Blog
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Performance-enhancing drugs: Know the risks
Most serious athletes feel a strong drive to win. They often dream big too. Some athletes want to play for professional sports teams. Others want to win medals for their countries.Read more -
What are anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are drugs that help the growth and repair of muscle tissue. They are synthetic hormones that imitate male sex hormones, specifically testosterone.1Read more -
Anabolic steroid misuse
Anabolic steroids are prescription-only medicines that are sometimes taken without medical advice to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance.Read more -
What is their effect on the body
Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone that are abused in an attempt to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic or other physical performance, and improve physical appearance.Read more -
What treatments are effective for anabolic steroid misuse
People who use steroids often do not seek treatment for their use, with one study reporting that 56 percent of users had never told their physician about their use.Read more -
What can be done to prevent steroid misuse
Research suggests that high school athletes are less likely to use steroids if their peers and parents disapprove, indicating that peers and parents can be strong partners in prevention efforts.127Read more -
How are anabolic steroids tested in athletes
Although non-athlete weightlifters account for the bulk of anabolic steroid misuse, occasional steroid use by professional and Olympic athletes to improve performance or cheat in competition ("doping") has done the most to raise awareness of steroid misuse.Read more -
Are anabolic steroids addictive
An undetermined percentage of steroid users may develop a steroid use disorder. Substance use disorders are defined by continued use despite adverse consequences; for steroid users, these may include physical or psychological problems such as breast growth (in men), sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, excessive fats in the blood, heart disease, mood swings, severe irritability, or aggressiveness.Read more -
What are the risks of anabolic steroid use in teens
Unlike most illicit drug use, misuse of anabolic steroids most commonly begins in young adulthood rather than adolescence. But steroid use in teens is of concern, especially since the hormonal systems they interact with play a critical role in brain development during these years.92–96 In adolescent rodents, exposure to anabolic steroids increased neuronal spine densities in the hippocampus and amygdala—brain regions involved in learning and emotions (e.g., aggression), respectively.Read more