Anabolic Steroids: Taboo Of The Sports World

The effects of steroids in the long run
Steroids have become a taboo of the sports world. Steroids are similar to taboos such as incest or child marriage, something that is known but not encouraged or spoken of in regular conversation. Anabolic Steroids are illegal drugs that are used by athletes to enhance their performance and make them bigger, stronger and faster. In today’s world, athletes are expected to give performances that are better than the last and to stay on top of their game to maintain high profile contracts and other sponsorships such as shoe deals and commercials. Steroids modify the athlete’s metabolism which causes increase in tissue production and in turn help the body’s endurance capabilities. In the sports world,
Most of these are reversible if the user stops taking the performance enhancing drugs, however some are not such as the deepening of voices that females go through or baldness for both sexes. Once the athlete see’s the results in his/her area of sport, it is unlikely that they will stop. Steroids are similar to alcohol and street drugs in the sense that it can be addictive. Just like alcohol, people may develop cravings for the drug or might feel the need to take larger supplements to achieve the same results. People will spend large amounts of money and time to get the drugs. When athletes abuse the substance they may feel restlessness, mood swings and the worst, depression. Depression could lead to suicidal tendencies and leave the athlete/person in critical condition. Athletes tend to want speedy results and that is only possible when you take larger quantities of the substance. When the athlete sees that the drugs are working, he will try to increase the dosage in the hope of becoming as big and fast as he/she can in the minimum time
Males may experience shrunken testicles, decreased sperm count, male baldness and even the development of breasts. Females experience loss of breast size, deepening of the voice and the development of facial and body hair. Life threatening diseases such as heart attack and stroke is more prevalent among those that abuse steroids. Many steroid users develop infections due to the unsanitary environment that the drugs are made in as well as the sharing of the needles. Infections include hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Steroids increases bone production especially in the face. If adolescents are using steroids it could stunt their growth, which may affect their athletic capabilities. Liver problems such as “peliosis hepatis” may occur which forms blood filled cysts in the liver which when ruptured, causes internal