Anabolic Steroids

Would you take a pill to get bigger and gain muscle? How about giving yourself a shot to become faster? Now ask yourself if you would do either of these two things knowing that you are putting yourself at serious health risks. Millions of people in the United States use or have used anabolic steroids for these reasons. The Personal Trainer (2007) defined anabolic steroids as, "steroids that promote tissue growth by creating protein in an attempt to enhance muscle growth. Testosterone (the male sex hormone) is the main steroid" (Ð'¶ 9). In an athlete's world size, speed, and strength mean everything. For professional athletes in particular the bigger, faster, and stronger they are could mean the difference in millions of dollars. Today's athletes are using performance-enhancing drugs such as testosterone more than ever to gain an edge on the playing field. What these athletes fail to realize, is that the side effects of anabolic steroids make them a dangerous way to enhance their performance. [Do not address the reader directly; avoid the imperative mood unless the context requires you to give instructions or commands.]

Perhaps the most noticeable side effect of anabolic steroids is the way they change the physical appearance of the abuser. Men and women can expect to develop severe acne due to the new fluctuating levels of hormones in their body. Forrest (2007) states, "When the levels of these hormones are high, secretion by the sebaceous glands also increases. This in turn encourages the formation of acne" (Ð'¶ 6). Hair loss in steroid abusers is also very common in both genders. The Hair Loss Learning Center (2001), identifies that anabolic steroids have peen proven to raise the baldness-inducing male hormone. This can speed up hair loss in as little as three months, especially for those who are genetically prone to hair loss. [Eliminate vague pronoun references (this, that, they, etc.) -- be specific]

Not all physical appearance side effects are common in both genders. Some depend on whether the abuser is male or female. Gynecomastia is the development of prominent breast tissue in males. Male steroids abusers typically develop Gynecomastia, because of the exposure to androgen hormones. Androgen hormones are common steroids such as testosterone and androsterone. Another side effect that only effects the physical appearance of men is testicular atrophy. This is the shrinking of the testicles. Testicular atrophy can lead to more serious side effects such as infertility. Now imagine how you would feel when the time comes that you want a son or daughter and can't, because of previous steroid abuse. Although women escape these two side effects of steroids, there are others that are specific to them. The Site (2007) states, "In women steroids have a masculinising effect" (Ð'¶ 4). Women may grow unwanted facial hair, see their clitoris become enlarged, or even develop a deeper voice. Does this sound like characteristics that the women you know wish to have? [Avoid the use of contractions in formal writing (e.g., Don't = do not)] [Avoid using I, we, and you in academic and professional writing. When you use personal pronouns that are not necessary, you focus attention on yourself, rather than your ideas. You want your ideas to come across as factual and authoritative, not personal.]

Beyond the changes in the physical appearance of a steroid user, there are many behavioral and psychological concerns he or she should be aware of. Case reports and small studies by colleges such as Duke University have indicated that steroid abuse increases irritability and aggression. Steroid Abusers may act out in a temper enraged fit known as "roid rage". These fits can and in some cases have lead to the abuser committing aggressive acts such as physical fighting, committing armed robbery, or using force to obtain something. In an article written by Jerry Izenberg, he tells the story of a young man's experiences with "roid rage":

He was a 22-year-old steroids user who played football at a very small, nonscholarship Pennsylvania college. In order to make the team and make no mistake, this was no Penn State, he bulked up over the summer through the use of steroids and returned to school a monster, physically and emotionally. The coaches marveled at the 50 pounds of muscle he packed on, but never questioned how. The steroids changed his body, and mind. He made all-league that year, but the "roid rage" he would experience got him expelled from school. He told me about the night he battered an innocent bystander with a two-by-four for saying hello to his girlfriend. Out of school and out of a job, he took the worst job a steroid-user can get: He became a bouncer at a Jersey Shore bar. He told me how he would sit there just praying for a fight, so he could unleash his rage on drunken customers. One night he chased a guy out of the bar all the way up the boardwalk from Belmar to Bradley Beach. "I thank God every night I didn't catch him," he told me. ( Izenberg, 2006)

For years Jerry Izenberg wrote about the physical effects of steroids, after talking to this young man he finally realized the mental issues also.

Another psychological issue steroid users experience is depression. Many users feel good about themselves when on steroids, but when off the drugs become very depressed. This depression leads to a dependence of the drug. Depression is so serious that it sometimes leads to suicide. Taylor Hooten is a good example of this. Taylor was a 17 year old high school athlete from Plano, Texas. The Taylor Hutton Foundation (2005), said Taylor was known as a popular and ebullient kid who was also a cousin to a major league pitcher. On July 15, 2003 [insert comma] Taylor took his own life by hanging himself. His parents who were familiar with the case believed that his depression came from the discontinuing use of anabolic steroids. Dr. Larry W. Gibbons, president and medical director of the Cooper Aerobics Center stated, "It's a pretty strong case that Taylor was withdrawing from steroids and his suicide was directly related to that" (Taylor Hutton Foundation, 2005). Taylor was a promising kid with a bright future and as a result of taking steroids he took his own life.

As if the physical appearance and psychological risks weren't enough to scare a would be steroid user away, there is still the long-term health risks. These health risks are the most dangerous side effects of using steroids. Steroids use has been directly linked with liver problems such as cancer causing tumors and a condition called peliosis hepatic. Peliosis hepatic is blood filled cysts that form on the liver. Both liver tumors and peliosis hepatic require rupture, which cause internal bleeding.

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