There is no free pass, and the price ...

Notes

Editor's note: This is the first of eight weeks, a series of articles studying the effects of commonly abused substances on athletic performance and overall health. There should be no disagreement about the use of anabolic steroids in athletics - non-medical use of anabolic steroids are illegal and banned in most if not all, major sports organizations. However, some athletes consistently taking them, believing that these substances provide a competitive advantage. But except for the popularity and legitimacy is that anabolic steroids can cause serious physical and psychological side effects. In light of this risk, measures to limit the use of anabolic steroids escalation. One of the leading authorities in the country to use steroids, Dr. Gary Wadler, is part of joint efforts to inform the public about the dangers of anabolic steroids. Dr. Wadler, New York University School of Medicine professor and lead author of the book

Drugs and the Athlete, serves as a consultant to the Ministry of Justice of anabolic androgenic steroids. He also received the prize of the International Olympic Committee president for his work in the field of doping in sports. He joined us for the issue of steroids and sports. As anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids - or, more precisely, anabolic androgenic steroids - a synthetic derivative of natural male anabolic hormone testosterone. Both anabolic and androgenic have origins from the Greek: anabolic, meaning "build" and androgenic, meaning "masculinization."

Testosterone natural androgenic effects cause the maturation of male reproductive system during puberty, including growth of body hair and deepening of the voice. Anabolic effect of the hormone helps the body retain dietary protein, which helps in muscle development. "While there are many kinds of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, is anabolic steroids property that causes an athlete," says Dr. Wadler. "They take their first increase muscle mass and strength."

How to take steroids? Steroids can be taken orally, or they can be entered. Those who enter are broken down into additional categories, those that are very long, and those that last a short time. In recent years, use has shifted to the second category - short, sturdy, water-soluble injections. "The reason for this is that side effects are related orally, it was found that particularly disturbing to the liver," says Dr. Wadler. "But the injectable steroids are not free from side effects, either. There is no free pass, and the price you have to pay or form. "

Who takes anabolic steroids and why? This is not the only football player or weightlifter or sprinter who may use anabolic steroids. This is not only men. White and blue collar, women and, most alarmingly, adolescents take steroids - all linked with a desire to see, hopefully, do and feel better, regardless of danger. Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the bodybuilding traits of testosterone. Most healthy males produce less than 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. Women also produce testosterone but in small quantities. Some athletes however, may use up to hundreds of milligrams per day, significantly higher than normally prescribed daily dose for legitimate medical purposes. Anabolic steroids do not improve flexibility, skill or cardiovascular capacity. What are the health hazards of anabolic steroids? "There could be a whole array of side effects, even with prescribed doses," says Dr. Wadler. "Some of them are visible to the naked eye, and some are internal. Some physical and other psychological. With the uncontrolled use of steroids "megadosing" senseless and stacking (using a combination of different steroids), the consequences may be irreversible or undetected until it is too late. " Also, if anabolic steroids are introduced, or transmission of HIV and hepatitis by sharing needles is a very real problem. Additionally, Dr. Wadler stresses that "unlike almost all other drugs, all steroid based has one unique characteristic - their dangers may not occur for months, years or even decades ago, long after the leave them you may develop side. effects. "

Men - Although anabolic steroids are derivatives of the male sex hormone, men who take them can really feel the "feminization" effect along with a decrease in normal male sexual function. Possible effects include:

Woman - On the other hand, women often feel the "masculinization" effect from anabolic steroids, including:

With constant use of anabolic steroids, both sexes may experience these effects, which range from simply unattractive for life danger. They include:

Anabolic steroids can halt growth prematurely in adolescents. "What happens is that steroids close the growth centers in bones of children," says Dr. Wadler. "Once these growth plates are closed, they can not open so that teens are too many steroids may end up smaller than they should have been."

According lasix 120 mg to Dr. Wadler, anabolic steroids can cause severe mood swings. "The psychological state of people can run the gamut." Says Wadler. "They can move from the attacks of depression or extreme anger and a sense of invincibility outright aggression, commonly called '' Thyroid rage. This dangerous condition beyond just confidence. "

Lee anabolic steroids addictive? Recent data suggest that long-steroids and steroid drug users may experience the classic characteristics of addiction, including craving, difficulty in curbing steroid use and withdrawal symptoms. " Addiction is an extreme dependence that can be psychological if not physical, phenomenon, "says Dr. Wadler". Despite this, there is no doubt that with regular steroids stop taking the drug they get withdrawal pains and if they start again the pain goes away. These difficulties stopping use even though they know it's bad for them. "