Between 1 to 3 million people are thought to have misused anabolic steriods. Anabolic steriods have been widely used as an ergogneic aid to improve performance in sports, to improve one's physical appearance and as self medication to recover from injury. Anabolic steroids are drugs that mimic the effect of the male sex hormone testosterone. They aid performance by increasing protein synthesis within cells, which result in a build up of cellular tissue especially in the muscles.
Several health risks are assosiated with anabolic steroids, both long term and short term effects. These effects include harmful changes in cholesterol levels (with lower HDL cholesterol and raised LDL cholesterol) to dangerous changes in the structure of the left ventricle of the heart. Prolonged use of anabolic steroids in relatively high dose can lead to a reduced chance of fertility and a lower sperm count due to the decreased concentration of LH and FSH and testosterone. Other side effects of the male reproductive system are erectile disfunction and ipotence, even though sexual disire is increased. Gynecomastia (growth of the breast) is a condition that is generally irreversable, along with atrophy or shrinkage of the testicles. If anabolic steroids are regularly taken orally, permanent damage to the liver may occur, causing a bleeding cystic condition which is potentially fatal. Kidney failure is often assoisiated with anabolic steroids. The kidneys are involved in the some of the filtration and excretion when a foreign substance is administered. There are no long term studies to prove long term effects on the cardiovascular system although athletes that have used anabolic steroids have a much higher risk of suffering from heart disease or attack. The use of anabolic steroids has been known to reduce an athletes heart rate, making them more succeptable to heart disease. Strokes and high blood pressure also related side effects of anabolic steroids. This is because athletes are attempting to gain maximum bulk to abstain from all aerobic exercise, therefore it causes the body to work much harder to circulate the blood.
Some athletes see anabolic steroids as posotive way of enhancing performance and one's physical image. They do not see it as a method of cheating, but a nessecity to reach their maximum potential. One advantage assosiated with anabolic steroids is the ability to increase recovery rate after exercise, allowing the frequency and intensity of the exercise to increase therefore an increase in muscle mass will be present. Because anabolic steroids are usually injected the risk of contracting or transmitting a HIV or other disease is more likely. Anabolic steroids can cause the development of acne with the extent varying on the type of steroid and the dosage. This is due to the skins glands which produce an oily enzyme which is from testosterone, therefore increasing testosterone levels by taking anabolic steroids produces more of the oily substance which causes pores to become blocked.
