Anabolic steroids are very effective for increasing physical activity and muscle growth. It is also very common to use steroids for medical purposes. Most commonly steroids are used by bodybuilders and athletes who need a lot of muscle mass, as well as young people who want to look spectacular and attract the attention of the opposite sex. But is their use as safe as athletes who want to speed up muscle growth think? What are the effects of steroids on the human body and are the effects of steroid use reversible?
Steroids are biological compounds that are generally derived from the sex hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which have very strong effects on the human body. Currently, there are more than 100 varieties of steroids available, both in pill and injectable form.
Medical use of steroids
For medical indications, steroid treatment is prescribed for cancer, AIDS, asthma, some heart diseases, and hormonal dysfunction. Steroids have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, which promotes rapid wound healing, relief of inflammation, swelling, and normalization of the human immune system. They also help regulate metabolism and control blood electrolyte levels. The use of steroids is supervised by a doctor and the risk of side effects is reduced to practically 0%.
Non-medical use of steroids
Steroids, usually in the form of testosterone, are partially responsible for body development, especially in adolescents. They have androgenic effects associated with changes in primary and secondary sexual traits such as voice changes, body hair growth, muscular development and bone growth. Steroids, when released into cells, activate certain genes responsible for the creation and utilisation of protein. As a result, all the protein is used to build and increase a person’s muscle mass. Since steroid use in athletes is uncontrolled and takes place in doses ten times greater than permitted, the risk of side effects reaches 70%. Steroid users are seven times more likely to suffer from liver cancer, ten times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, five times more likely to suffer from reproductive problems, and many times more likely to suffer from mental illness and psychological damage than non-users.
Side-effects of short-term steroid use:
Acne, testicular atrophy, decreased sperm production, gynecomastia, high blood pressure, increased bad cholesterol levels, prostate enlargement, liver deterioration, unreasonable aggression.
Side effects of long-term steroid use:
Hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, neurological problems, lethargy, obesity, aggression when use is withdrawn.
Proponents of steroid use believe there are more benefits than harms from these drugs. But look at the list of side effects, many of which are irreversible. Exercise ‘clean’ and live a full healthy life. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
