Anabolic Steroids Flashcards
What is an anabolic steroid?
A synthetic variation of the male sex hormone testosterone
What are steroids meant to be used for?
To treat hormonal issues like delayed puberty or muscle loss.
What is the main reason people use anabolic steroids?
To improve their athletic performance making them stronger and able to recover from training quicker allowing them to train harder for longer improving their athletic endurance and abilities.
People also take steroids to increase their muscle size or reduce their body fat.
Sports people most commonly use steroids.
Basketball, baseball and boxing
Why do people often take steroids?
Out of fear that normal training would not be enough to succeed. Athletes abuse the use of steroids to improve their performance and appearance.
What do steroids do to men and women?
Throws off the balance of testosterone in the body causing a wide range of side effects that affect the health of the user.
Mental side effects
Addiction problems
Extreme mood swings, irritability, aggression, paranoia and impaired judgment. These are due to the changes in hormone levels.
Physical side effects dot point 1
Acne breakout,women grow facial hair and both men and women can suffer from baldness
Physical side effects dot point 2
In men it can lead to shrinking testis, low sperm count and Brest development.
Physical side effects dot point 3
Women’s voices can deepen and the period can stop.
Physical side effects dot point 4
Swelling of hands and feet
Physical side effects dot point 5
Kidney failure, increased stress on kidneys due to greater muscle mass.
Physical side effects dot point 6
Liver damage due to bile getting into the blood stream can lead to death.
Physical side effects dot point 7
Steroids increase the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke
Physical side effects dot point 8
Injecting steroids increases the risk of HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
