Steroids are actually drugs which imitate specific natural hormones existing in the human body. These hormones control and regulate the works and development of the body works. Natural steroids are divided in 2 main groups; corticosteroids anabolic steroids. More often than not, anabolic steroids are mostly misused or abused, since they mimic testosterone, the male hormone. These PEDs (Performance enhancing drugs) are not just used by bodybuilding professionals or athletes willing to illegally and dangerously improve the functions of their bodies, rather these are now commonly used by all ages.
It’s not just a steroid because research suggests that anabolic steroids are sometimes prescribed to patients who have suffered loss of weight and energy due to deadly diseases. Using steroids after surgery can enable patients to take a better diet and gives the patient energy to carry out day to day activities. Steroids are used as a last resort in patients of HIV, AIDS, etc.
Anabolic steroids are known to improve stamina as well as performance, in addition to stimulating muscle growth. Anabolic steroids help in building muscles and aid in achieving a more ‘manly’ look. Many others use them for improving their performance at sports.
The major effects of using anabolic steroids are: they help athletes to train longer and harder, used alongside a vigorous exercise routine, anabolic steroids help recover faster as well as building muscle mass. Sportsmen and bodybuilding professionals state that steroids enable them to train more, recover faster as well as synthesis muscle mass.
When taking anabolic steroids, one should always be prepared for the risks associated with it. Apart from its known side effects in the user’s body, users of anabolic steroids tend to feel irritable, paranoid, moody, violent and aggressive. Some users even complain of lashing out or attacking at their friends and families.
The side effects of using anabolic steroids are that’s it may permanently effect the body’s production of hormone and can mess up your body’s growth. Regular male users may notice erection problems, gynomastia (development of breasts in men), infertility problems, hair loss, skin problems, acne, nausea, bloating in addition to shrinking of testicles. In female steroid users, virilization problems occur where women develop secondary sex characteristics of men like increase in facial hair, hair loss, deep voice, breasts shrinking, bad case of acne, menstrual problems, sex drive problems, and enlarged clitoris. Bloating and water retention may sometimes occur causing a puffy look.
In addition to this using steroids can increase blood pressure so it is very risky for high blood pressure patients to use anabolic steroids. It can cause liver problems and risks of death are increased with stroke and heart attack very common with it. Prolonged usage may also cause sleep problems.
Depending on the life of each anabolic steroid, they may need to be injected frequently. In case these needle are not properly sterilized can cause deadly diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV etc. The area of site may can swollen and cause pain.
Anabolic steroids should be sold only on doctor’s prescription and are C Class drugs. They’re not illegal to possess and can even be imported just as long as it is in a medicine form and used for medical purpose. Supplying or possessing for the intent other then medicine is illegal and may lead to prison or fine.
Even when most of its users are sportsmen and bodybuilding professionals, usage of certain steroids is banned by many organizations. Leagues now have set up extensive methods for testing and finding out what substances are in found in the blood stream. If tested positive, they may lead to disqualification or a ban.