The literal meaning of anabolic is “building up.” Anabolic processes are referred as building up processes. Mostly this term is employed in bodybuilding showground as there are many anabolic steroids present today to build up lean muscle mass proficiently. These steroids help us to achieve our bodybuilding goals along with strenuous physical activities and nutritious diet plan. Therefore, the use as well the abuse of anabolic steroids has become a hot topic now. Before starting to take up any of these anabolic steroids, you need to know all the benefits and drawbacks of that particular supplement. Anabolic steroids come with powerful welfares but we should also consider the other side of story i.e. their disadvantages. We should also keep in consideration that whether this specific drug is suitable for our health or not.
Steroids only yield their maximum when they match the body requirements. But, they are even more useful if advised by some professional nutritionist after examining your body properly and exploring your goal which you want to achieve. Many people suffering from asthma or autoimmune disorders are also recommended by their doctors to take steroids as they greatly increase the red blood cell count in body thus, providing enhanced amount of oxygen to body cells. If steroids are used without any appropriate supervision, they can cause some serious negative effects to our health. They may be physical or mental damages.
How to Use Steroids:
Steroids work like magic! They work really fast. You can attain a huge and muscular body within a short span of time with their usage. But this is not accomplished by the use of steroids only. You need to have a strong will for bodybuilding and muscle gaining through extra strenuous exercises as well. Only steroids cannot serve the purpose. Exercise is mandatory for achieving your bodybuilding goals. If you actually start depending on steroids only, for increasing lean muscle mass then you can face some serious side effects as well which include hormonal imbalance etc. These are not at all good for your health; rather they prove to be dangerous for it. That is why, along with using steroids, your main focus should be on determined work outs as well.
Types of Steroids:
There are two types of steroids known to us so far. Both of them are employed by athletes or bodybuilders in order to gain muscle mass at a faster rate. They greatly improve the performance of muscles and allow them to grow efficiently.
Anabolic steroids having testosterone as their constituent are pretty much effective. Testosterone is also produced in the body but synthetic anabolic steroids increase the production of this steroid by targeting the specific hormones in body. Increased production of testosterone in body than the normal value will allow improvement in lean muscle mass at a competent rate.
Other supplements also include androstenedione and DHEA. Both of these ingredients are efficient in providing increased muscle size.
Negative Effects:
The side effects that steroids have on the body are many and can cause some serious side effects including cancers, but many sports users chose to ignore any information on side effects, even to the point of using the excuse of “it’s only the drugs abuse that causes side effects” but any drug that alters the homeostasis of the body will have an effect. The use of steroids can lead you to some minor as well as major side effects. The minor side effects do not require immediate medical attention as they are commonly observed in most of the users. But if any of these minor effects persist, then you should consult your physician as early as possible. They include:
- Severe acne, oily skin and hair
- Hair loss
- Altered mood, irritability, increased aggression, depression or suicidal tendencies
- Alterations in cholesterol and other blood lipids
- High blood pressure
- Gynecomastia (abnormal development of mammary glands in men causing breast enlargement)
- Menstrual irregularities in women
- Excess facial or body hair, deeper voice in women
- Stunted growth and height in teens
- Risk of viral or bacterial infections due to unsterile injections
The major side effects caused by the use of anabolic steroids are given below. They happen rarely but if they do, you need to call your doctor at the very instance.
- Impotence
- Damage to the heart
- Difficulty or pain while urinating
- Reduced sperm count
- Shrinking of the testicles
- Liver disease or liver cancer
- Development of breasts
- Breast reduction in females
Gender-precise Side Effects:
The side effects which are caused by the use of steroids in males are somehow different from those occurring in women. This difference lies due to the variation of hormones present in each gender’s body.
The ones occurring in males are:
- Breast tissue development
- Shrinking of the testicles
- Impotence
- Reduction in sperm production
- Sterility
Females may encounter the following side effects:
- Deepening of the voice
- Cessation of breast development
- Growth of hair on the face, stomach and upper back
- Enlarged clitoris
- Abnormal menstrual cycles
Risk Factors:
By using steroids, you are making most of the systems of your body vulnerable to risk factors.
Steroid use may cause heart disease and becomes evident due to high increases in total cholesterol levels, causing a build-up of cholesterol on the walls of the blood vessels which can also lead to strokes. Blood pressure is known to increase.
The digestive system difficulties caused by the use of anabolic steroids include nausea, feeling of bloating or vomiting, irritation to the stomach lining and increased stomach acids.
Steroid use has been shown to cause irreversible liver damage and cancers. Oral steroids are difficult for the liver to metabolise leading to a decrease in the ability of the liver to clear waste products.
Steroid use can have an effect on the user’s skin by affecting the skin pores and causing roughness in the skin texture. Other skin conditions that are often seen are red blotchy, greasy skin with acne on the face and back. Stretch marks can also appear due to rapid growth of muscle or a thinning of the skin.
Conclusion:
We acknowledge the fact that steroids are very useful in providing the muscles with short-term benefits. But these limited benefits can make you pay for lifetime serious dangers. That is why it is recommended to use a healthy diet chart besides having energetic work outs and least depend upon these life threatening anabolic steroids. This will ensure your good health as well as bring out the ideal body shape you’ve always craved for.
CLICK HERE to read best bodybuilding steroids alternative
Wilbur is a fitness fanatic who has been writing about his experiences for over ten years. He started his own publications on topics such as bodybuilding, Steroids, SARMs, and Fitness, and he doesn’t claim to know everything – what he talks about is something he’s done himself. From anabolic steroids to peptides, to HGH, SARMs, and supplements, Wilbur has tried it all at some point in his life and can relate to the experience.
