Steroids, also known as hormones, are hormones that are naturally
present in the human body. They help your body's organs, tissues and cells perform
their functions. In a healthy balance, these hormones are needed for growth and
even for the production of children. Steroids, on the other hand, are a
synthetic form of the chemical version of hormones used to treat diseases. This
article review what are the side
effects of steroids for bodybuilders, and other related detailed information.
Steroids are two types:
- Corticosteroids – used to treat disease
- Anabolic-androgenic – used by
bodybuilders and athletes illegally to increase their muscle mass
Inflammation is the body's natural response to an infection or bacteria.
Steroids are effective at reducing inflammation and relieving symptoms of
swelling, pain, and stiffness. If you’ve had a wound or cut on your skin, it’s
common to experience swelling, redness, and heat. This is because your immune system creates extra fluid to fight off infections and bacteria. Steroids can
help reduce this immune response.
Steroids come in many
different forms. The main types of steroids are Oral steroids, Steroid nasal
spray, Steroid inhalers, Steroid injections and Topical steroids.
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| What are the side effects of steroids for bodybuilders? |
What are corticosteroids?
Corticosteroids are lab-made
steroids work like the hormone cortisol that rapidly fight inflammation in your
body. Cortisol retains your immune system from making substances that cause
inflammation. Corticosteroid slow or stop the immune system processes that
trigger inflammation.
What
are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are a synthetic (human) form of testosterone.
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men and is necessary for the
development and maintenance of male sex characteristics such as facial hair,
voice deepening, and muscle development. Women also have very low levels of
testosterone in their bodies.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that help with muscle growth
and maintenance. They also increase the production of testosterone, which is a
hormone associated with male sex. Anabolic steroids have medical benefits.
Doctors prescribe them to treat hormonal conditions.
Anabolic steroids are
also misused. People who illegally use anabolic steroids often do so to
increase lean muscle mass, reduce fat and speed up recovery from injury.
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| Anabolic steroids are misused by people |
How anabolic steroids work?
Anabolic steroids work by reproducing
the properties of naturally occurring hormones. Because of their chemical
resemblance to testosterone, they have the ability to trigger the body's
testosterone receptors.
Once the receptors are activated, a
series of metabolic actions follow as the drug tells the body to produce more
muscle tissue. Testosterone has two effects on your body, 1) anabolic – promotes muscle
growth, bone density maintenance, and injury healing speed, and 2) androgenic (masculinising) –
develops and maintains male characteristics (like the penis, testicles, muscle
mass, deep voice and facial hair).
What
are side effects of steroids for bodybuilders?
Regular use of anabolic
steroids can effect in possibly serious medical issues. These changes may be
physical and psychological in both men and women.
Common
side effects of anabolic steroids:
The Following Important things
you should keep in mind:
- The side effects are reliant on some different factors and depend on the individual’s own body.
- Some steroid users may only experience a few of the adverse effects while avoiding others.
- Although some users of steroids may experience very few side effects and others may not. But the majority of users will experience at least one of the negative effects listed below.
- It is not necessary that every person using steroids will experience all of the side effects.
- The harshness of the side effects will vary between individuals.
The
following side effects are the most commonly seen amongst anabolic steroid
users:
Physical effects in men can include:
- Stomach pain
- Infertility
- Shrunken testicles
- Testicle and penis shrinkage
- Increased risk of prostate cancer
- Baldness (patterned hair loss)
- Reduced sperm count
- Erectile dysfunction
- Severe acne
- Breast development (Gynecomastia)
Physical
effects in women:
- Severe acne
- Shrunken breasts
- Facial hair growth and body hair
- An increased sex drive
- Abnormal growth or swelling of the clitoris.
- Irregular menstrual cycle or loss of periods (amenorrhea)
- Get a deeper voice. Treatment may not be able to change it back.
- Notice that a part of their genitals called the clitoris has gotten bigger.
- Lose the hair on the head. Treatment might not be able to bring the hair back.
Physical
effects in young people:
- Stunted growth
- Stretch marks on the chest and arms
- Prematurely aged (or ‘leathery’) skin.
- Premature balding
- Acne scarring
- Imbalances of hormones
- Teens may never reaching their full adult height
- Injury caused by excessive, intense workouts
- Girls can become more masculine, their voices deepen.
- They develop excessive body hair, and their breast size decreases.
- Guys can shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count and may have breast (a condition called gynecomastia)
In addition, both men and
women who are using regularly anabolic steroids can develop any of the following
medical conditions:
- Psychological or emotional effects
These effects can differ from person to
person:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Difficulty sleeping
- Heart attack or stroke
- Liver or kidney problems or failure
- Damage to nerves from injecting steroids
- Increased sex drive (libido)
- Skin changes – acne that results in scarring
- High level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or
“bad” cholesterol
- Lower level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol
- More colds.
- A higher risk of swollen or torn cords in the body named tendons, which attach muscle to bone.
- Issues with anger or violence.
- Mental
health conditions, such as Irritability, mood swings, aggression or depression
- Blood clots or Problems with the heart and blood flow.
- Fluid retention
- Diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis, if using needles to give shots of the drugs.
- Mood swings
- Distrust, illusions and misbeliefs
- Risk of bacterial or viral infection as a result of unsterile injections
Long-term effects of anabolic steroids:
Many of the side effects can be noticed in a person’s behavior or
appearance. Some of the long-term effects of steroid abuse are not always
obvious. Steroids can change the way your brain works, even if they don’t cause
as dramatic an effect as other drugs such as cocaine. The amount and production
of certain chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters can change over
time. These changes in your brain can affect your mood and behavior.
Anabolic
steroids can yield many unfriendly and frequently permanent side effects,
including:
- Liver disease
- High blood cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Damage to the gonads (testicles or ovaries)
- Trembling and muscle tremors.
- 'Roid rage', uncontrollable outbursts of psychotic aggression and anger
- Delusional feelings of being superhuman or invincible.
- Glitches of the kidneys, liver or heart
- Paranoia and mood swings, including deep depression
- Severe acne, which can cause scarring
- Injuries to tendons that can't keep up with the increased muscle strength
- Nerve injury from needle use – this may lead to situations such as sciatica
- Unsafe needle use can increased the risk of contracting infections such as hepatitis b and c, HIV and tetanus.
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| Many athletes take too many anabolic steroids |
Risks
to be considered:
Many athletes take too many anabolic steroids, which are expressively
higher than what medical professionals prescribe. Anabolic steroids can cause
serious side effects, such as slower growth and an increased risk of health
problems later in life. Anabolic steroids are banned by most sport leagues and
organizations. Doping with anabolic steroids is also against the law. When
buying anabolic steroids, it is best to avoid dealing with drug dealers. The
drugs may be contaminated or incorrectly labeled.
Short-term effects of anabolic Steroids:
People who
misuse anabolic steroids do so because they want to gain more muscle and
perform better physically. Nevertheless, many unwanted short-term effects of
steroid use can accompany these intended rises in strength and performance,
including:
- Acne
- Reduced appetite
- Restlessness/ anxiety
- Decreased sperm count
- Mood swings
- Trouble in sleeping
- Exhaustion
- Incapability
Since
anabolic steroids are naturally liquids injected into muscle tissue, some
people may detect infected or swollen injection sites.
Other important concerns:
- Mixing anabolic steroids with other drugs: Few people using anabolic steroids with other supplementary drugs, because they may use this to either speed up their physical change or counter the side effects of the steroids. The hazards of mixing these drugs aren't fully identified.
- Necessity on anabolic steroids: A physical dependence is not brought on by anabolic steroids. Giving up can be very challenging if a person depends on them for their sense of confidence and self-worth. If their access to steroids is restricted, even temporarily, they may experience feelings of anger or depression due to the pressure to continue using them.
- More risks for sharing needles: As anabolic steroids are frequently injected, there are more risks associated with sharing needles, like recreational drug use. They may damage to veins, leading to ulcers or gangrene, infection of hepatitis B & C, and also risk of HIV transmission.
- Addiction to steroids: Anabolic steroids are addictive. When someone is addicted to anabolic steroids, they must continue using them even when they have unfavorable physical side effects. Doctors always advise patients to taper off steroid medication gradually by lowering the dose when they prescribe it.
What are treatment for anabolic steroid addiction?
The following treatment options are available for drug addicts or addicts:
- Individual counselling
- Group therapy
- Detoxification
- Individual support
- Talk to your doctor
- Medical and mental health professionals
- Short-term treatment for Steroid Abuse, Steroid Addiction, and Steroid Dependency is safe and manageable
- Continuous addiction treatment can reduce the risk of relapse and help understand the underlying causes of steroid abuse
- Most treatment can
be done in an outpatient setting If other drugs are involved in the abuse
Inpatient or Residential rehab programs may be better.
Steroid withdrawal treatment:
Withdrawal of
steroids treatment is usually done through a tapering program to minimize
withdrawal symptoms, which can include:
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Fatigue.
- Depression and
apathy
- Feelings of anxiety
- Insomnia
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Decreased sex drive.
- Headaches.
- Joint and muscle pain.
- Anorexia.
- Weight loss due to lowered appetite
- Decreased strength
The most hazardous side
effect of withdrawal may be depression because it can be severe and prolonged.
Suicidal ideas or actions may rarely surface during withdrawal. It can take up
to 4 months to reinstate natural testosterone levels after being on anabolic
steroids for a long time.
Conclusion:
Anabolic steroids are a synthetic, human-derived form of testosterone.
Anabolic steroids are used illegally to increase muscle mass, improve and
maintain masculine sex characteristics such as facial hair and deep voice,
decrease fat mass, and accelerate recovery from injury. Anabolic steroids can
be prescribed by physicians to treat conditions such as hay fever, joint pain,
asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as other hormonal problems.
Anabolic steroids do not usually cause life threatening side effects if used
for a short period of time or at low doses. Please do not stop taking your
prescribed medication without consulting your doctor.
FAQ:
Q1. How do steroids impact cardiovascular health in
bodybuilders?
Answer: Steroids can
increase blood pressure and raise cholesterol levels in bodybuilders. These
substances can increase the risk of heart disease, including heart attack and
stroke. Steroids can also increase the thickness of the heart muscle called
left ventricle hypertrophy, which can exacerbate cardiovascular complications
in long term users.
Q2. Are there long-term effects of steroid use on muscle
growth and performance?
Answer: Steroids can
increase muscle growth and improve performance over a short period of time.
However, over the long term, steroid use has diminishing returns and side
effects. Long-term steroid use can cause muscle gains to plateau as the body’s
response diminishes. Dependency on outside sources of hormones can also
negatively impact natural hormone production. Overtraining and injury risk can
also increase over time. This can affect overall muscle performance as well as
athletic longevity in people who rely on long-term steroid use to increase
muscle mass.
Q3. What are the common side effects of using steroids for bodybuilding?
Answer: Steroids for
bodybuilding can cause a variety of health issues in the short and long term.
The short-term side effects include acne, mood changes, and aggressive behavior
known as “roid rage.” Long-term effects can include cardiovascular problems,
liver problems, and hormonal suppression. It’s important to understand the
risks associated with steroid use and to consult with your doctor or pharmacist
before using steroids.
Q4. Can steroids cause harm to organs such as the liver or
kidneys in bodybuilders?
Answer: Yes, Steroids can cause liver and kidney damage in
bodybuilders. Especially when taken by mouth, steroids can cause
hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity can cause liver damage and can lead to
conditions like jaundice and liver tumors. Long-term use of some steroids can
cause kidney damage or dysfunction. This highlights the need for regular
medical monitoring for bodybuilders who use steroids.
Q5.
How anabolic steroids affect the body and how these are taken?
Answer: Most anabolic steroid users experience very fast muscle growth. This
usually means that people are able to train more frequently and for longer
periods of time while improving their recovery. Lean muscle can often grow
rapidly as a result. Another common issue that causes muscles to look soft or
puffy is fluid retention. Typically, anabolic steroids are injected into a muscle
or taken orally as tablets. Anabolic steroids can also be found as creams or
gels that are applied topically.
Q6.
Why do people abuse anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are used by some bodybuilders or athletes to build
muscle mass and improve athletic performance. Some athletes use them to develop
their skills, while others use them to speed up the healing process of wounds.
Anabolic steroids can be taken by mouth, injected into the muscles, or
topically applied as a gel/cream. These doses can be 10-100 times higher than
what is prescribed for medical conditions. It is illegal and unsafe to use them
without a medical prescription.
DISCLAIMER:
This article does not address specific
conditions, and is only meant to offer general information. It should not be
used as a substitute for expert counsel, or support or as the basis for any
kind of decision. You wholly bear all risk and responsibility for actions taken
in belief on the information included in this article.
Reference used:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/steroids#how-anabolic-steroids-work
https://medlineplus.gov/anabolicsteroids.html
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