What are the effects of steroids on a human body?
Steroids are naturally found in a human body, which is responsible for supporting functions such as body growth & development and fighting stress. Synthetic steroids are also termed as roids or juice and are similar to certain hormones in the body. People use and even abuse steroids in the form of pills, gels, injection, or creams to improve their muscle mass and the way they look. However, these drugs have potential health risks leading to both emotional and physical disruptions in a human body. We will talk about these side effects later in this article.
Types of steroids
Anabolic steroids are artificially produced hormones that are similar to androgens – sex hormones found in the male body. Testosterone among androgens is the most powerful hormone that is attributed to male traits such as muscle massing, body hair growth, voice deepening, etc. Other steroids are steroidal supplements containing dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or androstenedione are now illegal to be sold in gyms and food stores other than against doctor prescriptions. These supplements are milder forms of androgens; however, when consumed in large amounts, they can produce a similar effect like testosterone.
How do steroids work
Steroids have a huge demand among athletes who want to enhance their performance, muscle mass, and strength. There are steroids with legitimate medical uses such as corticosteroids for treating inflammatory conditions. However, these steroids are different from anabolic steroids that have incredibly harmful effects other than when they are prescribed for medical reasons. Steroids are commonly used by:
Athletes aiming at gaining muscles
Bodybuilders wanting to improve their weightlifting
People to quickly recover from an injury
Steroid side effects
Synthetically produced steroids in the form of testosterone can have delirious effects on many gender-based characteristics in the person abusing the drug. Steroid side effects are inevitable when they are consumed above the medically approved levels. Some of the common side effects include:
Severe acne
Shrinking of the testicles
Fertility issues
Heart problems
Weight gain
Increased danger of rupturing muscles and tendons
Infection or diseases such as HIV if injections are used
Prostate gland enlargement in men
Voice deepening in women
Increased body hair in women
Menstrual irregularities
Apart from these physical side effects, abuse of anabolic steroids also brings psychological issues. Some people may become combative & aggressive and often face extreme mood swings. They start believing things that are not true and develop mistrust for others. Users of steroids are at a higher risk of using other drugs to deal with the negative effects of steroids.
Dependence
Dependency on steroids illustrates that the person cannot function normally without using steroids. This leads to an overuse of the steroids, thereby increasing the number of hormones in their body. People who wish to stop using steroids face withdrawal symptoms such as appetite loss, insomnia, depression, and tiredness. However, there are withdrawal treatments available that are monitored by medical professionals to eliminate side effects and ensure safety. Most of these treatments can be acquired on an outpatient basis.
