Preview

Physiological Effects of Steroids and Steroid Abuse

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
389 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Physiological Effects of Steroids and Steroid Abuse
Physiological Effects of Steroids and Steroid Abuse Competition in sports is absolutely incredible. Some athletes go as far as using drugs illegally such as anabolic steroids, a synthetic derivative of the male hormone testosterone. However, major sports bodies like the Olympics, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL ban the use of such substances. For this reason, it is helpful to know the physiological effects of steroids as well as negative consequences of steroid abuse. In their experiment, Anttila et al. (2008) tested if testosterone can regulate the aerobic capacity of skeletal muscles by injecting mice with certain amounts of testosterone and then studying the levels of myoglobin, a protein that plays a role in supplying oxygen to mitochondria during exercise. They demonstrated that the myoglobin concentration in skeletal muscles is directly related to testosterone. Therefore, an increase in testosterone will allow for more muscular potential. In addition, Rogozkin (1979) conducted a similar investigation to identify the effects of anabolic steroids on protein synthesis in skeletal muscles. He discovered that they increase the number of fast-twitch muscle fibers and enhance protein synthesis, which increases the size of muscle fibers. This leads to more power and speed of muscle contraction, suggesting an improved performance in sports. However, there are negative consequences of steroid abuse. Two studies found a correlation between steroid use and poor academic performance and low school attendance rates. Another investigation reported that steroid users tend to act more violently, behave aggressively, and commit crimes. Other research indicates a link between steroid use and various illegal drugs, drunk driving, not wearing a helmet or seatbelt when appropriate, sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other hazardous activities (Bahrke et al., 2000). Although many experiments imply that anabolic steroids enhance athletic performance, several studies


Cited: Anttila, K., Järvilehto, M., and Mänttäri, S., 2008. Testosterone Stimulates Myoglobin Expression in Different Muscles of the Mouse, J Comp Physiol B. 178(7):899-907. Rogozkin, V., 1979. Metabolic Effects of Anabolic Steroid on Skeletal Muscle, Med Sci Sports. 11(2):160-163. Bahrke, M., Kopstein, A., Stephens, J., and Yesalis, C., 2000. Risk Factors Associated With Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Among Adolescents, Sports Med. 29(6):397-405.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Anabolic Steroids: Annotated Bibliography
    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Anabolic Steroids: Annotated Bibliography

    Athletes become more aggressive and have hostility after they intake anabolic steroid. This source was very helpful because the authors address what types of mood changes athletes can have and how aggression and hostility can affect close relationships. The topic was very good because aggression and hostility are a very serious behavior change in a person. I can use this topic in my paper because the topic tells what, a bad decision an athlete can make, and it changes his behavior.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why do bodybuilders take steroids
    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why do bodybuilders take steroids

    Steroid abuse may lead to serious, even irreversible, health problems. Some of the most dangerous consequences that have been linked to steroid abuse include kidney impairment or failure; damage to the liver; and cardiovascular problems including enlargement of the heart, high blood pressure, and changes in blood cholesterol leading to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Steroids in Highschool Baseball
    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Steroids in Highschool Baseball

    Steroids come in a variety of way to be consumed: injected, swallowed, and snorted. These steroids build muscle to help one perform. Main steroids are HGH (Human Growth Hormone), anabolic steroids. All makes will make one stronger, all can end ones career. “Anabolic- androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone” (Wadler). That’s just a nice way of saying anabolic-androgenic steroids make one stronger using fake hormones. Anabolic steroids are the most effective and have the worst long term affects. Anabolic steroids are so effective that they are prescribed by doctors to treat “malnutrition, growth disorders, and testosterone deficiency”(Wadler) Although most of these short term affects sound good, the long term seem to throw a juicy curve-ball back at you. Anne Marie Brooks, a writer for a weekly health magazine, states: “Muscles grow so rapidly that tendon or ligament damage results during physical activity. Instead of better performance, the user may face weeks or months on crutches, in a brace, in pain. “Ouch! That sounds like the negatives over rule the positives (of steroids) and anabolic steroids don’t sound so good after all. HGH which is a safer alternative of steroids is also used by a lot of athletes. “Human Growth Hormone is produced by the…

    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Annotated Bib
    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Annotated Bib

    At the time of this study (1990) many studies done previously had focused just on the medical side-effects of anabolic steroids; however, the researchers were more curious about the psychological and behavioral side-effects. So to learn more about the psychological effects they chose six overall candidates (three steroid users, three non-steroid users, all of which were bodybuilders), and at four points during their six week training session administered the Buss-Durke Hostility Inventory questionnaire. While the group sizes were very small, the data does show that after the questionnaires those that used the steroids scored considerably higher in aggression and hostility than those who were off the drug.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Performance Enhancing Drugs and Major Leage Baseball
    • 1691 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Performance Enhancing Drugs and Major Leage Baseball

    Performance enhancing drugs such as testosterone (the main male hormone), drive muscle growth (Egendorf 15). Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s to treat hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is a condition where the testes don’t produce enough testosterone to normal growth, development, and sexual functioning (Kiesbye 15). Russian weight lifters in the 1954 world weight competition introduced anabolic steroids to international athletic competition when they found that they could use them for a competitive…

    • 1691 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Anabolic Steroids Research Paper
    • 1880 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Anabolic Steroids Research Paper

    Anabolic refers to this muscle-building capability. Anabolic steroids should not be confused with catabolic corticosteroids, which are used routinely as anti-inflammatory medications to help treat illnesses in which inflammation is part of the disease process. Today, anabolic steroid use has become common to augment sports performance, and abuse of these drugs begins as early as middle school. Anabolic and androgenic steroids are available as prescription medications to be used in cases in which the body does not make enough hormone and supplementation may be required. Some hormone supplements in this pathway include growth hormone and testosterone itself. These medications are legally prescribed by health-care providers, but this group of drugs is often used illegally and abused to help increase athletic performance and improve body appearance. When used in a well-nourished body, anabolic steroids will cause weight gain primarily due to an increase in muscle mass. Drugs that cause an increase in body bulk by stimulating the production of protein, mainly in the muscles, but also elsewhere. They work inside cells, causing an acceleration of the processes by which amino acids in the cell fluid are strung together to form protein. Anabolic steroids are synthetic male sex hormone steroids such as ethyloestrenol, nandrolone, norethandrolone and stanolone. Their use may sometimes be justified to help elderly and underweight people to gain strength and they can be valuable in women with the condition of seriously weakened bones known as osteoporosis. Some of the anabolic steroids, being male sex hormones, cause development of male characteristics in women. This is called virilization and may feature hairiness, wasting atrophy of the breasts, enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice and severe acne. Body-building enthusiasts and athletes widely use anabolic steroids to improve muscle bulk and…

    • 1880 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Steroids in Sports
    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Steroids in Sports

    Steroids are an illegal substance that is banned in most major sports organizations. Athletes in today’s world are under tremendous pressure to succeed. They believe by taking these substances that they are giving an “edge” while competing. What they do not realize is they are putting their bodies in tremendous danger. Steroids can produce psychological and physical side effects. As you will see, not only are steroid users harming themselves but they are also damaging the reputation of the game and the outlook of our young fans.…

    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Steroids in Sports Today
    • 2025 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Steroids in Sports Today

    The United State is a country that thrives on competition. We idolize our sports stars and practically make major athletic events holidays. Children grow up with their favorite athletes plastered to the wall of their bedrooms and dream that one day they will be the next Barry Bonds, Shaqullie O 'Neal, or Tom Brady. Professional athletes train year-round to be in ideal psychical shape in order to perform their best. But what happens when their best just isn 't good enough? We expect our sports stars to be perfect, upstanding citizens and role models but this isn 't always the case. The recent exposure of athletes using steroids has exploded into a phenomenon involving athletes all around the world. It has cheapened sports and cast doubt on the integrity of our athletes. Steroid use is not exclusive to professional sports. More and more college and high school athletes are beginning to use steroids for many of the same reasons that the pros do; to enhance performance, get an edge on the competition, and improve personal appearance.…

    • 2025 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Anabolic Steroids In Sports
    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Anabolic Steroids In Sports

    Most athletes induce steroids into their body with the hopes that it will help them improve their abilities to run faster, lift heavier weights, jump higher or hit farther (Freudenrich). Obsessed with the possible results, they ignore the fact that anabolic steroids are just like any other drug, riddled with serious side affects and are illegal in the United States without a prescription. It is considered a class D felony and carries jail time and steep fines if caught using or selling…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Steroids in Sports
    • 1096 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Steroids in Sports

    Many athletes who decide to take steroids don’t realize the side effects they can possibly deal with. They usually don’t care though because they would rather take the risk of trying to reach the professionals where they can possibly make millions of dollars and reach stardom. The most common type of steroid used by athletes are anabolic-androgenic steroids. Steroid Abuse in Today's Society, a March 2004 publication of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Office of Diversion Control, defines anabolic steroids as "synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone"(Robert Jacobson, 2006). There are many unfair advantages users have over those who don’t take steroids. They help enhance physical performance by increasing muscle size and strength and help train faster in less time. It is also known to increase an athlete’s agility and speed. The drug also helps users recover a lot quicker, which in terms means the athlete can get back to training a lot sooner than normal. All of this means that a user can get more gains by putting in less work, compared to training…

    • 1096 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Steroids In Professional Sports
    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Essay On Steroids In Professional Sports

    Should Steroids be legalized in professional sports? Steroids are one of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon structure. There are several types of performance-enhancing drugs: anabolic steroids, stimulants, human growth hormone and supplements. The use of drugs to enhance performance in sports has occurred since the time of the original Olympic Games from 776 to 393 BC-2015.The origin of the word 'doping' is attributed to the Dutch word 'dope,' which is a viscous opium juice, the drug of choice of the ancient Greeks. Many sports associations are now involved in monitoring and testing players for banned PED use. An important issue regarding this topic, is whether steroids should be legalized in professional sports? The major arguments are the following: are steroids safe? Are the penalties fair and consistent? And are steroids beneficial? After careful examination, it will be proven that steroids should be illegal in all professional sports because of major health issues.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    steroids reasearch paper
    • 1501 Words
    • 4 Pages

    steroids reasearch paper

    Becoming the best athlete you can be takes a lot of hard work and heart. Many people see that there are easy ways out and they take that path. Striving to have a perfect body is like a social event in the new millennium Steroids is one of the easiest ways to enhance your body to the next level in a short amount of time. The use of steroids has weakened many people and has brought tension towards the legal system. The legalizing of anabolic steroids is very controversial. The main source for the use of steroids is said to be athletes, but there have been many other cases concerning the use of steroids. Many athletes believe that steroids improve athletic performance and provide them with an advantage over others. On the other hand, the medical and scientific societies believe that deficient scientific data exist to support the claim that anabolic steroids can improve athletic performance. However, astounding scientific data demonstrates their destructive effects. Therefore, a large information and credibility gap regarding anabolic steroids exists between athletes and medical and scientific societies. Researchers believe that this gap can be closed if both groups are better informed about anabolic steroids. Closing the gap brings more dignifying results towards the use of steroids. Legalizing anabolic steroids use will cause many health problems and will destroy bodies of great role models and the ones to come.…

    • 1501 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Why Steroids Are Bad
    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Why Steroids Are Bad

    Performance enhancing drugs have slowly become a big part of professional sports. Many athletes are now relying on them to either boost their performance or help them recover faster from an injury; and it’s working too. Although they are getting better and recovering faster, they are hurting themselves, and the kids that look up to them. According to an article by Dr. Robert R Franks, Senator John McCain is worried about what affect that P.E.D usage in the MLB might have on high school athletes. “What these young athletes fail to realize is the damaging effect steroids have on a person’s physical and psychological health over time,” says Michael J. Sampson, DO, an osteopathic sports medicine and family physician at Virginia Tech and Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The more we learn about these drugs, the scarier they become.” Sometimes I wonder, “Do professional athletes know…

    • 1304 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Do People Use Steroids?
    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Do People Use Steroids?

    In some instance, people have used steroids and passed away, and in other cases, people have used steroids for over 30 years with little to no effect. Since steroids have been introduced and used in sports, sports have never been the same. Steroids have improved a bodybuilder’s physique, a baseball player’s physical ability, and an Olympians overall endurance and performance. Without steroids, Arnold Schwarzenegger would have never won the Mr. Olympia Competition seven times, and Lou Ferrigno would have never been the Incredible Hulk. In baseball, Mark McGuire would have never shattered Roger Maris 1961 single-season home run record by hitting 9 more. With all that being said, steroids have enhanced player’s ability to shatter long-standing records and raise player salaries to astronomical cost. Often times, the reward of using steroids drive athletes to a higher level and make them risk everything for the sake of…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Steroids Abuse in Baseball
    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Steroids Abuse in Baseball

    NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic). March. 2005. The National Institute on Drug Abuse. 27 March. 2005. .…

    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics