Simply because the same muscular strength enhancements are gained by athletes and non-athletes this does not mean that anabolic-androgenic steroids do not come without side effects (Harthens and Kuipers, 2004). The adverse physical and mental side effects can affect long term users of anabolic-androgenic steroids as well as short term users whether they be athletes or non-athletes (Harthens and Kuipers, 2004). Side effects related to anabolic steroid use fall into many different categories such as: cardiovascular, hepatic, dermatologic, reproductive-endocrine, male specific and female specific, behavioral and injection related (Amsterdam et al.,2010). Some minor sometimes irreversible physical side effects seen in long time and short term steroid users include but are not limited to: acne (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), testicular atrophy in males and clitoral hypertrophy in females (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), voice deepening in females (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), male pattern baldness (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), increased hair growth (Evans, 2004), gynecomasita in males and breast tissue atrophy in females (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), increased cholesterol levels (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), impaired diastolic function (Amsterdam et al.,2010).
Some chorionic physical side effects due to steroid use include but are not limited to: cancer (Evans, 2004), hypertension (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), heart attacks (Evans, 2004), jaundice (Amsterdam et al.,2010), neoplasia (Amsterdam et al.,2010), infertility (Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010), and atherosclerosis (Evans, 2004). As well, physical dependence on anabolic-androgenic steroids in some individuals, due to their long term use can increase the chances of adverse physical effects (Evans, 2004).
Along with the wide array of physical side effects that accompany the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids there is a spectrum of mental side effects that also can impact an individual taking anabolic-androgenic steroids (Harthens and Kuipers, 2004, Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010, Talih et al., 2007). There are varying forms of mental side effects (Harthens and Kuipers, 2004, Evans, 2004, Amsterdam et al.,2010, Talih et al., 2007). These vary from mildly irritating behavioral effects to uncontrollable behavioral outbreaks (Evans, 2004). Unlike with physical side effects which are based mainly on the amount and duration the steroid is taken the mental effects depend more on the dosage administered (Evans, 2004). Some mental side effects steroid users’ can exhibit include but are not limited to: aggression (Evans, 2004, Talih et al., 2007), depression (Evans, 2004, Talih et al., 2007), mood swings (Evans, 2004, Talih et al., 2007), anxiety (Evans, 2004), and body obsession (Evans, 2004).
The first case of performance enhancing drugs in sports came before the discovery of anabolic steroids and is believed to be that of a British road bicycle racer named Arthur Linton. At the age of twenty four, he died during a race between Bordeaux and Paris in 1886. Controversy then soon arose when he was believed to have taken a stimulant called trimethyl at the time of his death.
One way steroids affect players is the effect on the mind and mental health of users. When baseball players take steroids, they put their bodies at risk. The risks include psychiatric symptoms such as bipolar disorder (Mitchell 55). Studies have shown that if baseball players get involved with steroids, there is strong chance they will experience symptoms like bipolar disorder or severe depression. Steroids also affect the cardiovascular system. They can cause heart attacks and increased or decreased cholesterol levels, and also cause the heart to become enlarged (Mitchell 55). The cardiovascular system faces tragic effects when people decide to use steroids. The liver is affected by steroids also, as the liver can become impaired, become cancerous, and thus cause skin to yellow (Mitchell 55). The f...
"The Behavioral Effects of Anabolic Steroid Use." DUJS Online. Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, 29 Apr. 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2014, from http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/news/the-behavioral-effects-of-anabolic-steroid-use#.U5TTDfmwJ-A.
Steroids are used daily in America in body building, medicine, and food production. There are three main types of steroids, Corticosteroids, Anabolic steroids, and hormone steroids. Corticosteroids are the kind of steroids doctors prescribe to patients when they are sick or have some kind of medical issue. These steroids reduce overactive immune responses and reduce swelling. Anabolic steroids are used for building muscle. They also contain a lot of testosterone. Testosterone is naturally produced by one's body but too much can cause a vast variety of problems. Hormone steroids are the steroids people put in animals (DeNoon).
Several effects of steroid use have been identified. These include an increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. These lipid changes if allowed to continue over long periods of time could result in coronary heart disease (6). Some other side effects of steroids in men include shrinking of the testicles; reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk of pro...
Steroids can help but they do have very severe side effects. “Overall the usage of steroids is very damaging to the human body.” In men, the steroids can cause shrinkage to the testicles, decrease sperm count, sterility, impotence, prostate enlargement, and growth of breasts. Most of the side effects cannot be reversed. The most severe side effect of steroids is on the liver. It is called Peliosis Hepatis, which is a blood-filled cyst in the liver. If the cysts rupture, they can cause liver failure. That would most likely kill the person. In women, it can sue the growth of facial hair, shrinkage of the uterus, sterility, deepening of the voice, decrease in breast size, and irregularity in the menstrual cycle. In both men and women, jaundice, edema of feet and ankles (water retention), headaches, aching joints, reduction in HDL, high blood pressure, stroke, hair loss, liver ailments, acne, atherosierosis and cancer. When injected some of the risks are developing hematons and getting AIDS and HIV. Taking steroids shortens the life span up to twenty years and a chance of getting diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. The side effects are reactions from using steroids are endless.
Anabolic steroids are drugs derived from the male hormone testosterone. They promote muscle growth and increase lean body mass. Although anabolic steroids have many approved medical uses, some athletes and others seeking to improve performance and physical appearance abuse them. These nonmedical uses are illegal and carry many health hazards. There are many signs that one can look for in a person who is suspected of using Anabolic Steroids. There is dramatic gain in weight and muscle mass over a short period of time (NIDA September1997). Another is severe acne. Others could be water retention, baldness or hair loss, even in the worst cases severe and sometimes violent mo...
"Anabolic steroids is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (e.g., testosterone). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects) in both males and females”(National Institute on Drug Base).First, the benefits of steroids are very obvious to see. The user gains strength, mass, and speed in a short amount of time. Also, the user has a more aggressive attitude, which is good for football players. However, there are more bad side effects than good. The side effects include hair loss, acne, liver damage, kidney damage, increased breast tissue and becoming very aggressive. These are just some of the horrible bad side effects by using steroids.
You’ve all seen them, the enormously large muscle-heads at the gym, the participates of the World’s Strongest Man Competition, the amazing offensive tackles, and the lightning fast runners. They were all unnaturally strong, and looked like gods. You tend to obsess over how beautiful their bodies are, how strong they are, or how fast they can run. All you can think about is reaching that level of athletic excellence, and nothing will hold you back. At times like these some people tend to take the quick fit to get closer to their idols, in the form of steroids. But what individuals tend not see is the horrible side effects that accompany the use of these anabolic steroids. These powerful drugs have both positive and negative results from their use. Along with increased strength and size, users of steroids suffer from a wide range of sicknesses such as cancer, shrinkage of testicles, bad acne, hair loss, damage organs, intense mood swings, and impotence.
While the effects of steroids can seem desirable at first, there are serious side effects. Excessive use can cause a harmful imbalance in the body's normal hormonal balance and body chemistry. Heart attacks, water retention leading to high blood pressure and stroke, and liver and kidney tumors all are possible. Young people may develop and a halting of bone growth. Males may experience shrinking testicles, falling sperm counts, and enlarged prostates. Women frequently show signs of masculinity and may be at higher risk for certain types of and the possibility of birth defects in their children. The psychological effects of steroid use are also alarming: drastic mood swings, inability to sleep, and feelings of hostility. Steroids may also be psychologically addictive. Once started, users, particularly athletes, enjoy the physical "benefits" of increased size, strength, and endurance so much that they are reluctant to stop even when told about the risks. Major athletic competitions, including the Olympics, routinely screen athletes to prevent steroid use.
Some of the ill effects of the drugs are damage to the kidneys and liver. A person can also alter the balance of the natural hormones. This can cause detrimental affects to the body. The effects of you natural hormones being out of balance can last several years after being off the drugs. Some male user form breasts due to the use of steroids. Because of the increase in testosterone, steroids can cause serious acne problems. When used by teens is can cause stunted growth. Other side effects include genital changes, water retention, yellow eyes, coronary artery disease, ligament injuries, high blood pressure, changes in cholesterol levels, sterility and liver disease. The list goes on and on. Women that use steroids run the risk of male pattern baldness. Some effects of steroids are even worse. Some people fall into comas after injecting the drugs, some may even die from the injections (Kalawalski 13-15).
Men who use steroids for long periods of time experience the following: breast development, liver diseases, and even liver cancer (“Anabolic Steroids”). The effects on women are different than those of men. Women experience deepening voices.(“Anabolic Steroids”). Short term use of steroids is much different, though. Heart damage, problems with urination, reduced sperm count, and impotence are a few of the symptoms men experience with short term steroid use. Women who use steroids for a short period of time experience excessive hair growth all over their body and their breasts shrink in size (“Anabolic Steroids”). Both men and women experience the same types of emotions, though. Aggression, violence, irritability, and depression are a few of the emotions out of many one would experience (“Anabolic Steroid Abuse”). Their emotions can switch in the matter of seconds and they can sometimes be dangerous to be around, especially if they start to experience “roid
Every year high school, college, and professional athletes try to get just ?a little bigger,??a little stronger,? and to increase the amount of weights they lift by, ?just a few pounds.? To achieve these goals athletes often turn to anabolic steroids to aid them in achieving their goals. Anabolic steroids are a quick, but dangerous way to increase muscle mass, and they can carry many risks including some life threatening side affects. Years after taking steroids athletes can live to have serious heart problems, sterility, or possibly not even live, all because of foolish decisions they made in the past. These potentially fatal drugs are not widely known by young athletes at all, because they don?t know about the risks that can go along with them. In school, every student is taught about marijuana, cocaine,heroin, sex, liquor, and all those other health risks, but they?re never taught about ?roids? or ?juice.? (slang words for steroids) That should be changed, because it is known that student athletes often use steroids, not knowing the risks. Many times they take the risk because they hear about professional athletes taking steroids. But, despite their widespread use in sports, steroids can have more negative than positive effects on athletes of all types. Steroids are chemical substances that can be made naturally by the body or produced synthetically. There are many different types of steroids that are used for different things other than just athletes enhancing muscles. For example, there are types of steroids that can be used by women as birth control pills, and other types that are used for menopause treatment. The abuse of steroids is almost always found to be in the case of athletes, and that is the focus of this paper. ?All anabolic steroids are synthetic compounds whose molecular structure is similar to that of the natural male sex hormone testosterone. Testosterone affects development of the male body in two important ways: it has an anabolic effect - increases growth, especially of muscular and skeletal tissue - And an androgenic effect - increased development of male sexual characteristics. Anabolic steroids are constructed stythetically in such a way that they maximize the anabolic effect of testosterone while minimizing the androgenic effect.? The way that steroids work can easily be interpreted by a foo...
Steroids can have many health effects on your body. Many doctors say not to use steroids because of the possible long term effects. A source from a reputable website says, “It is speculated that possible long-term effects may include adverse cardiovascular ef...
Forty-eight percent of high school students use steroids to improve athletic performance. Steroids can increase performances for athletes but steroids also affect the mind and character of the person. Some effects of steroids are impaired learning and hearing, violent behavior, and overly aggressive behavior. When women take steroids they start to show signs of masculinity such as deepening of the voice, increase in body and facial hair also the skin starts to roughen. Anabolic steroids give the one who takes them an unfair advantage in athletic competition. The advantage that they receive is not the same as natural born characteristics of ability.