Abusing muscle building steroids can have deadly consequences
While muscle building steroids can be useful in treating several medical conditions such as delayed puberty, gender identity disorder, osteoporosis and some forms of anemia and impotence, these drugs are also widely abused because of their anabolic and androgenic properties. How exactly do muscle building steroids work and what are the harmful side effects that may result from abusing these drugs? Here are some things you need to know before you even think about using them.
Muscle Building Steroids 101
Muscle building or anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic drugs designed to promote the development of muscle mass (anabolic) and masculine characteristics (androgenic) in the same way the natural hormone testosterone does. Steroids can be taken orally or be administered through gels, creams or injections. Since these drugs can cause a number of adverse effects, the patient's condition should be carefully monitored and all the necessary precautions should be taken at all times.
Steroids are also widely used, albeit illegally, by people who are into one form of professional sport or another mainly to facilitate faster recovery from injuries, to enhance athletic performance and to gain a definite edge over their competitors. In such cases, steroids are usually administered in doses that are about 10 to 100 times higher than the amount used in treating medical conditions – and this can have some very serious consequences.
Steroid Abuse and Its Harmful Effects in the Body
Steroids should never be abused for it may increase your risk for the following conditions:
- Impaired bone growth, accelerated bone maturity and bone pain
- Muscle tear and injury
- Oedema or water retention in the face, ankles and fingers
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin, male pattern baldness (for both men and women) and severe acne
- Eye infections, cataracts and glaucoma [3]
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea
- Gynecomastia or male breast enlargement
- Enlargement of the prostate gland, shrinkage of the testicles, increased erectile dysfunction despite increased sex drive, temporary infertility and impotence
- Aggressive behavior, mood swings, anxiety, depression and paranoia
- Blood poisoning as a result of using non-sterile needles
- Irreversible liver damage and cancers
- Kidney stones and kidney disease
- High blood pressure [4], elevated cholesterol levels, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes
In addition, female users may experience the following adverse effects:
- Increase facial and body hair growth
- Deepening of the voice
- Changes in menstrual cycle
- Reduction in breast size
- Enlargement of the clitoris
- Infertility