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the effects of steroids on the human body
effect of anabolic steroid to athlete
the effects of steroids on the human body
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The use and abuse of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
In a world of increasingly competitive sports, many collegiate and professional athletes test positive for the abuse of illegal performance enhancing drugs. A common drug used is known as the Anabolic-Androgenic steroid. The proper use of AAS when administered by health officials can help individuals with particular health conditions and hormone deficiencies. When an individual takes higher levels of AAS then what the body may require naturally, serious physical and psychological side effects may occur. In this research paper I will be explaining the short and long term effects on the body of abusing this steroid.
Steroids occur naturally in our bodies. The major anabolic steroid found in our bodies is testosterone. (1) AAS is derived synthetically from testosterone. (3) Testosterone is the main sex hormone in males and is responsible for the growth effects during the years of male adolescence and into later years of adulthood. Nearly every cell in the body has proteins that act as receptors for AAS. Therefore the anabolic and androgenic response in the body is determined by the location and type of the cells and the nature of the steroid. (7) This hormone has two major effects on one’s body. The Anabolic effect promotes muscle growth by increasing the rate of protein synthesis within each cell. The Androgenic effects in testosterone are primarily responsible for traits in males such as the deepening of one's voice and the growth of facial hair. (1)
AAS were designed originally to provide greater tissue building capabilities and protein synthesis with minimal effects of masculinizing. There are close to 60 available distinctive AAS that are all slightly different in their che...
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...re acne lesions. These contain larger amounts of of skin lipids such as free fatty acids and cholesterol. Heart problems, liver tumors, and high blood pressure, and a decrease in libido are also physical side effects.
Some psychological side effects in men and women include major depression, and mood swings, mania and hypomania (experiencing an extremely high even euphoric state then in contrast experiencing an extreme low or depressed state, similar to bipolar disorder).(6) Users may also become addicted to the substance.(1)
The effects are clear. Though temporary improvements in muscle mass and overall athletic ability may be an effect of abusing AAS, it is not a worthwhile endeavor. While these hormones can be very useful to improve the quality of health in some very specific cases, the abuse of such substances can cause serious physical and psychological damage.
Anabolic steroids have become an epidemic amongst athletes since the 1950's when a Swiss company by the name of Ciba Pharmaceuticals introduced what was to become the most popular anabolic drug for athletes called methandrostenolone. “By this time, the era of the steroid athlete was well underway and world records were being shattered and re-shattered with remarkable regularity.” (Oklobdzija & Weyrauch, 1989, para 3) From then on, there have been many cases throughout professional sports where athletes are reported or caught using anabolic steroids.
In today’s society in athletics, muscle mass and strength seem more important than in years past. It is believed that many athletes use anabolic steroids to increase their muscle mass and also their strength. Anabolic steroids are a group of synthetic hormones that promote the storage of proteins and the growth of tissue, sometimes used by athletes to increase muscle size and strength. Before the mid 1970’s the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) was used mainly by highly trained athletes especially those involved in weight training. Since then other athletes including those involved in recreational sports and non-competitive sports have started using the steroids. Steroids are also being used by many school age children especially those involved in sports in the schools. Everyone wants to be bigger, stronger, and faster and will do almost anything to gain this.
In our days, most people have set the goal and dream to have the perfect body. They believe by having this image, they will be popular and/or attractive. People want to achieve the body that they desire, like a super star, a hero in a Hollywood movie, a strong soldier, and an Olympic athlete. However, what are the extent people will go to get the perfect body? The biggest problem for those who dream to have a beautiful body today, as many people know, is the consumption of steroids. It is amazing what people and athletes will do to enhance their performance, strength and muscle size by taking steroids. Whether right or wrong people who use steroids to become the fastest and strongest will prevail, so who would turn down a substance that could turn them into a super athlete and a muscle man? The purpose of this essay is to inform the reader on the popular anabolic steroids that most people use and the positive and negative side effects of steroid use on its users and finally my personal point of view.
There are many types of steroids abused by athletes in order to increase their muscle mass and strength. Though steroids have a negative reputation, there are some that can be beneficial to athletes and certain patients. There are types of steroids called corticosteroids that have more medical uses to them and another type called anabolic-androgenic steroids that have a more limited medical use. The anabolic-androgenic are usually the steroids that are being abused by athletes (Bigelow, par.10). The use of steroids goes back to the end of World War II around the 1940’s. Doctors were giving the freed prisoners from the Nazi concentration camps that were at risk of death anabolic-androgenic steroids to help gain back their muscle mass and weight faster. From this knowledge, steroids began to be used by body builders and athletes to get more fit than they already were. It is believed that the abuse of the steroids started in the late 1940’s by weight lifters and bodybuilders, and by the 1950’s, it was spread to the Olympics (Bigelow, par.11). Any type of steroid should not be used if they are only going to be abused by being used in large doses with the intentions of increasing lean muscle mass and strength (Bigelow, par.11). After years of abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids in the Olympics they were added to the list of banned substances and random testing of athletes were announced to start taking place (Bigelow, par.35).
"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.
Anabolic Steroids are a synthetic for of the naturally occurring hormone, testosterone. Anabolic steroids are used to promote accelerated muscle hypertrophy in both males and females.
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.
Over one million American desire short cuts to bigger muscles and greater endurance with anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Anabolic steroids are derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. A few of the negative effects of the drug are impairment to the kidneys as well ...
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgenic steroids, are drugs that are related to the cyclic steroid ring system and have similar effects to testosterone in the body. They increase protein within cells, especially in skeletal muscles. They address the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics such as the growth of the vocal cords, testicles and body hair. Anabolic steroids were first made in the 1930s, and are now used therapeutically in medicine to stimulate bone growth and appetite, induce male puberty and treat chronic wasting conditions; such as cancer and AIDS. The American College of Sports Medicine acknowledges that AAS, in the presence of adequate diet, can contribute to increases in body weight, often as lean mass increases and that the gains in muscular strength achieved through high-intensity exercise and proper diet can be additionally increased by the use of AAS in some individuals.
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.
Anabolic steroid use is very dangerous and illegal in the USA. Steroid abuse is where danger comes into play. Anabolic steroids can be used safely with many positive effects and minimize the side effects if used safely, and in moderation. "I used steroids. It was a risky thing to do, but I have no regrets. It was what I had to do to compete. The danger with steroids is overusage. I only did it before a difficult competition – for two months, but not for a period of time that could harm me. And then afterward, it was over. I would stop. I have no health problems, no kidney damage or anything like that from using them." (Schwarzenegger) The positive side effects of steroids include increase in the male sex hormone (testosterone); which spikes improved recovery rate, increase in euphoria, gain in strength and size, increase in sex drive, and beco...
Testosterone, one of the main ingredients in steroids is a result in the body from cholesterol; testosterone like other hormones has its main effect on tissues. “Testosterone enters a body cell and attaches to a receptor, which goes into the cell nucleus where it activates the synthesis of protein. Protein synthesis leads to tissue repair and growth. If we were able to increase protein synthesis it would lead to quicker regeneration of the body, and to give faster recovery from illness and injuries”.
The intent of this essay is to show that steroids have many negative effects and that steroids, and other natural supplements, should be closely studied by the FDA. This essay will also support the claim that the professional sports industry needs to eliminate steroid use and set a good example for younger athletes.
Steroids increase the rate of protein synthesis within the cells. Athletes use anabolic steroids; Anabolic steroids resemble androgenic hormones such as testosterone (2). These steroids enhance weight gain, speed, power, and aggressiveness. The intake of anabolic steroids induces an increase in muscle size by both hypertrophy and the formation of new muscle fibers (1). Anabolic steroids have an androgenic and anabolic effects, which are essentially the male hormone testosterone. Androgenic eff...
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.