According to modern gentleman magazine 2021 statistics, you will experience an enhanced performance within ten weeks of using anabolic steroids. However, this craze for performance and increasing your muscles may lead you to miss the whole truth about anabolic steroids.
The world anti-doping agency (WADA) has banned the use of this steroid. You face automatic disqualification from any sports competition when you test positive for it.
25% of its users develop an addiction, and you are three times more likely to face premature death when you use it.
Read on to learn more.
Anabolic Steroids (AAS)
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are artificial variations of the male sex hormone. It is testosterone that builds your muscles and gives you masculine traits.
AAS use is prevalent in healthcare practice. Doctors prescribe it to treat adolescent delay and diseases that lead to muscle loss, such as AIDS and cancer. You should never self-prescribe it to yourself.
AAS may indeed improve your muscle size, stamina, and strength. This is the reason weightlifters and athletes widely misuse it.
Before getting deeper into how people misuse AAS and the side effects of this steroid, it is important to ask.
Are There Safe Steroids?
Yes, there are legal steroids that you may use for bodybuilding and to enhance your fitness and stamina. You can also refer to them as multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements (MIPS). You can buy them over the counter. You don't need a health professional to prescribe them before use.
Scientists and companies have made strides and developed MIPS. They are legal alternatives that are safer for your muscle growth. They don't have the side effects commonly associated with AAS.
However, some steroids don't work at all. If you want to gain muscle, cut fat, and boost strength without relying on anabolic steroids, you should know that several companies offer the best steroid-like supplements. The alternatives give you similar benefits to natural steroids but without the known side effects.
The Side Effects of AAS Abuse
Those who misuse AAS use various patterns to inject themselves, apply it on their skin as a cream or take them orally. The patterns include pyramiding, stacking, plateauing, and cycling. The patterns vary depending on frequency, duration, and whether you have mixed the AAS with other steroids.
You may face several health consequences if you abuse the AAS. Continue reading below for some effects.
1. Cardiovascular system
The misuse of AAS may lead to the accumulation of fatty deposits inside your arteries. This may disrupt your blood flow. AAS also increases the chance that blood clots will form in your blood vessels. The clots also may disrupt blood flow and cause damage to your heart muscle. This will lead to ineffectiveness in pumping blood.
You, therefore, increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure.
2. Risk of Infections
Research shows that AAS will suppress your immunity. This leaves you vulnerable to infections. Furthermore, sharing contaminated syringes as you inject yourself increases your risks of getting viral diseases like hepatitis B and C or HIV.
3. Skin damage
You may develop skin abscesses because of frequent injections to your skin. Other skin complications you may develop include head hair loss, cysts, acne, yellowing of the skin due to liver damage.
4. Liver damage
AAS may cause a condition called peliosis hepatis in your liver. This is where cysts filled with blood form in your liver. These cysts may burst open, resulting in internal bleeding.
5. Hormonal system
Since AAS are weaker hormones, your body will experience an imbalance in hormone production. And because hormones control and coordinate various functions throughout your body, a disruption in your regular hormone order has far-reaching effects.
In men, this imbalance will cause
● Testicles to shrink
● Reduced sperm production
● Testes lower functioning, which results in reduced testosterone levels
● Breast development
● Higher risk of testicular cancer
For women, the effects are:
● Reduction in breast size and body fat
● Rough skin
● Variation in the menstrual cycle
● Deep voice
● Excess body hair
● Large clitoris
6. Musculoskeletal system
AAS abuse will lead to a sharp rise in your sex hormones. Consequently, you may experience a more intense period of growth just as during puberty. Also, because of high levels of testosterone, this will send signals to halt the growth of bones prematurely, which results in stunted heights and stunted growth in teens.
7. Psychological side effects
"Roid rage," which is extreme aggression and irritability, is the common psychological effect of using AAS. Others are paranoia, delusions, impaired judgment, and very intense moods.
Misuse of anabolic steroids has devastating health effects on you. Use alternative steroids that are safer, or else build your muscles slowly through gym workouts.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of techtimes.com
