Anabolic Steroids
Description:
Anabolic steroids are performance enhancing drugs. They are a synthetic form of the
chemical testosterone that is normally found in the body. By taking anabolic steroids, a
person's testosterone level can be raised up to a hundred times more than the usual
amount of 2.5 to 10 mg. Per day. The increase in testosterone increases anabolic
activity, which results in greater muscle bulk. It also increases protein synthesis and
androgenic activity (enhanced secondary sexual characteristics) in males. The users of
steroids want to increase the anabolic effects and reduce the androgenic effects, but no
steroid is known to have just anabolic effects.
Use:
Anabolic steroids can be taken in two ways, by injection or they can be taken orally.
Both oral and injected steroids carry benefits and adverse effects. Orally taken
steroids are well absorbed into the stomach and they are excreted fairly rapidly. The
bad side of taking oral steroids is that they are more toxic than injected steroids.
They are highly potent, which makes the risk of overdosing very high. Steroids that are
injected are less toxic to the liver and are less potent than oral steroids on an equal
dosage basis. Injected steroids have a delayed take up, which makes them last longer.
It also allows them to be detected in drug tests for a longer period of time.
How they work in the body:
When anabolic steroids are introduced into the body, under certain conditions they
increase: protein synthesis, lean body mass, and the nitrogen balance in the body. A
steroid receptor is formed which stimulates the synthesis of enzymes. With the stimulus
of enzymes in the body, protein synthesis is also increased. One enzyme system that is
placed into the body by the receptor is the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-polymerose system.
This system promotes cellular protein metabolism and synthesis which utilizes nitrogen.
By utilizing the nitrogen, the anabolic action is increased, which leads to larger muscle
size and strength. Anabolic steroids also increase nitrogen retention in the body. They
move the nitrogen equilibrium to the positive side. This allows the body to utilize
ingested protein better, but the balance does not last forever. The body's homeostatic
mechanisms regulate the balance and change it back to normal. This is one set back to
anabolic steroid use. In order to gain lean body mass a person may have to eat up to
10,000 calories / day and must continue a rigorous weight training program. If this is
not followed, taking the steroids would be worthless.
Adverse Effects:
Despite the increase in muscle size and strength, anabolic steroids carry an even
greater risk, the side effects. The side effects can be permanent or even deadly.
Serious side effects are seen in the liver, the cardiovascular, central nervous and
reproductive/endocrine systems.
One major side effect that can be found in the liver is hepatotoxicity. This is the
poisoning of the liver. It shuts down the liver's ability to process blood, which in
turn shuts down the whole body. Prolonged use of anabolic steroids can cause cholestosis
and jaundice (yellowish coloring of the eyes, skin and body fluids). Even though most
adverse side effects in the liver are reversible upon discontinuation of steroids,
fatalities can occur. The fatalities occur from hepatic cholestosis, liver tumors or
peliosis hepatitis (blood filled cysts that can rupture and cause bleeding and liver
failure).
Very noticeable effects occur in the reproductive system. In males the testicles shrink
by about 20%. They become impotent. Their sperm count can decrease by 90%. Also
gynecomastia can be seen in males. Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breasts. One
adverse effect that can be seen in both males and females using steroids is inappropriate
hair growth. In females, anabolic steroids can cause irregularities in their menstrual
cycles. It causes the female voice to deepen and clitoral hypertrophy. Clitoral
hypertrophy is the enlargement of the clitoris. Many of these things are irreversible,
but some can be changed with the discontinuation of steroid use.
In the cardiovascular system adverse effects can be very deadly. When taking steroids
an increase in LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL (high
density lipoprotein) cholesterol occurs in the bloodstream. This can carry a risk of
coronary heart disease and myocardial infarctions. They can also cause retention of
fluids. High blood pressure can cause an increased risk of congestive heart failure and
strokes.
The adverse effects in the musculoskeletal systems are not life threatening, but they
are very noticeable. Younger steroids users can have a premature closure of the
epiphyses (growth plates) in the long bones. This irreversibly limits the full adult
height potential. With the use of steroids, muscle/tendon strength changes. The muscles
become stronger, but the tendons become stiffer and less able to withstand force. This
causes an increase in muscle strains or ruptures.
The central nervous system is also effected by the use of steroids. In the person
taking steroids, aggressive behavior, self confidence and a sense of well being are seen.
Also manic mood swings can occur. These mood swings can range from euphoria to sexual
arousal to irritability and hostility. Cognitive impairment can also set in on the user.
Cognitive impairment can involve distractibility, forgetfulness, and confusion.
History:
The use of steroids is nothing new to the world. Since the time of the Greek Olympics
athletes have been using performance enhancing drugs in order to heighten their athletic
performance. In 1886 the 1st person to die due to performance enhancing drugs was a
French cyclist. He took a speed-ball, a mix of cocaine and heroin, which eventually
killed him. Physicians in the 20's ran tests on athletes by inserting monkey testicles
into male athletes to help boost their vitality. Adolf Hitler supposedly administered
the hormone testosterone to himself and his troops in order to increase aggressiveness.
In 1953 the first anabolic steroid was introduced. It had five times more strength
building effects than natural hormones. In the 1960's the IOC (International Olympic
Committee) started to ban performance enhancing drugs due to their popular use. At the
1976 summer games in Montreal, the IOC initiated the first testing for steroids. Today
testing is done routinely on the collegiate and international level. The USOC (United
States Olympic Committee) can suspend an athlete for up to two years if caught using
steroids. Repeat offenders may be suspended from competing on the Olympic level for
life. The NCAA does year round testing regardless if the athlete is in season or not.
Selected teams are notified two days in advance of being tested, and 18 players are
tested at that time. Positive testing results in a one year suspension of the student
athlete.
Signs of use:
The physical signs that are portrayed by steroid users are extremely noticeable. They
include: Rapid weight gain
Alterations in body composition, with marked muscle hypertrophy
Disproportionate development of the upper torso
Severe acne
Needle marks in large muscle groups
Development of male pattern baldness
Gynecomastia (breast enlargement)
Increased susceptibility to tendon strains and injuries
More frequent hematoma or bruising
Jaundice
Elevated blood pressure
Hirsutism (abnormal development of facial / body hair)
Atrophied breasts in females
Deepening of the voice in females
Legal penalties:
The use of steroids can carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Also a fine can be
imposed in addition to the jail sentence, or by itself. The fine can be as high as
$250,000.
Statistics:
260,000 students in grades 7 to 12 either use or have used steroids.
The American Heart Assoc. estimates at least half of all Division I college football
players have used steroids over a substantial period of time.
Black market steroids are topping sales of $400 million per year.
One million Americans, half of them adolescents use black market steroids.
In order to obtain good muscle mass building a person may have to consume 10,000 calories
/ day or the steroids will be useless.
Anabolic Steroids
Description:
Anabolic steroids are performance enhancing drugs. They are a synthetic form of the
chemical testosterone that is normally found in the body. By taking anabolic steroids, a
person's testosterone level can be raised up to a hundred times more than the usual
amount of 2.5 to 10 mg. Per day. The increase in testosterone increases anabolic
activity, which results in greater muscle bulk. It also increases protein synthesis and
androgenic activity (enhanced secondary sexual characteristics) in males. The users of
steroids want to increase the anabolic effects and reduce the androgenic effects, but no
steroid is known to have just anabolic effects.
Use:
Anabolic steroids can be taken in two ways, by injection or they can be taken orally.
Both oral and injected steroids carry benefits and adverse effects. Orally taken
steroids are well absorbed into the stomach and they are excreted fairly rapidly. The
bad side of taking oral steroids is that they are more toxic than injected steroids.
They are highly potent, which makes the risk of overdosing very high. Steroids that are
injected are less toxic to the liver and are less potent than oral steroids on an equal
dosage basis. Injected steroids have a delayed take up, which makes them last longer.
It also allows them to be detected in drug tests for a longer period of time.
How they work in the body:
When anabolic steroids are introduced into the body, under certain conditions they
increase: protein synthesis, lean body mass, and the nitrogen balance in the body. A
steroid receptor is formed which stimulates the synthesis of enzymes. With the stimulus
of enzymes in the body, protein synthesis is also increased. One enzyme system that is
placed into the body by the receptor is the ribonucleic acid (RNA)-polymerose system.
This system promotes cellular protein metabolism and synthesis which utilizes nitrogen.
By utilizing the nitrogen, the anabolic action is increased, which leads to larger muscle
size and strength. Anabolic steroids also increase nitrogen retention in the body. They
move the nitrogen equilibrium to the positive side. This allows the body to utilize
ingested protein better, but the balance does not last forever. The body's homeostatic
mechanisms regulate the balance and change it back to normal. This is one set back to
anabolic steroid use. In order to gain lean body mass a person may have to eat up to
10,000 calories / day and must continue a rigorous weight training program. If this is
not followed, taking the steroids would be worthless.
Adverse Effects:
Despite the increase in muscle size and strength, anabolic steroids carry an even
greater risk, the side effects. The side effects can be permanent or even deadly.
Serious side effects are seen in the liver, the cardiovascular, central nervous and
reproductive/endocrine systems.
One major side effect that can be found in the liver is hepatotoxicity. This is the
poisoning of the liver. It shuts down the liver's ability to process blood, which in
turn shuts down the whole body. Prolonged use of anabolic steroids can cause cholestosis
and jaundice (yellowish coloring of the eyes, skin and body fluids). Even though most
adverse side effects in the liver are reversible upon discontinuation of steroids,
fatalities can occur. The fatalities occur from hepatic cholestosis, liver tumors or
peliosis hepatitis (blood filled cysts that can rupture and cause bleeding and liver
failure).
Very noticeable effects occur in the reproductive system. In males the testicles shrink
by about 20%. They become impotent. Their sperm count can decrease by 90%. Also
gynecomastia can be seen in males. Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breasts. One
adverse effect that can be seen in both males and females using steroids is inappropriate
hair growth. In females, anabolic steroids can cause irregularities in their menstrual
cycles. It causes the female voice to deepen and clitoral hypertrophy. Clitoral
hypertrophy is the enlargement of the clitoris. Many of these things are irreversible,
but some can be changed with the discontinuation of steroid use.
In the cardiovascular system adverse effects can be very deadly. When taking steroids
an increase in LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL (high
density lipoprotein) cholesterol occurs in the bloodstream. This can carry a risk of
coronary heart disease and myocardial infarctions. They can also cause retention of
fluids. High blood pressure can cause an increased risk of congestive heart failure and
strokes.
The adverse effects in the musculoskeletal systems are not life threatening, but they
are very noticeable. Younger steroids users can have a premature closure of the
epiphyses (growth plates) in the long bones. This irreversibly limits the full adult
height potential. With the use of steroids, muscle/tendon strength changes. The muscles
become stronger, but the tendons become stiffer and less able to withstand force. This
causes an increase in muscle strains or ruptures.
The central nervous system is also effected by the use of steroids. In the person
taking steroids, aggressive behavior, self confidence and a sense of well being are seen.
Also manic mood swings can occur. These mood swings can range from euphoria to sexual
arousal to irritability and hostility. Cognitive impairment can also set in on the user.
Cognitive impairment can involve distractibility, forgetfulness, and confusion.
History:
The use of steroids is nothing new to the world. Since the time of the Greek Olympics
athletes have been using performance enhancing drugs in order to heighten their athletic
performance. In 1886 the 1st person to die due to performance enhancing drugs was a
French cyclist. He took a speed-ball, a mix of cocaine and heroin, which eventually
killed him. Physicians in the 20's ran tests on athletes by inserting monkey testicles
into male athletes to help boost their vitality. Adolf Hitler supposedly administered
the hormone testosterone to himself and his troops in order to increase aggressiveness.
In 1953 the first anabolic steroid was introduced. It had five times more strength
building effects than natural hormones. In the 1960's the IOC (International Olympic
Committee) started to ban performance enhancing drugs due to their popular use. At the
1976 summer games in Montreal, the IOC initiated the first testing for steroids. Today
testing is done routinely on the collegiate and international level. The USOC (United
States Olympic Committee) can suspend an athlete for up to two years if caught using
steroids. Repeat offenders may be suspended from competing on the Olympic level for
life. The NCAA does year round testing regardless if the athlete is in season or not.
Selected teams are notified two days in advance of being tested, and 18 players are
tested at that time. Positive testing results in a one year suspension of the student
athlete.
Signs of use:
The physical signs that are portrayed by steroid users are extremely noticeable. They
include: Rapid weight gain
Alterations in body composition, with marked muscle hypertrophy
Disproportionate development of the upper torso
Severe acne
Needle marks in large muscle groups
Development of male pattern baldness
Gynecomastia (breast enlargement)
Increased susceptibility to tendon strains and injuries
More frequent hematoma or bruising
Jaundice
Elevated blood pressure
Hirsutism (abnormal development of facial / body hair)
Atrophied breasts in females
Deepening of the voice in females
Legal penalties:
The use of steroids can carry a maximum of 10 years in prison. Also a fine can be
imposed in addition to the jail sentence, or by itself. The fine can be as high as
$250,000.
Statistics:
260,000 students in grades 7 to 12 either use or have used steroids.
The American Heart Assoc. estimates at least half of all Division I college football
players have used steroids over a substantial period of time.
Black market steroids are topping sales of $400 million per year.
One million Americans, half of them adolescents use black market steroids.
In order to obtain good muscle mass building a person may have to consume 10,000 calories
/ day or the steroids will be useless.
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