dangers of using this drug?

As with many medications, the side effects can be minor or as drastic as life-threatening. When these drugs are used without the guidance of a healthcare professional, they often use far more than would be prescribed. The dosage may be 10 to 100 times more than the prescribed dosage. Misusing steroids can cause high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, liver damage, heart issues, severe acne, male-balding patterns, increased breast size, and mental problems like aggression, mania, major depressive disorders, and delusions.

• Men aren’t the only ones that abuse steroids. Female athletes can also abuse them. It causes their voice to deepen, excessive body hair, permanent balding, and a decreased breast size.
• If you use anabolic steroids for medical reasons, they are generally safe. Your healthcare professional will alert you to potential side effects and monitor your use closely.
• If you’re taking anabolic steroids to look better, you’ll be sorry when you don’t improve in appearance. You can get severe acne and cysts. The anger issues can cause unpopularity, and the damage to your body can end any hope of a bright physical future.
• Other performance-enhancing hormones include human growth hormone, erythropoietin, and androstenedione.

For more information, contact us today at Thrive Fitness!