The Potentially Dangerous Side Effects of
Steroids
You've been going to the gym everyday and working
your butt off. You drink protein shakes, eat loads
of chicken, and see some muscle gain. Your happy.
Then you notice the new guy at gym is getting
big real fast. He only started 3 months ago and
he's putting on size like there's no tomorrow.
What the???Obviously he's on roids and your starting
to wonder whether you should chuck in the towel
or jump on the train. It's tempting. Why work
so hard when you're only going to see mediocre
results compared to the other guy.Steroids obviously
work, but are they worth it?
The Technical Mumbo Jumbo:Hundreds of distinct
steroids have been identified in plant, animals,
and fungi. The steroids associated with muscle
growth are called anabolic steroids.Anabolic steroids
are a class of natural and synthetic steroid hormones
that promote cell growth and division of tissue
and bone.
They not only effect muscle tissue but
various other organs as well. Testosterone is
the most potent natural anabolic steroid.Testosterone
is primarily secreted in the testicals of males
and the ovaries of females. It is the principal
male sex hormone. On average, the adult male body
produces about twenty times the amount of testosterone
of an adult female's body.
Testosterone naturally increases in males at
puberty and causes these effects:- Increased libido
and erection frequency- Pubic hair extends to
thighs and up toward umbilicus- Facial hair (sideburns,
beard, mustache)- Chest hair, periareolar hair,
perianal hair- Increased tendency for violence
or aggressive- Subcutaneous fat in face decreases-
Increased muscle strength and mass- Deepening
of voice- Growth of the adam's apple- Growth of
spermatogenic tissue in testes, male fertility-
Growth of jaw, brow, chin, nose, and remodeling
of facial bone contours- Shoulders widen and rib
cage expandsThe Risks:The side effects of using
anabolic steroids vary depending on the type of
drug, dosage, duration of use and individual sensitivity
and response.
To be straight with you, there are
more stories and myths about steroid effects than
you can poke a stick at. But some of the more
common and documented effects include severe acne,
high cholesterol, high blood pressure, impotence,
and mood swings.So if you think you can handle
that, then you're all set... Well, not really.Besides
the shrunken testicals, people who take large
doses (like what's needed for muscle gain) can
lose control of their emotions and become irritable
and really aggressive.
Little things can make them hysterically angry.
This is what is called "roid rage".A case study
published in the Australian Medical Journal (165:222-26)
reviewed the evidence concerning the effects of
anabolic steroids on the mind.The case centered
on a 29-year-old bodybuilder who beat his wife
to death using a weapon described as a claw hammer.
While he committed this horrific act, his four
children were in another part of the house. He
then shot himself in the head.
Before this incident,
his home life had been described as ''happy.''This
man had used steroids off and on for years, and
seven weeks before the murder, he had used a steroid
stack consisting of Winstrol-V and sustanon, both
injectable steroids. A later urine test showed
that he also used Valium, a muscle relaxant and
anti-anxiety drug.This doesn't mean if you take
steroids you are going to lose it and become an
angry incredible hulk.
But it definitely rings warning bells.More Bad
News - The problems don't stop when you stop taking
roids either. People who use steroids can develop
a dependence on them. That means they will go
through withdrawal when they stop using. They
can feel sick to their stomach, have headaches,
sweat a lot, feel dizzy and be depressed.Also,
They are illegal - (In case you were wondering):Steroids
are legal for use by veterinarians and doctors
but it is illegal to sell or buy them on the street.
When steroids are sold on the street or in a gym,
they are often mixed with other things which only
increases your risks.
Steroids are also banned
from amateur sports like the Olympics and most
professional sports. Several Olympic athletes
have lost their medals after they were tested
and found to have used steroids to bulk up.Are
they Guaranteed:Steroids are going to increase
your muscle mass - Hands Down.That doesn't necessarily
mean your chest and biceps are going to pop out
of your shirt first. There are some cases where
users experienced very little gain on their chest
and massive gain on their shoulders and traps.
Who else wants to become the next hunchback? Not
me.
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