Strength in a Bottle?
by Doug Reese TTNL
Anabolic steriods are prescription drugs - a synthetic reproduction of the male hormone testosterone. The only intended use of anabolic steriods is for doctors to treat conditions such as muscle diseases, breast cancer, severe burns, rare types of anemia, and kidney disease. Because of their dangerous side effects doctors use them in minimal doses.

Anabolic steriods are obtained on the black market or from unethical doctors, coaches, trainers, by body builders, athletes, and an
increasing number of non-athletes to enhance their strength or improve their physique or appearance. Over two million people in the U.S. alone are estimated to be using "roids."

Steriods may be taken orally or injected. Usually they are taken in massive doses 20 to 100 times the normal therapeutic dose used for medical conditions. When combined with a resistance training program, they have been found to increase strength and muscle mass, but their adverse side effects far outweigh any benefits. In women, unlike men, some of these effects are irreversible.

As can be seen in the table below, steriods like all drugs are dangerous.
Adverse Effects of Anabolic Steriods
Physical
  • Cancer of the liver
  • Cardiac disease
  • Hypertension and increased risk of strokes
  • Edema (puffy face)
  • Scalp hair loss
  • Nose bleeds
  • Immune system may be suppressed
  • Decreased HDL
  • Decreased aerobic capacity
  • Altered glucose tolerance
  • Severe acne
  • Oily skin
  • Muscle and bone injuries
  • Frequent headaches
  • Sterility
  • Possible death
Psychological
  • Total personality change
  • Hostile and aggressive; violient behavior; sexual crimes
  • Addiction
  • Inability to accept failure
  • Sleep disturbance (when cycled off the drug)
  • Depression
  • Apathy
  • Wide mood swings
  • Reverse anorexia (eating complusion)
Eventhough steriods make muscles stronger, tendons and ligaments do not increase in strength proportionately. Therefore, a strong muscle contraction can tear a tendon and/or a ligament. This is made more serious because steroids make the injur heal more slowly. When steriods increase muscle size, the extra muscle can grow around the bones and joints causing them to break more easily.

Possible Death

The violent behavior sometimes seen in users often referred to "roid rage" has led to serious injury and death of other people. Many users have died from hepatitis or HIV/AIDS infections from shared needles. Other users have died from cancers and heart disease attributable to steriod use.

Twenty-five Soviet athletes who competed in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games have died from steriod use. The deaths of several American professional athletes have also been attributed to anabolic steriod use.

Human Growth Hormones

HGH is produced by the pituitary gland, but it is made synthetically for use as a performance enhancer. Some athletes are using HGH in addition to anabolic steriods, or in place of anabolic steriods because it is difficult to detect in urine tests.
It is believed that HGH increases muscle mass and bone growth and hasten healing of tendons and cartilage; however, its adverse effects can be deforming and life threatening.
  • Irreversible acromegaly (giantism)
  • Gross deformities
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Goiter
  • Menstrual disorders
  • Excessive sweating
  • Lax muscles and ligaments
  • Premature bone closure
  • Decreased sexual desire and impotence
  • Shortened life span
Not So Safe Substitutes

In an effort to avoid the undesirable side effects of anabolic steriods or the detection of its use by sports governing bodies who have banned it, some athletes or body builders are taking chemicals and supplements such as boron, chromium picolinate, gama oryzanol and L-carnitine.
There is also a considerabel market for "glandulars" such as ground-up bull testes, hypothalamus and pituitary glands, hearts, livers, spleens, and brains. Thses products have been advertised as "steriod alternatives." Dietitians, the FDA and the National Council Against Health Fraud are alarmed at these practices, and consider it to be potentially dangerous, because these products have not been effectively tested. There is no published scientific evidence to substantiate claims for improved human performance.

References:

Peterson, PG; About Steriods, Santa Cruz, CA; ETR Associates, Network Publications, 1990.

Philen, R., et al. "Survey of Advertising for Nurtritional Supplements in Health and Body Building Magazines." Journal of American Medical Association 268(1992):1008.

Yesalis, C. Anabolic Steriods in Sport and Exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers, 1993.
To The Next Level (c) 2000 Reprinted with permission.