Find out what side effects can occur if you use steroids incorrectly and neglect post cycle therapy. Every bodybuilding lover knows that the negative consequences of taking steroids are possible, but at the same time, the army of "chemists" is constantly replenishing. Now AAS is quite easy to get, because there are many online stores on the Internet that distribute sports pharmacology. At the same time, the greatest concern is the massive fascination with these powerful drugs in adolescents. The desire to stand out among your comrades and have pumped up muscles is quite understandable.
However, psychologists have done a lot of research, and this problem has much deeper roots than many people think. Most adolescents who actively use anabolic steroids have mental problems. In adolescence, it seems to everyone that life is endless, and we all committed rash acts during this period.
Most of the time, people develop normal interests after they grow up, but some become fixated on risk and enjoy it. Among psychologists, this psychological disorder is called high risk syndrome. Even when AAS is used in adulthood, the effects of steroid use can be severe. For adolescents whose endocrine system is not yet fully formed, they can have much more dangerous consequences.
Positive properties of AAS
There is no doubt that anabolic steroids can help achieve better results in sports and bodybuilding in particular. Now we will talk about the positive effects of taking steroids to increase athletic performance.
- Increase in physical parameters - with appropriate training and nutrition, steroids accelerate the production of protein compounds in muscle tissues, which leads to an increase in the size of the contractile elements of myosin and actin.
- Weight gain - this effect is directly related to the previous one and has a similar mechanism.
- Elimination of pain in the joints - this property of AAS is also used in traditional medicine, where steroids are also used, but in much lower dosages.
- Decreased body fat percentage - the scientist did not reveal the mechanisms of this phenomenon, but the presence of fat burning properties in steroids is beyond doubt.
- Improving the quality of oxygen breathing - the effect is associated with an increase in the number of red cells in the blood and mitochondria in muscle tissues. All this allows the body to consume more oxygen and as a result, the athlete's endurance increases.
- Strengthening the vascularity of the muscles - this effect not only has an aesthetic application, but also contributes to an increase in the performance of the muscles.
- Acceleration of regenerative processes in the body - the effect is associated with an increase in the rate of production of protein compounds and a delay in the body of nitrogen. As a result, the athlete can train more often and more intensely, which positively affects his athletic performance.
These are the main benefits of taking steroids, although there are others. It is thanks to them that steroids are actively used today not only by professionals, but also by amateurs.
The negative effects of taking steroids
Despite the presence of a fairly large list of positive effects that appear when using AAS, the negative consequences of taking steroids are more dangerous and outweigh all the advantages of using these powerful drugs. We are not going to convince you that it is impossible to use anabolic steroids, because each person makes his own decision. At the same time, the use of steroids at the amateur level can be considered unjustified, both from a financial point of view (professionals make a living from this and their investment in ACC pays off in prize money), and given the danger of anabolic steroids to health. Let's take a look at the most common negative effects of steroid use.
- Retention of sodium in the body. This is the most common negative effect of taking AAS. Along with calcium retention, a large amount of fluid remains in the body. As a result, the body swells (especially the face) and even without doping tests, one can say that the athlete is using steroids. However, the retention of sodium and fluid in the body is a negative moment not only from the point of view of aesthetics, as it is often accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. Also, this side effect of using anabolic steroids can lead to impaired liver and kidney function.
- Acne (acne). No less common phenomenon in comparison with the previous one. The skin is capable of destroying androgens if their concentration is low. When an athlete uses steroids with a high androgenic activity, then their concentration exceeds the level with which the skin is able to cope on its own. As a result, the active development of bacteria begins and, with a simultaneous increase in the activity of the sebaceous glands, acne appears. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to acne, which exacerbates this kind of negative effects of steroid use. To avoid these problems, it is necessary to keep the skin dry and, if possible, use special antiseptics.
- Gynecomastia. This disease means an increase in the size of the mammary glands in men. A fairly common side effect among "chemical" athletes. The development of gynecomastia is possible with the use of AAS, which have a high tendency to aromatization. You should remember that gynecomastia cannot go away on its own and will develop after each new AAS cycle. To avoid this phenomenon, it is necessary to use antiestrogens on the course of steroids and not exceed the permissible dosages. Also, do not carry out long cycles of anabolic steroids.
- Increased aggressiveness. Almost every athlete has increased aggressiveness while taking steroids. Some athletes say that this condition helps them train more intensely. However, high aggressiveness can also have negative consequences. A person may simply not notice that he has become more hostile to loved ones and work colleagues. This negative effect is inherent in drugs that have high rates of androgenic activity.
- Increased blood pressure. Almost every AAS contributes to an increase in pressure. One of the reasons for this, as we said above, is the retention of a large amount of fluid in the body. Also, blood pressure increases due to rapid weight gain. The first symptoms of an increase in pressure are headaches, disturbed sleep patterns, and difficulty breathing. It can also lead to more serious problems, for example, degradation of blood vessels, and then problems with the work of the heart muscle. If on the AAS course your blood pressure exceeds 130/90, then you should take measures to reduce it.
- Diseases of the heart and vascular system. When using steroids, the risks of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system increase dramatically. One of the reasons for this is an imbalance in cholesterol balance and its shift towards low density lipoproteins. As a result, plaques form on the walls of blood vessels, which can lead to their complete blockage. There are many factors in the use of AAS that contribute to this side effect.
- An increase in the size of the heart muscle. If anabolic steroids are used for a long time and in large quantities, then this can cause the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Do not underestimate the danger of this, since the consequences of taking steroids in this case can be extremely serious and even fatal.
- Virilization. This side effect is inherent in women using AAS. In practice, virilization means the development of secondary male sexual characteristics in women, the first of which can be considered a change in voice. It should be remembered that virilization is not reversible and before starting to use AAS, girls should think about the advisability of this step.
- Water-salt retention. Simply put, this is an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, which causes fluid retention in the body. On the one hand, it may even turn out to be useful from the point of view of the performance of the articular-ligamentous apparatus. However, excessive water retention can lead to significant health problems.
- Feminization. This side effect is the development of secondary female sex characteristics in men. The most common among them is gynecomastia, which we have already discussed separately. In addition, female-type fats begin to be deposited in a man's body, and muscle softening occurs. Feminization is possible with improper use of anabolic steroids prone to aromatization. Also note that genetic predisposition is of great importance in this case. Some athletes may not experience absolutely any problems with gynecomastia, and some athletes suffer very much from this disease.
- Increased fat content of the skin. This side effect can further develop into the appearance of acne. Note that the female body is especially sensitive to changes in the fat content of the skin. It is also necessary to take into account the genetic characteristics of a particular person.
There are various negative consequences of taking steroids, and we have now only considered those that are very common. Before you start using AAS, you should think carefully about what positive and negative effects can be obtained. Weigh all the advantages and disadvantages, and then make the right choice.
For more information on the consequences of taking steroids, see this video:
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