Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s and originally used medicinally to treat “testicular hypofunction.” A little later, researchers discovered that anabolic steroids accelerated the growth of skeletal muscles. For this reason, steroids have been used increasingly in the last few decades to increase athletic performance and to develop an “athletic body.” Therefore, many people prefer to buy steroids online.
Anabolic steroids were initially classified in the United States as substances with potential for abuse and dependence. And were subsequently included in the list of state-controlled substances. In the past, steroids were used medically to treat underweight, loss of appetite, old age, osteoporosis, and to heal more quickly after major operations.
Table of Contents
Possible Effects
The body’s own adrenal cortex hormone, cortisone, usually mobilizes the body’s own energy reserves in times of stress. And great physical strain (e.g., weight training) – protein bodies break down (e.g., muscle breakdown). However, this steroids suppress the effects of cortisone: they accelerate the growth of organs and muscles. And also, promote the formation of the red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen.
Negative Effects
Adverse effects mostly occur after regular use of anabolic steroids. However, a change in the blood count and blood pressure (high blood pressure) can be detected even after a single dose. Cardiac arrhythmias, increased heartbeat rates, profuse sweating, and muscle tremors can also occur with some preparations.
Mechanism of Action
Anabolic steroids are swallowed as tablets, injected intramuscularly, or applied to the skin in the form of gels. Anabolic steroids, like the body’s own testosterone, get into the muscle tissue with the blood. There they penetrate the cell membrane and bind to specific steroid receptors.
This hormone-receptor complex migrates to the cell nucleus, where it interacts with the genetic material. And thereby triggers the production of new body tissue – especially muscle cells. At the same time, anabolic steroids, like testosterone, inhibit their own production via a specific brain structure – the hypothalamus. This self-regulation mechanism ensures that the androgen concentration in the blood does not exceed a certain level. That means,
Possible Long-term Consequences
After long-term chronic use, you can become psychologically and physically dependent on steroids and have to expect physical withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using steroids. The consumption of this steroids can have an effect on the psyche: strong mood swings, aggressive tendencies, depression, and psychotic phases occur frequently.
The human body reacts very sensitively to the intake of anabolic steroids. The long-term consequences include hyperthyroidism, skin contamination, a decrease in head persistence, breast enlargement in men, changes in the skeletal and musculoskeletal system, water retention in the tissue, changes in the blood count, and high blood pressure. People who make use of anabolic steroids for longer have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Oral ingestion of steroids can cause severe liver damage, particularly jaundice and tumors.
Steroids are sex hormones and therefore have a strong influence on sexuality and sexual characteristics. For example, the use of anabolic steroids in men leads to impaired sperm production, to what is known as atrophy of the testicles (shrunken testicles), and to infertility.
While men who suffer from hypogonadism (“underactive testicles”) can be treated with anabolic steroids. And, the use of steroids in men with normal sperm production – through the feedback loop described in the point “mechanism of action” – leads to a reduction and in extreme cases a cessation of sperm production. In women, anabolic steroids can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, excessive body persistence and beard growth, and a deep voice.
Never consume Anabolic steroids with These
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Liver disease and prostate cancer – anabolic steroids support tumor growth
Risk Reduction
Steroid injections are less harmful to the liver than oral ingestion. However, other issues come to the fore when injecting steroids:
Unsanitary injection techniques and the shared use of hypodermic needles can lead to life-threatening infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, or endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart). Bacterial infections that cause severe pain and abscesses are also commonly seen after injections.
In medicine, steroids are administered intramuscularly. Injections into the veins lead to serious physical consequences.
Chemical
“anabolic steroids” is the umbrella term for a series of synthetic substances that are derived from the body’s own male sex hormones – the androgens. The anabolic-androgenic steroids, therefore, include the male sex hormone testosterone. And several other synthetic derivatives that have a body-building (anabolic) and “masculinizing” (androgenic) effect.
Summing Up With the Law
Anabolic steroids as drugs are subject to the Drugs Law and require a doctor’s prescription. Anyone who passes on or sells these drugs is against the Medicines Act, even if a doctor originally prescribed them.
