The effects of Steroids Essay - 2189 Words

One of the hottest topics on the news recently has been steroid use by athletes. From talk radio to the best seller list to the Senate floor, the controversy has only grown during the 2006 baseball season, as Barry Bonds continues his quest to move right on past Babe Ruth and break Hank Aaron’s home run record. Although Bonds’ case has certainly attracted the most publicity, the issue is definitely not confined to baseball. The best-selling book â€Å"Game of Shadows† was written by two reporters who had spent months investigating top athletes from a variety of sports, including Olympians like track star Marion Jones. While it does focus extensively on Bonds, this meticulously researched bestseller also describes in detail how many other†¦show more content†¦The synthesis of testosterone was first achieved in 1930s Nazi Germany, but the initial discovery was greeted with indifference Over the next few decades, however, athletes and their coaches (especially bodybuilders) began to realize and covet the performance enhancing qualities of these drugs. (Wikipedia) During the 1950s, and at the 1952 Olympic games in particular, Americans were blown away by the power of their Russian and European competitors. It did not take American doctors long to realize that the â€Å"unnatural† performance of these athletes was just that. These bodybuilders and wrestlers had been given steroids in the form of synthetic testosterone. U.S. doctors scrambled to come up with a drug that with do the same for American athletes, and by the late 1950s they had succeeded in bringing such a drug to the market, known as Dianabol. It was the first of many. (Wikipedia) Whatever their intentions, these early pioneers in the field of steroid development did not realize the Pandora’s box they had opened, and they certainly did not realize that the demons thus released would continue to plague sports into the next century. Anabolic steroids definitely did what they were supposed to insofar as promoting muscle growth, resulting in a more powerful and bigger athlete. At first it seemed ideal, and use of these drugs was soon widespread. The East German women’s swim team circa the 1970s and 1980s is aShow MoreRelatedSteroids And Its Effects On The Body985 Words   |  4 PagesUnfortunately, the use of steroids can easily lead to many major health problems. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse â€Å"Steroids abuse may lead to serious, even irreversible, health problems. Some of the most dangerous consequences†¦kidney impairment or failure; damage to the liver; and cardiovascular problems†¦leading to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack (even in young people)† (NIH). Steroids can affect an athlete by increasing the heart rate and decreasing the stamina, aRead MoreSteroids And Its Effects On Sports781 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"doping†, and â€Å"juicing†. These terms refer to using steroids. With the benefits of steroid use, comes major health issues. As a result of steroid use, there has been an increase of physical irregularities and stunted growth. Steroi ds have a negative reputation due to past events involving health issues and cheating in sports. Steroids can be taken a few different ways, such as injection or ingestion. There are also countless types of steroids that come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Physical irregularitiesRead MoreThe Effects of Steroids on the Human Body and Steroid Abuse by Athletes1034 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Steroids on the Human Body and Steroid Abuse by Athletes For many years, the use and abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids have been linked closely to athletes. Steroids come in different forms. They can be taken in pill form or injected straight into the user’s muscles by a needle. There are many sports that are associated with steroid abuse like weightlifting, basketball, and track and field. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic forms of male sex hormonesRead MoreThe Effect Of Steroids On Athleticism916 Words   |  4 PagesHow Popular or Well-Known Food Chains Alter the Body It took a while for me to decide on what I was going to do my project on. My top three choices were: to research the effect of steroids on athleticism, how popular or well known food chains alter the body, and how playing sports impact your physical health later in life. Finally, after weeks of debating my options, the topic I chose to do my personal project on was, â€Å"How Popular or Well-Known Food Chains Alter the Body.† After picking my subjectRead More Effects Of Anobolic Steroids Essay1406 Words   |  6 Pages The Effects of Anabolic Steroids You’ve all seen them, the enormously large muscle-heads at the gym, the participates of the World’s Strongest Man Competition, the amazing offensive tackles, and the lightning fast runners. They were all unnaturally strong, and looked like gods. You tend to obsess over how beautiful their bodies are, how strong they are, or how fast they can run. All you can think about is reaching that level of athletic excellence, and nothing will hold you back. At times likeRead MoreEssay on The Effects of Testosterone and Steroids 1404 Words   |  6 PagesAnabolic-androgenic steroid is a family of lipophilic hormone that derived from cholesterol, which includes the natural male hormone testosterone and its synthetic derivatives, such as nandrolone and androsterone (Janjic et al. 2012; Basile et al. 2013). Testosterone is the principle molecule that possesses both anabolic and androgenic properties, which semantically refers to the ability to stimulate the synthesis of complex biol ogical molecules and the growth of masculine characteristics respectivelyRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Steroid Use754 Words   |  3 PagesSteroids can affect an athlete’s physical health. Developing breasts from steroid use is very common. Breasts develop because when high doses of steroids are used for prolonged periods, they shut down certain hormones such as testosterone. Studies show that estrogen is what causes breast tissue growth; progesterone needs to be available in order to keep breast size down. Shrunken testicles can also occur because when a person uses steroids, they introduce a new hormone from outside their body atRead MoreAnabolic Steroids And Its Effects On The Brain1608 Words   |  7 PagesBrief History Anabolic steroids are directly related to steroids, and both have similar effects, however anabolic steroids intensify protein production in cells, leading to enlarged muscles, rather steroids contain various hormones including testosterone. Both, however exert the chemical dopamine into the blood stream, negatively effecting the brain driving addiction and abuse. The steps and action foreshadowing steroids can be traced back to 1849, when a German scientist named Arnold AdolphRead MoreAnabolic Steroids And Its Effects On Sports Essay1422 Words   |  6 Pages Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids are a substance that is most commonly used by a small number of athletes take to make their body stronger, get bigger, and recover quicker. They are synthetic substance that is similar to the male hormone testosterone(Steroid Effects). They can be taken in several forms such as shot,pill or gel. The arguments for and against steroids are very common and there are several strong points made for each argument. Steroids are extremely powerful substances that haveRead MoreSteroid Hormones And Its Effects On The Body2137 Words   |  9 PagesThe term steroids are defined as, One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon structure. Steroids include drugs used to relieve swelling and inflammation, such as prednisone and cortisone; Vitamin D; and some sex hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol (medicine net, The Web). According to the medical source, Among them are male and female sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. Vitamin s of the D group are steroids involved in calcium metabolism. Cholesterol