The danger of anabolics. The effect of anabolic steroids on the body

The term "steroids" refers to a group of compounds of a chemical nature that have a similar structure. Among them are corticosteroids, androgens and estrogens. Androgens are also called anabolic steroids (AS). Their anabolism consists in the appearance of new structures and substances, the growth and regeneration of tissues, especially muscle.

Anabolic steroids are prescribed by a doctor in situations where it is vital. For example, in the loss of muscle mass in patients suffering from HIV, after surgery and in oncological diseases.

Features of taking anabolic steroids in athletes

Recently, anabolic steroids have become popular with athletes who take them, not considering the need for these drugs to be dosed correctly. Steroids are often bought on the "black market", and athletes, pursuing the goal of building muscle mass, do not think about the harm to health that they can cause to themselves. Indeed, in sports, anabolic steroids are used from the position of "the more - the better."

The use of AS in sports was banned back in 1976 by the International Olympic Committee. But, despite this, they are still used, especially in bodybuilding. Many sports use anabolic steroids because of their ability to quickly build muscle mass. This effect of steroids is due to the increased ability of the body on steroids to absorb proteins from food. Also, steroids increase muscle endurance, which allows athletes to train harder and more often.

The duration of the AS course in athletes lasts from 4 weeks to 18 weeks. After a break is needed, which can last up to 1 year. Medical use of anabolic steroids requires dosages ranging from 2.5mg per day up to 400mg per week.

Athletes take doses 10 times higher than medical ones, and combine several types of steroids, which is not the case in medical practice. Anabolic steroids are available both in injections and tablets.

The consequences of taking anabolics, their impact on the health and life of athletes

Before the competition, in order to "skip" the doping test, athletes take anabolics for six months, which are quickly eliminated, and stop taking any drugs a month before the competition.

But the effect after anabolic steroids lasts as long as you take them. With the abolition of anabolics, muscle mass is immediately lost, in many cases there is a withdrawal syndrome.

Often the condition is so severe that the athlete is not able to enter the competition for which he has been preparing for years. In addition to missed competitions, the athlete gets big health problems.

Headaches appear, hair falls out, rashes appear on the skin, increased appetite, the person becomes very aggressive. The hormonal background suffers, which for a long time depended on synthetic steroids. As a result, there is a violation of the endocrine system, in particular, the production of testosterone suffers, which leads to atrophy of testicular tissues, gynecomastia, impaired spermatogenesis, and a decrease in libido. Such side effects are observed when taking anabolic steroids, and they are reversible, but with long-term use of anabolic steroids, these complications can remain with a person for a long time.

What is the danger of anabolics? The effect of anabolic steroids on the body

The effect of anabolic steroids on the liver is important. When taking AS, stagnation of bile in the liver is formed. In addition, the chemical compounds of the AC are extremely toxic to the liver.

Thus, alkylated steroids enter the bloodstream without deactivation in the liver cells. This hepatotoxicity of anabolic steroids is associated with the presence of androgen receptors in the liver and the inability to deactivate steroids.

Anabolic steroids stimulate erythropoiesis, which increases hematocrit, resulting in increased blood viscosity. This increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, thromboembolism and hypertension.

Almost all anabolic steroids activate hepatic lipase, which breaks down high-density lipoproteins, thereby reducing the level of good cholesterol. This increases the content of low-density (bad) cholesterol, and increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis at a young age.

The effect of anabolic steroids on brain activity. Women and anabolics

In the human brain there are receptors for interaction with testosterone, so it is a target organ for hormones. So, therapeutic doses improve memory, increase mental activity, and improve mood. But the cyclical and constant use of anabolic steroids intermittently is accompanied by sharp changes in the mental state from depression to the development of a manic-depressive syndrome. Steroids can cause hallucinations, violent tendencies.

In the female body, anabolics act already at minimal doses. During breaks, the female body tolerates withdrawal syndrome more easily and recovers faster. Women often take anabolic steroids because of their ability to increase libido. But it has negative sides. When taking anabolic steroids, a woman acquires some traits of character and behavior characteristic of a man. On this basis, there is a desire to underestimate the self-esteem of a man, increasing his own. On this occasion, many couples quarrel and even disagree, as they cannot find a compromise in situations.

Therefore, whether or not to take anabolic steroids is a personal matter for everyone, but when deciding to take anabolics, you need to familiarize yourself with the consequences and risks.

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