Steroids are a hot topic in the world of sports. Many athletes use steroids to gain an edge on the competition, but is it worth the risk?
There are many potential side effects of steroids, including liver damage, high blood pressure, and increased aggression. In some cases, these side effects can be permanent.
So, are steroids worth the risk? Only you can answer that question for yourself. If you’re considering taking steroids, be sure to weigh the risks and benefits carefully before making a decision.
What Are Steroids?
Anabolic steroids are artificial substances related to male sex hormones. Doctors use anabolic steroids to treat some hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from some diseases. Bodybuilders and athletes often use anabolic steroids to build muscles and improve athletic performance. Using them this way is not legal or safe. Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, including: high blood pressure, and changes in blood cholesterol, changes in behavior, agitation, hostility, irritability (“roid rage”)
Is It Worth It?
No one steroid is going to produce all of the above effects—and, what’s more, they will not all occur in every person who takes them. The severity and the frequency of side effects depend on many factors, including:
- The type, dose and duration of anabolic steroid use
- Age and sex
- Whether natural puberty has occurred or not
How do Steroids help?
Anabolic steroids from Steroids Canada are artificial substances related to male sex hormones. Doctors use anabolic steroids to treat hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from some diseases. Bodybuilders and athletes often abuse anabolic steroids to build muscles and improve athletic performance. Using them this way is not legal or safe. Abuse of anabolic steroids can occur in any age group, but statistics on their abuse are difficult to obtain because many surveys do not include questions about anabolic steroid use. Men than women more commonly abuse anabolic steroids.
The effects of taking anabolic steroids vary from person to person. Some people who take them develop serious long-term side effects such as liver disease, heart disease, cancer, stroke, and mental health problems. Other effects include shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, baldness, development of breasts (gynecomastia), and an increased risk for tendon injury. Anabolic steroids also can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and fluid retention.
Teens who abuse anabolic steroids may stop growing prematurely and not reach their full adult height. Teens who abuse steroids are also at risk for stunted growth due to premature closure of the epiphyseal growth plates. The side effects that have been associated with anabolic steroid abuse include
- High blood pressure, and
- Increases in LDL (bad) cholesterol, and
- Decreases in HDL (good) cholesterol.
Other effects include kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling. Anabolic steroid abuse has also been associated with mood swings, aggression, irritability, paranoia, delusions, impaired judgment, and mania.
Some of these side effects may disappear if the person stops taking the drug. However, some side effects may be permanent even after someone stops abusing steroids. For example, damage to liver cells can lead to liver failure. The risk for tendon rupture is also increased in people who abuse anabolic steroids. People who abuse anabolic steroids have been known to develop psychiatric problems such as aggression (“roid rage”), delusions, impaired judgment, and mania.
Advantages of Steroids:
1. Increased muscle mass and strength
2. Improved athletic performance
3. Faster recovery from injuries
4. Enhanced stamina and endurance
5. More powerful and longer-lasting erections
6. Overall improved sense of well-being
Disadvantages of Steroids:
1. Possible serious side effects
2. Addictive potential
3. Expensive to maintain
So are steroids worth the risk? It depends on your individual goals and situation. If you want to improve your athletic performance or build more muscle mass, the answer is probably yes – the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.