impacts of using steroids in the professional field of sports

 impacts of using steroids in the professional field of sports

Introduction

Sports are changing as time goes by with more and more competition getting into it. The function of entertainment in the old times was to be a recreational activity that broke boredom and induce a sense of belonging among the existing populations. However, the man was never satisfied opting to make it more entertaining through the addition of competitive aspect in the sports. The winners are walking away with prizes and pride of being the best among others. Competition became a significant part of the game in the quest to seek dominance. Humans are alpha beings meaning that they are bound to try and find the best within everything they are involved (Lukas, p.61). Competition has gained ground, and every individual involved in sport finding ways to beat their opponents. Extreme practicing and fitness are some of the techniques employed by the athletes to ensure that they come on top of everyone.

In the modern world, however, some athletes seek to become best by using performance-enhancing drugs. These drugs are better known as steroids and boost the competitive nature of the athlete and making them perform more than their rivals. Steroids work to improve the muscle mass of the athlete. These performance-enhancing drugs are, however, not suitable for use and over both short and long term will lead to complications and side effects to the user. This research will focus on the impacts of using steroids in the professional field and their long term effects on the athletes.

Steroids

Steroids, as mentioned before, are performance-enhancing drugs that are abused by modern athletes. It is currently illegal to use these performance-enhancing drugs for professional purposes as it gives an individual an unfair advantage over other athletes. Two types of steroids are present, namely corticosteroids and the androgenic steroids.

Corticosteroids get formed in the adrenal gland, which is situated overhead the kidney. The hormones help reduce the amounts of sodium in the body, aldosterone, and cortisol, which serve as a stress responder and reliever to the collection and in turn, help reduce inflammation. The commonly prescribed corticosteroids are taken intravenously or via an injection. These are majorly used to cure illnesses such as asthma, inflammation, bowel ailment, and lupus. Mainly when the disease is inflammatory.

Androgenic or the anabolic steroids is the second type of steroids and are prepared in the body to help normalize the production of testosterone in the reproductive systems. Anabolic steroids are the medically created testosterone sold as prescription medication. The steroid can be found in prescription medications and is the most commonly abused steroid. The anabolic steroids have earned the street name, juice, hype, and pump as they give the user a sort of hype and feeling of lightness (Kanayama et al. p.4).

Misuse and abuse of the steroids

Many athletes are abusing anabolic steroids to enhance their ability to compete.  There is a misunderstanding of what the steroid does in the body. They increase the body mass since it is the bodybuilding tissue, and they help in the building of muscle tissue. However, these steroids do not help in improving the athletes’ agility and skill, as commonly thought. The numbers of athletes who are abusing these steroids are currently unknown- mainly since it is illegal. The sports bodies have strictly set up policies to ensure that anybody found to have abused these substances face dire consequences. Steroids usually are taken orally by the user, using cream to apply to their skin or by using injections.

Patterns used by the user to misuse steroids are

1. Cycling- in this pattern, the user takes up multiples doses of the steroid over some time and then stopping again for some time. After which the user will restart again and follow the same pattern over again.
2. Stacking- this pattern involves combining two or even more steroid types; these can be the oral steroids and the injectable mixed, and then ingesting them into the body.

• Pyramiding- This is the most addictive method as it involves the user adding more and more does as he or she progresses with his or her misuse. In this process, the user slowly increases the dosage frequency of the misappropriation of steroids to achieve the peak amounts and then gradually reducing the usage to zero.

1. Plateauing – the users alternate their steroids, overlapping them and often replacing their steroids with other types of steroids. In this manner, the user hopes to avoid developing any tolerance to the steroid. The users are attempting to prevent addiction on a personal level.

Reasons for abusing steroids

The primary reason many athletes are abusing steroids is due to the notion that it improves their competitiveness and their overall performance. The misguided opinions on the functions of these steroids and the mental weakness push individuals to use these drugs. Another major factor that leads to abuse is the social influence within the athlete’s circle. These are the coaches, friends, and the family member who ill-advised the athlete into using performance-enhancing drugs (Department of Health).

Effects of using steroids

Since the anabolic steroids are mainly composed of testosterone, they will affect individuals differently, contingent on their sex. The side results will come up as the consumer carry on to use steroids daily. Some of the side effects include:

1. Shrinking of the testicles in men over time due to overdependence on the steroids. The body will be tolerant and dependent on the steroid for testosterone supplements. The above leaves the testicles useless and hence shrinking.
2. Growth of breast due to an excessive hormone in the body. Men enlarge in their breast regions
3. Impotence in men and other fertility issues in women. When the testicles are rendered useless, they can no longer produce sperm, and this leads to fertility problems and sometimes impotence (Wemyss‐Holden et al. p.477).
4. Women start developing deep voices, mainly due to the increased testosterone level in their bodies. They start depicting the traits which are common in men, such as voice change. There is also hair growth spurt. The women grow hairs in comparison to the male gender due to the increased testosterone levels.
5. Menstrual irregularities are also a common phenomenon among users. Breasts also shrink, the clitoris lengthens, and they suffer from increased sex drive. The hormone attempts to configure the body
6. Mood swings become rapid, and cases of mania are common. These, in turn, can lead to the user suffering from Stroke.
7. The body develops acne, cases of fatigue, and restlessness of the user. They also depict instances of agitation and poor eating habits due to a decrease in appetite. The users also have trouble sleeping.

Long-term effects of using steroids

There are severe various health effects that the steroids have on the bodies of is users. Some of the cases can be permanent on the life of the use, and others can disappear when the user stops using the steroid.

Health problems related to the steroids are many. First off is the kidney problems that the user gets to experience. Steroids affect the normal functioning of the kidney, and this can lead to failure in its performance. The results mean that the user will suffer from kidney-related complications, and this can lead to mortality (Wemyss‐Holden et al. p.477). The steroid also hampers kidney functioning, and its operation excited. Due to the sudden enthusiastic maintenance, the users might suffer from kidney failure.

Damage to the liver and tumors appear on the body of the user. The users will suffer from liver damages and the development of tumors in the body. Malignant cells will pop up and lead to the growth of tumors in the body. Steroids hype growth of body cells, and therefore, the malignant cells will also be induced with the steroid in one way or another forming a malignant tissue growth. Cancerous cells can get hyped, and these can lead to the mortality of the patient by cancer

Heart complications and failures are another concern to the users of steroids. As the body takes up the steroid, it increases the normal functioning of the body to be slightly higher. The above is uncommon in the normal phase, and to supplement the body will overwork itself. The heart, for instance, will have to increase the pressure and enlarges to accommodate more blood supply. Overworking the heart can be fatal as it leads to heart attacks, failures, and changes in blood pressure. The resulting end product is not suitable for the steroid user, and the abnormal working of the heart can cause deaths instantly (Kanayama et al. p.8). Changes in blood cholesterols pose a danger to the user as it subjects the body to the risk of getting a stroke without regard to the age of the individual.

HIV/AIDS risk and Hepatitis B or C on the user. The methods used by these users, such as sharing needles and syringes, can make them very susceptible to contracting these diseases. When two or more individuals share these piercing instruments, they will end up coming to contact with each other’s blood. Thus can lead to the transmission of diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis. It is, therefore, upon the user to avoid sharing needles if they have to use these steroids (Department of Health).

Conclusion

Steroid abuse is slowly etching itself in the sports society, globally. The passion for winning a race is making athletes seek wicked ways of competing with other individuals. Unbeknown to them, they are just architecting their downfall. Using steroid pose significant dangers to the users, and they ought to stop. There are various ways one can win without abusing any illegal substance. Everybody is good at something, but we should, therefore, strive to be the best. Proper training, good diets, the setting of realistic goals- based on personal capabilities, and is committed to the sport. There is no room for illegal broods in the sports world, and many have fallen seeking fake glory. Athletes should get informed on the dangers of using steroids to ensure that they do not partake in such low acts.

Works cited

“Department of Health.” Anabolic Steroids and Sports: Winning at Any Cost, https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1210/.

Kanayama, Gen, James I. Hudson, and Harrison G. Pope Jr. “Long-term psychiatric and medical consequences of anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse: a looming public health concern?.” Drug and alcohol dependence 98.1-2 (2008): 1-12.

Lukas, Scott E. “Current perspectives on anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse.” Trends in pharmacological sciences 14.2 (1993): 61-68.

Wemyss‐Holden, S. A., F. C. Hamdy, and K. J. Hastie. “Steroid abuse in athletes, prostatic enlargement, and bladder outflow obstruction–is there a relationship?.” British journal of urology 74.4 (1994): 476-478.