Performance Enhancing Drugs Flashcards
Why would an athlete take performance enhancing drugs?
Improve their performance
Some people are encouraged to do so by their coaches or fellow athletes
The reward of winning and endorsements
Pressure
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth
Benefits and side effects of anabolic steroids
Benefits:
Used to enhance performance
Increases muscle mass and develops bone growth
Increases strength and allows quicker recovery
Side effects:
Increased risk of muscle injury
Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, high blood pressure etc
What are beta blockers?
Beta blockers are drugs that are used to control the heart rate and have a calming or relaxing effect
What are the benefits of beta blockers?
Beta blockers can help target sports where steadiness and precision are required, because they reduce the heart rate.
What are the side effects of beta blockers?
Nausea, diarrhoea, tiredness, depression, insomnia and nightmares
What are narcotics?
Drugs that affect mood or behaviour, inducing drowsiness and relieving pain.
What are analgesics?
A painkilling or pain relieving drug.
What are the benefits of narcotics and analgesics?
They act by depressing the central nervous system and give relief from painful injuries, but allowing the injured player to take part, they can increase the risk of severe or long lasting injury
What are the side effects of narcotics and analgesics?
Loss of coordination, loss of balance
What are diuretics?
Diuretics are drugs that elevate the rate of urine production
What are the benefits of diuretics?
Helps performers who need to lose weight. Diuretics may also be used to reduce the concentration of any other band substances in the urine
What are the side effects of diuretics?
Dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea
What are peptide hormones?
Drugs that increase the rate of maturity in your red blood cells
What are the benefits of peptide hormones?
Increased muscle growth
Assists recovery of injury and training sessions
Gets rid of lactic acid efficiently
What are the side effects of peptide hormones?
Blood becomes thicker, increasing risk of heart attack
What are growth hormones?
Used to increase muscle growth and similar to steroids
What are the benefits of growth hormones?
Increases muscle growth in strength and size. Not as many side effects as steroids.
What are the side effects of growth hormones?
Can be detected by a blood test but not by urine. Minimal side effects
What are stimulants?
Drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system such as physical alertness. E.g. amphetamines, ephedrine and cocaine as well as nicotine and caffeine
What are the benefits of stimulants?
Increases alertness, enabling people to think more by stimulating the central nervous system. Overcome tiredness. Reduce the effect of lactic acid on the muscles
What are the side effects of stimulants?
Insomnia
Increased or irregular heart beat
High blood pressure
Addiction
What is blood doping?
Blood doping is when an athlete takes blood out of their body and freezing it. Before an event, this blood is then put back inside the athlete in order to give them a huge boost of oxygen in their body.
