Steroid Effects

In today’s world, pressure and self-expectations often encourage or force many of us to the world of steroids. In addition to that, the “obsession with a muscular body at any cost” is often the reason behind many falling into the trap of steroids.

Steroids although not harmful unless they are illegal or sub-standard can result in serious health hazards if used in an indiscriminate manner. The thought of building a lean and muscular body in a short span of time often encourage bodybuilders as well as non-bodybuilders to get on with steroids.

In this article, we would be reading how steroids can prove harmful and dangerous to one’s health besides tips and precautions to stay away from these health hazards with or without steroids.

Steroids that are rated as Schedule III Substances by the FDA offer great benefits to its users such as increased muscle mass, body size, and enhanced body performance with minimal or no fatigue even during strenuous exercise sessions. But that may be at the cost of one’s own health.

As per the 1999 Monitoring the Future Study, it was estimated that 2.7 percent of 8th and 10th graders and 2.9 percent of 12th graders in the United States had taken anabolic steroids to enhance body performance and perform well in competitions. The data of years 2003 and 2008 revealed by other associations do not bring a different story. The fact that the modern day youth is highly bent towards steroids is in itself highly concerning. The studies even revealed that though young women are presently behind their male counterparts when it comes to the usage of steroids, the positions can change in the coming years.

With steroids such as Anadrol, Anavar, Sustanon 250, Testosterone Enanthate, Nolvadex, Clenbuterol, Testosterone Cypionate, Clomid, Deca Durabolin, Dianabol, and Equipoise easily available, the popularity of steroids is witnessing an unprecedented high these days.

Two of the biggest reasons why steroids have gained so much popularity are easy availability and affordability. These two factors would not have caused much damage if information was sought beforehand by the steroid users. The underlying concern is that most of the steroid users are actually slightly or completely unaware of the pros and cons of steroids. While they read almost everything on the records to find benefits of steroids, they do not pay heed to precautions and side-effects of steroids. This is where things start going in the wrong direction.

It is important for every steroid user to realize that medical advice prior to intake of steroids is an absolute must and can just not be compromised. Furthermore, it is important for a potential steroid user to remember that qualified medical advice cannot be substituted or modified in any manner.

Now that we have talked enough about steroids and reasons behind their popularity, let us move our focus to the side-effects of steroids.

Steroids, when abused or used in an indiscriminate manner, can result in minor as well as serious health ailments such as depression, restlessness, hallucination, mania, aggression, dependency, disturbed sleep, acne, irritability, heart attack, stroke, increased blood pressure, low sperm production, infertility, fluid retention, menstrual irregularities, and HIV/AIDS (in case of needle sharing for taking injectable steroids).

They can also result in ailments such as development of breast (in men) besides deepening of voice, male pattern baldness, and enlargement of the clitoris in women to name a few. They can also increase the risk of formation of abscess near the injection sites on the body besides development of bacterial infections that can result in severe, intolerable pain.

Some other side effects of steroids include body fat reduction, coarsening of the skin, loss of scalp hair, and cessation of the menstrual cycle in women. In adolescents, high levels of testosterone because of an indiscriminate usage of steroids can result in stunted growth on an irreversible basis. In addition to that, steroids can give rise to characteristics such as violent nature along with unprecedented personality and behavior changes. The list of side-effects of steroids does not end here. Doses of steroids, when taken in an indiscriminate manner, can also result in vomiting, nausea, trembling, and gastric irritation.

One of the myths that are believed by many steroid users is that sharing of needles while taking injectable steroids just means sharing of needles with another individual. Though sharing of needles is also concerned with sharing of needles with other individual, it also includes the fact that a needle is to be used just once. This means that if an individual on steroid is using a needle to take a steroid, he must not use it again for his own use and not with any one else also. This is because using the same needle, more than once (even if by the same individual), can cause pain and swelling besides increasing the risk of catching bacterial allergies.

It has also been proved that steroids can restrict pumping and regular flow of blood in the human body leading to heart muscle damage. It has been noticed that individuals on steroids prefer to stay with them despite getting ‘negative vibes’ from steroids in the form of ailments and damage to their social relationships because of addiction and irritability.

It has also been noticed that steroid users who are affected by any of these symptoms are often hesitant to make a visit to the doctor for seeking medical intervention when confronted with steroid abuse to avoid law. But, what they forget is the fact that maintaining a sound health is always better than the fears of being caught or confronted.

An individual on steroids must not feel hesitant to seek medical intervention in case his body starts displaying or experiencing any abnormalities. In such a case, all kinds of steroid usage must be discontinued on an immediate basis and qualified medical intervention must be promptly sought.

To conclude, things can always be corrected at any point of time if the steroid user shows the will to live a new life beyond steroids. If that can be done, there is simply nothing like that and this is because a life away from steroids is any day better than a life on steroids.