Steroids
Steroids
Stories of steroid use is commonly heard about in professional sports, but it also continues to be a significant problem in High School sports. Many young athletes hear these stories and think performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) give you a competitive edge without any dangerous side effects, but how much do you actually know or understand about steroids? Legal steroids are prescribed every day by physicians for specific medical conditions. Also, don't confuse corticosteroids or cortisone, which are used to treat medical conditions and orthopedic injuries, with anabolic steroids.
The Taylor Hooton Foundation has reported that 84% of high school students have never had a coach, parent, or teacher talk with them about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs. Check out the following list to see how many of points you already know.
1. Anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are not regulated or quality-controlled and provide danger from a health and eligibility standpoint.
2. Steroids do not replace proper nutrition. Without the right balance of nutrient-rich foods, your body cannot be fueled at its best. Talk to your athletic trainer, school nurse, health teacher, or doctor for more information.
3. Taking steroids can have physical and emotional consequences and can be life threatening. You can suffer from short and long term health issues.
Steroid use can lead to a shortened life. The cardiovascular system comes under heavy attack from steroids. Good cholesterol levels go down, bad cholesterol levels go up, increased water and salt retention can result in high blood pressure. All of this leads to increased chances of strokes and heart attacks.
Other physical dangers include: hypertension, liver cysts and/or cancer, increased chance of injury to tendons, ligaments and muscle, jaundice, trembling, aching joints, and bad breath.
Behavior can be affected. Effects include mood swings, aggression, severe depression, paranoia, extreme irritability, delusions, impaired judgment, and a sense of invincibility. Many of these feelings are even worse when a user stops using these drugs. Some of these feelings can last for a year after you stop using steroids.
4. Males using steroids have additional risks and are prone to sexual problems including impotence. The user can develop male breasts (gynecomastia) and experience testicular atrophy. Additionally, they are at risk of prostate growth and cancer.
5. Females using steroids have additional risks and are prone to development of facial hair, male pattern baldness, loss of menstrual cycle, reduction in the size of her breasts, inflammation of sexual body parts and deepened voice. There is even a potential for birth defects when she has children.
6. Possession of anabolic steroids without a legitimate prescription is illegal, and all performance enhancing drugs are banned in high school, college, and professional sports. Use of these substances can result in loss of eligibility and potential legal consequences.
7. How we think about our bodies is vitally important. Having a good body image is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and a sense of self. If you're taking care of the outside, but not the inside (through proper exercise and diet), you're putting yourself at risk of injury, fatigue, and compromised performance.