The Side Effects Of Steroids

Steroids ape the effects of the natural hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, and the side effects of steroids can be extreme. Steroids were first produced synthetically in the 1930s and have several useful applications in the field of medicine. Medicinal uses include inducing puberty, stimulating bone growth and treating wasting conditions like AIDS and cancer. On the other hand, the improper and long-term abuse of steroids can cause a number of increased risks and serious health problems.

The side effects of steroids are many, and vary greatly in both likelihood and severity. Side effects of steroids can be both physical and psychological. Many of the side effects of steroids are gender-specific. Perhaps the most dangerous of all, are the side effects of steroids when used by adolescents.

Physical side effects of steroids

Males around age twenty-five are the most common abusers of steroids. This especially pertains to noncompetitive weight lifters and body builders because of the appealing cosmetic results. No matter how tempting, the dangerous physical side effects of steroids easily outweigh the benefit of an increase in lean muscle mass. The most common side effects of steroids are elevated blood pressure and volatile changes in cholesterol.

Physical Side effects of steroids include an increased risk of both cardiovascular and coronary artery disease and raises the user’s chance of both heart attack and congestive heart failure. Liver damage is also one of the more dangerous physical side effects of steroids. Though more of a cosmetic concern than a dangerous health issue, acne is common as well.

Psychological side effects of steroids

Steroids have been linked to several serious mental disorders. Violence, aggression and mania are the most common. Though they are less prevalent, suicide and psychosis are side effects of steroids too. Long-term use of steroids, like many other drugs, can result in both dependency and withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. There is no evidence to support the existence of any mental side effects of steroids when administered by physicians for the legitimate, therapeutic treatment of mental disorders.

Side effects of steroids in males

One of the more disturbing side effects of steroids is the production of breast tissue in males. This tissue production causes male breast enlargement. This condition is known as gynecomastia and is caused by the transformation of testosterone into estradiol, a naturally occurring hormone in the female body.

Testicular atrophy has also been confirmed as being one of the side effects of steroids, causing temporary infertility or sterility due to a decrease in the body’s sperm production. This can cause reduced sexual function and decreases the size of the testicles since the majority of their mass consists of developing semen. This is temporary and subsides shortly after discontinuation.

Side effects of steroids in females

Side effects of steroids in females include an increase in body hair, enlargement of the clitoris, the deepening of the voice and menstrual cycle irregularities. Recreational steroid use by women can also cause the same type of pattern baldness seen in males. When taken during pregnancy, the side effects of steroids can be especially dangerous. In addition to blood sugar problems after birth, steroid use can cause a fetus to develop the sexual organs of the opposite gender.

Side effects of steroids in adolescents

Since the body is still developing, the side effects of steroids in adolescents are even more severe than in adults. In some cases, side effects of steroids in adolescents can be fatal. Among the many side effects of steroids in adolescents are the early cessation of bone lengthening, which results in stunted growth, and premature bone maturity. Another one of the side effects of steroids in pubescent youths is structural changes in the heart, particularly in the heart’s left ventricle. This complication has been linked to heart attacks, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Side effects of steroids are dangerous, and are both mental and physical. In both men and women alike, prolonged steroid use causes dependence, withdrawal and increases the risk of many heart and cardiovascular conditions. In men specifically, the side effects of steroids include enlarged breasts, reduced sexual function and testicular atrophy. Some of the side effects of steroids are exclusive to women, and among them are an increased body hair, irregular menstruation and a deepening of the voice. The side effects of steroids in adolescents are catastrophic, causing bone problems and even death.