You’ve probably heard about athletes getting caught using steroids and being banned from their game for a while. It’s against the rules because it gives them an unfair advantage over other players, but how? Is it really that big of a deal? You don’t hear about people overdosing on steroids, so how dangerous can they really be? The fact is, steroids aren’t the medicinal equivalent of putting some pine tar on a baseball. They also have some serious, and potentially permanent, effects on the user’s health.
Anabolic steroids are essentially man-made male hormones, similar to testosterone. They’re sometimes referred to by users as ‘roids or juice, but the names of some of the more common ones include anadrol, oxandrin, dianabol, winstrol, deca-durabolin, and equipoise. Doctors use anabolic steroids to treat some hormone problems in men (such as not producing enough testosterone), delayed puberty, anemia, and muscle loss that can result from certain diseases. The reason they’re used by athletes and bodybuilders is that they can improve athletic performance by building muscle. Unfortunately, this is neither legal nor safe.
If you use steroids, you might be pleased with the results you see in your muscles, but you’re putting yourself at risk for a whole host of health problems. Some of these effects include kidney problems or failure, liver damage, enlarged heart, high blood pressure, and changes in blood cholesterol. Also, don’t expect to be happy with your appearance for long. Steroids can cause acne and hair loss, and they can cause people of one sex to take on characteristics of the other. For example, women might experience growth of facial hair or excess body hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or stopping of the menstrual cycle, and a deepened voice. Men, on the other hand, are at risk for shrunken testicles, decreased sperm count, baldness, development of breasts, and an increased risk for prostate cancer.
There are also mental side effects. You might have heard of “’roid rage,” where someone on steroids becomes unreasonably angry or even violent.
Although anabolic steroids don’t give you a high like other drugs, they can still be addictive. Studies have shown that animals will self-administer steroids, just like they do with other addictive drugs. Also, people will continue to abuse steroids despite physical problems and negative effects on their relationships or jobs, which is one of the warning signs of drug dependence.
Steroids can potentially be fatal. There’s a change that they can cause tumors to grow on the liver, which might develop into cancer. Steroid abusers are also at risk for a rare condition called peliosis hepatis, where blood-filled cavities randomly appear on the liver. These cysts can rupture, resulting in hemorrhage and sometimes death.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
