Why Do Athletes Use Anabolic Steroids?

Steroids have a long-term, negative effect on the human body. These effects range from cardiovascular problems to mental and psychological issues such as rage and anger problems. Steroid use has been linked to increased alcohol consumption, marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and narcotic use (Buckman, Farris & Yusko, 2013). Many athletes may not be aware of the lasting effects steroids can have because all they are worried about is their performance, not their health.

Anabolic steroids are taken by tablet, injection, and also by pads on the skin. Even with the possible benefits that steroids could possibly have there are many many more dangers. Some of these include deep depression, aggression, and bad nervousness. Some physical dangers include high blood pressure, liver disorders, and even going bald. The athlete that makes the poor decision to use steroids, also faces the danger of getting caught and being suspended or even banned from the professional sport of which they

Later it was discovered that anabolic steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle which led to abuse by bodybuilders, weightlifters, and athletes in other sports. Abuse of anabolic steroids can cause acne, breast development in men, heart attacks, and liver cancer. Most side effects are reversible if the abuser stops taking the drugs, but some are permanent, such as voice deepening in females. Possible health consequences for men are infertility, shrinking of the testicles, and male-pattern baldness while with women enlargement of the clitoris, and excessive growth of body hair can happen. It can affect the musculoskeletal & cardiovascular system, liver, skin, cause infection, and have psychiatric effects such as rage, aggression, mania, and delusions. Treatment of anabolic steroid abuse uses medications to restore the hormonal system after its disruption, and medication to target specific withdrawal symptoms.

Steroids come with three different types of risks/side effects that include: mental health, addictive potential and physical dangers. Steroids have immediate effects on the brain of a user as soon as they begin taking them. As soon as steroids are introduced into the user’s system, they “[bind to the] androgen (male sex hormone) and estrogen (female sex hormone) receptors on the surface of a cell.” Studies have suggested that “steroids may contribute to psychiatric dysfunction, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility” (“NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic)”, 2009). These mental side effects also contribute to the growing narcissistic nature of steroid users, where they feel invincible, that no one is better than them, or

Anabolic pose a ton of risk while associating with them as they are addictive and can pose health risks with abuse leading people to believe that they are bad and should be banned across all sports and taking them off doctors prescriptions, numerous risks involve shrinking of the testicals, heart conditions, strokes, blood clots and other physical defects.Leading to bad physical proportion and one example is men growing breasts and as said before shrinking of testicals leading to a lower sex drive, infertility testicular cancer and as serious as death. These are all risks associated with abuse of anabolic steroids where Corticosteroids risks are likely Bone density, ulcers, osteoporosis and numerous types of infections. (William A. Darity, Jr 2008, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner K. Lee Lerner 2012, Elizabeth Magill 2011, Barbra C. 2007, Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp,

You probably wonder what are the effects. So, ordinary effects include making pimples pop up and hair loss. Also, they can make guys grow breasts and women to grow beards (Anabolic). Steroids can give you really big problems in your body. For example, the liver can grow tumors and develop cancer (Anabolic). Also, steroid abusers can develop a rare condition called Peliosis Hepatis, in which the blood filled cysts crop up on the liver. Lastly, both tumors and cysts can rupture and cause internal bleeding (Anabolic).

Steroids not only affect the body but also the mind too. It is proven that when an athlete takes steroids they tend to be more of an aggressive person in society’s eyes. The advantage of having an aggressive behavior is that the abuser is more focused and trains more intensely. The bad part about taking steroids is that the person becomes easily irritated and impatient. Even after an athlete stops using steroids they seem to develop depression because they experience withdraw symptoms. It is against federal law to use steroids without a prescription. Professional athletes usually do not think about how much trouble steroids can give them. In 1990, President George W. Bush signed a bill to put steroids in the category of methamphetamines, opium and morphine. If someone would get caught using steroids they could be punished up to one year in prison, a twenty thousand dollar fine, and a year of drug classes (New Law…).

When taking steroids, or other types of PED’s they end up become unhealthy. They become unhealthy because PED’s grow the muscle tissue, but not the tendons, consequently making them more prone to tearing. Also, the body might experience bad acne, infections such as HIV, inhibited growth problems, and heart and circulatory problems. Steroids also display a lack of sportsmanship. When an athlete takes steroids they’re ultimately trying to get a competitive edge over other opponents, which nevertheless, gets rid of the whole competitive part of

An article dated in 2004 by ESPN gives an example of how tragic steroids can be to a sport. "The 1996 National League MVP (Ken Caminiti), who later admitted using steroids during his major league career and for years battled a drug problem, died (of a heart attack) at the age of 41" (ESPN). Although Caminiti battled many demons that included additional drug abuse besides steroids, it is still troubling to think that a professional athlete can have his life taken away at a relatively young age. Also unfortunate is the fact that Caminiti appeared to be cleaning his

A popular short term fix leads to negative long term effects. “Anabolic steroids work differently from other drugs of abuse; they do not have the same short-term effects on the brain” (Anabolic Steroids). Steroids are boosts of testosterone that can be prescribed by doctors for patients with disorders with their muscles. Some athletes abuse them for higher performance results. Although using steroids is a fast way to gain muscle, they should be taken only for medical use, due to their harmful effects on the human body, the mental health of the user, and they are addictive.

The more that steroids are taken, the more severe it impacts the user's life. Like every other drug, steroids has many side effects. To name a few there’s, heart problems, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Throughout the world, the use of steroids is a growing epidemic. Anabolic steroids, also commonly referred to as juice, is an alteration of testosterone - a hormone found in males - used to increase strength and muscle growth. Though it is most commonly taken orally, it can also be used through muscular injection or as a cream.

When consuming steroids, it does not change one's body instantly, but it does make them look built and strong, it also has a bad effect to the human body. Men and women have different side effects from the drug. Women using steroids will begin to have facial hair growth (Hoyle 3). Women’s chest may begin to decrease in size as well. The looks of the body will be the opposite for men than the women.

Along with the physical problems there are also mental 54reactions associated with the usage of steroids. This drug becomes very addictive and damaging to the mind. It causes violent episodes which an athlete can claim a legal insanity defense to it. They get so wrapped up psychologically that the negative effects doesn't matter to them. Research has also discovered that steroids cause psychotic side effects sometimes referred to as "roid mania". Along with these are wild aggressive, combative behavior, depression, listlessness and delusions during and after performance. Even though the

“Some athletes take a form of steroids — known as anabolic-androgen steroids or just anabolic steroids — to increase their muscle mass and strength. The main anabolic steroid hormone produced by your body is testosterone. Testosterone has many risks some of them are Anabolic effects promote muscle building. Androgenic effects male traits, such as facial hair and a deeper voice. Men get some major risks from taking this type of drug like some are prominent breasts Baldness, Shrunken testicles, Infertility, and Impotence.”(Mayo Clinic)