Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports
Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports
There are many reasons athletes take performance-enhancing drugs. One might wonder though, why people would take them when there are so many more reasons why they should not. Performance-enhancing drugs are also referred to as anabolic steroids (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). "Anabolic steroids, also called steroids, roids, sauce or juice, are synthetic male hormones" (Steroids, Sports, and Athletic Performance, n.d.,). Taking performance-enhancing drugs affects not only the athlete, but all the younger generations that follow them, and want to be just like them. There are two different types of steroids. One that is taken by mouth which is also known as "orals", and one that is injected which is known as "oils" or "waters" (Zaccardi, 2003). Orals are highly potent because they are released fairly rapidly (Zaccardi, 2003). Oils are considered long acting because they are released slowly, whereas waters are considered short acting because they are released more rapidly (Zaccardi, 2003). When taking steroids, there are three different methods that athletes can use. Those three methods are cycling, stacking, and pyramiding. Cycling means that the user takes the steroids in cycles. They use them for 6 to 12 weeks then stop for 10 to 12 weeks (Zaccardi, 2003). Stacking means that the user takes more than one type of steroid at a time (Zaccardi, 2003). Pyramiding means that the user starts with a small dose then increases slowly (Zaccardi, 2003). There are many physical side effects that the user can get from using any type of steroids. Some side effects affect both sexes. One of these is increased risk of cancer and liver disease (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). Another affect is decreased immune system effectiveness (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). They can also cause infertility and risk of cardiovascular disease (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). There are some physical side effects that effect only males, females or
There are many reasons athletes take performance-enhancing drugs. One might wonder though, why people would take them when there are so many more reasons why they should not. Performance-enhancing drugs are also referred to as anabolic steroids (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). "Anabolic steroids, also called steroids, roids, sauce or juice, are synthetic male hormones" (Steroids, Sports, and Athletic Performance, n.d.,). Taking performance-enhancing drugs affects not only the athlete, but all the younger generations that follow them, and want to be just like them. There are two different types of steroids. One that is taken by mouth which is also known as "orals", and one that is injected which is known as "oils" or "waters" (Zaccardi, 2003). Orals are highly potent because they are released fairly rapidly (Zaccardi, 2003). Oils are considered long acting because they are released slowly, whereas waters are considered short acting because they are released more rapidly (Zaccardi, 2003). When taking steroids, there are three different methods that athletes can use. Those three methods are cycling, stacking, and pyramiding. Cycling means that the user takes the steroids in cycles. They use them for 6 to 12 weeks then stop for 10 to 12 weeks (Zaccardi, 2003). Stacking means that the user takes more than one type of steroid at a time (Zaccardi, 2003). Pyramiding means that the user starts with a small dose then increases slowly (Zaccardi, 2003). There are many physical side effects that the user can get from using any type of steroids. Some side effects affect both sexes. One of these is increased risk of cancer and liver disease (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). Another affect is decreased immune system effectiveness (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). They can also cause infertility and risk of cardiovascular disease (Steroid Pros and Cons, 2005). There are some physical side effects that effect only males, females or
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