Anabolic Steroids Essay

Steroids
By: Isaac Johnson Everybody wants to look and perform better. Many people want to be stronger to make themselves look and perform better. Some people achieve this through the use of anabolic steroids. Steroids are a great way to look and perform better, but they can also have many negative effects. There are two different types of steroids, Corticosteroids and Anabolic steroids. Corticosteroids are often prescribed to reduce swelling, stop itching and burning, and relieve pain. Corticosteroids are also legal unlike anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are the most popular type of steroids. Anabolic steroids increase testosterone in the body and have many other positive and negative effects on the body. Anabolic steroids are mostly used to look and perform better while corticosteroids are mostly used for medical reasons. Anabolic steroids can be obtained multiple different ways both legally and illegally. Legally anabolic steroids can be obtained from a doctor. Often prescribed for cancer and AIDS because these diseases cause a loss of lean muscle mass which can be built back up easier with anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are often prescribed to treat hormone deficiency since
anabolic steroids increase testosterone. However, anabolic steroids are mostly obtained illegally. Someone can obtain anabolic steroids multiple ways illegally. Most are bought from a drug dealer like with most other illegal drugs. Majority of the people that buy anabolic steroids also abuse anabolic steroids and are athletes or models. Anabolic steroids are primarily used in three different ways: cycling, stacking, and pyramiding. Steroid cycling is when the user takes the anabolic steroids over a certain period of time then they allow their body to rest before going through the cycle again. Steroid cycling is considered one of the safest ways to take anabolic steroids. Steroid stacking however is considered one of the worst ways to take steroids.Steroid stacking is when a user takes more than one steroid at a time, believing that it’ll increase the benefits of taking steroids. This method of taking steroids can easily cause the user to become addicted to steroids. The last method is called steroid pyramiding. Steroid pyramiding is a combination of steroid stacking and cycling. The user starts the cycle with a small dosage and slowly work up to a higher dosage then slowly work their way back down. The users often plan their workout schedules so that they get more exercise when they’re taking more. After the cycle of steroid pyramiding is done, the users will have a rest period before starting the next cycle. Steroids can be taken many different ways. Anabolic steroids can be taken through the mouth, injected directly into the muscle, or put directly onto the skin as a cream. Corticosteroids are often used for burns and itching so they are primarily applied as a cream. There are many advantages to using anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are often used for better performance. Anabolic steroids increase the user’s performance by giving them more energy and a higher stamina. Anabolic steroids help regulate the amount of cortisol that the body makes. The more cortisol that is produced the faster it is to recover from an injury and the more stamina a user has when exercising.
Some of the biggest advantages of steroids is that they make a person’s physical appearance look better. Steroids multiply the amount of nitrogen in the body, nitrogen produces more protein which is a key factor in developing muscles. Anabolic steroids can decrease body fat , even though it’s unknown how steroids do this. Many people believe steroids decrease body fat by accelerate the mitochondria which oxidizes fat. Although there are many advantages to using anabolic steroids, there are also many disadvantages to taking them.
Most of the disadvantages are gender specific. Men get shrinkage of the testicles, reduced sperm count, and possibly infertility. Men also can become bald, develop breasts, and have an increased risk for prostate cancer. Women grow facial hair and can get male-pattern baldness. They can also experience changes in the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a deeper voice. Adolescent’s experience stunted growth, accelerated puberty, and most likely won’t reach expected height. Using anabolic steroids for a better appearance is illegal. Anabolic steroids can cause serious behavioral problems, heart disease, stunted growth, bone degeneration, and even
death. Just like most other drugs, anabolic steroids can be addictive causing many different withdrawal symptoms. When steroid abusers stop using them they can experience withdrawal symptoms just like with other types of drugs. Symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and steroid cravings. Most people want to look better to help them feel better about themselves. Other people, like athletes, want to boost their stamina and enhance their performance. Although steroids can help people achieve these goals, they have many negatives.