The Effects of Steroids

The Effects of Steroids

    In the sports industry, there have  been many cases of athletes using the performance enhancing drug, anabolic steroids. “Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. The proper term for these compounds is anabolic-androgenic steroids. "Anabolic" refers to muscle building, and "androgenic" refers to increased male sex characteristics. Some common names for anabolic steroids are Gear, Juice, Roids, and Stackers.”1 Out of all the athletes being accused for using this drug the ones that seem to fly under the radar are body builders. Looking at a professional body builder, you can obviously tell that it’s not natural for a human being to become that big. Your next question is, is it safe for some to get that big? If it’s not possible without the use of steroids, what can happen to your body for using them?

    Today’s body builders are much bigger than those who first started the sport, and even the great  Arnold, has admitted to steroid usage. With that being said, how can the body builders of today possibly not be using illegal drugs to help them get bigger?

    For those of you that have ever thought about using steroids to get bigger faster, here are  a list of a few things that steroids do to the body:

• Severe acne, oily skin and hair
• Hair loss
• Liver disease, such as liver tumors and cysts
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease, such as heart attack and stroke
• Altered mood, irritability, increased aggression, depression or suicidal tendencies
• Alterations in cholesterol and other blood lipids
• High blood pressure
• Gynecomastia (abnormal development of mammary glands in men causing breast enlargement)
• Shrinking of testicals
• Azoospermia (absence of sperm in semen)
• Menstrual irregularities in women
• Infertility
• Excess facial or body hair, deeper voice in women
• Stunted growth and height in teens
• Risk of viral or bacterial infections due to unsterile injections.2

Given the risks of what could happen to your body from using steroids, I hope that you choose to make the right decisions. Lift weights to be healthy and happy, only get as big as your body allows and be content with your size. If you want to get bigger still, talk to a professional about the safe and effective ways to gain muscle size. Steroids just is not worth it.

References:

1Anabolic Steroids. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2016, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/anabolic-steroids

2Anabolic Steroids - Abuse, Side Effects and Safety. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2016, from http://www.drugs.com/article/anabolic-steroids.html