Hello Blog,

In one of my earlier blog postings, I described performance enhancing drugs (steroids) as any substances taken to increase strength and improve athletic skills. Even everyday people are experimenting with steroids in the effort to look better by achieving a better workout at the gym. They’re popping pills and taking supplements to get muscular quick, with less workout time.

OK, we get the point why people take them, but what exactly are steroids, how do they work, and what are their side effects?
Drugs commonly referred to as "steroids" are classified as anabolic (or anabolic-androgenic) and corticosteroids. Although both are called steroids, there is a huge difference between anabolic steroids and corticosteroids. For readers, who are unaware, I will explain the difference.

Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, are drugs that doctors typically prescribe to help control inflammation in the body. They're often used to help control conditions like asthma and lupus. In fact, I have personally taken corticosteroids drugs for back injuries and bronchitis. They are completely different from anabolic steroids, which receive so much media attention for their use by some athletes and bodybuilders.

Anabolic steroids (anabolic-androgenic steroids) are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. These drugs are legally available only by prescription and are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions that cause a loss of lean muscle mass or low testosterone levels. They help the increase in the buildup of cellular tissue in the muscles. This includes the development of masculine traits like deepness of the vocal chords and hair growth on the body. Anabolic steroids boost the body's ability to produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some athletes take steroids in the hopes that they will improve their ability to run faster, hit farther, lift heavier weights, jump higher, or have more endurance. This may sound complicated but think of steroids as providing muscle cells with enough protein so that they can grow, doubling and tripling their size after adequate workouts.

How are steroids taken?
Steroids are taken in either pill form or injections. The most common dosing is done in cycles of weeks or months, with a short break between. This is called "cycling." "Stacking" refers to the use of several different types of steroids at the same time. "Pyramiding," involves slowly increasing the number, the amount or the frequency of steroids to reach a peak and then gradually tapering the amount and frequency of the drug. Doses taken by steroid abusers are often 10 to 100 times higher than what would be medically prescribed for legitimate use.
Anabolic steroids can be taken in the following ways: Injection directly into the bloodstream, swallowed as tablets or capsules, ointments or patches (through the skin), or preparations that are placed between the cheek and gum of mouth.

Commonly Used Steroids

Androstenedione (Andro) is a designer steroid often mentioned in relation with athletes, although there is little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in improving sports performance. Andro is a supplement made from a naturally occurring steroid hormone. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of Andro due to increasing evidence that showed serious health risks to those using the substance.

Primobolan (Methenolone) -This banned steroid has been linked to several Major League Baseball players. It can be injected or taken in a tablet form. Primobolan has been a popular steroid among athletes because it builds strength without muscle bulk, and without many of the negative side effects of other steroids.

Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) is another designer steroid that is similar to other banned steroids. THG was specifically manufactured so it would not be detected in doping tests. The FDA banned the sale of THG in 2003, saying it was not a supplement but an unapproved drug, which makes any sale or use of it illegal.

Clenbuterol (Clen) is prescribed for obstructive pulmonary disease. Like anabolic steroids it can increase lean muscle mass, but it also has potentially serious side effects.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a natural steroid that's produced by the adrenal glands. The body then converts DHEA to male and female sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone). DHEA as a nutritional supplement is considered a banned substance by many sports organizations and athletes are cautioned about its use.

Short-term side effects

Effects vary by individual, but general short-term negative effects for both sexes include hostility, aggression, and acne. Steroids can have a magnified effect on teens since their bodies are still growing and can physically alter a body before adulthood, by stunting height growth. Males may experience shrunken testicles, difficulty or pain in urinating, become infertile or impotent, development of breasts, hair loss, and increased risk for prostate cancer. Girls can experience an excessive growth of body and facial hair, male-pattern baldness, decreased body fat and breast size, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, and a deepened voice.

Long-term side effects

The long-term effects for both males and females are similar. These long term side effects may include high blood pressure, increased risk of blood clotting, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), jaundice (yellowish skin color, tissues, and body fluids), liver cysts and cancer, kidney cancer, fluid retention and severe acne.

Mental effects

Steroids are not usually taken as mood-altering drugs; they could have negative psychological effects when abused. Studies have shown that aggression and other psychiatric side effects may result from abuse of anabolic steroids. Many users report feeling good about themselves while on anabolic steroids, but can have extreme mood swings which include hyperactivity or agitation, and uncontrolled aggression (known as "roid rage"), which can lead to violence.

Anabolic Steroids and Withdrawal

Athletes or anyone who use steroids can experience withdrawal symptoms when they quit. The symptoms include mood swings, depression, fatigue and irritability, loss of appetite, insomnia, and aggression. Depression can even lead to suicide attempts, if untreated.

I hope all the information I researched and supplied will help you understand what steroids are and the health risks associated them. My next posting, I will discuss the testing involved for steroids in sports and compare the leniency and strictness of different sports.

Hello again blog!
Roger Maris (born Sept. 10, 1934, - died Dec. 14, 1985) was a professional baseball and a stellar athlete. He was a left hand hitter and outfielder who played for the Cleveland Indians, NY Yankees, and the St.Louis Cardinals. In 1961, while playing for the NY Yankees, Maris hit 61 homeruns breaking Babe Ruth’s long standing record of 60, without a needle in sight, or steroid pills…just natural talent. Roger Maris was always criticized by the media for his simple, quiet ways and because sports writers really had no gossip or anything negative to write about, and considered him boring. Maris was a family man, who was honest and lived a clean life. My brother actually met Roger Maris when he was a boy; delivering newspapers back in Queens NY, where Maris rented an apartment to be close to the stadium for the season games. He gave my brother an autographed picture signed, “To John—thanks for delivering my newspapers”. He was a true natural talent and was admired by young and old.
Records are made to be broken, and the people who break them only deserve full credit if they achieve it by playing on an equal playing field. It’s like taking a test and someone gives you the answers before the test. Does that not make you a cheat?

Roger Maris: real role model, and pure natural talent. http://www.sodahead.com/sports/what-do-you-think-about-baseball/question-361203/?link=obaf.


In 1998, professional baseball player, Mark McGuire broke Roger Maris’ 37 year old record of 61 homeruns in a season by hitting 70 homeruns; also, in that same year Sammy Sosa hit 68 homeruns. In 2001, Barry Bonds broke Mark McGuire’s record by hitting 73 homeruns. Besides baseball, what other famous club was McGuire, Sosa and Bonds a member of? You guessed it… They’re all in the juicer club! Unfortunately, they are not alone. There is a long list of famous athletes accused of taking illegal performance enhancing drugs. These are just a few names from that list:
o Ben Johnson: Track Star and gold medal winner in the 100-meter race at the 1988 Olympic Summer Games. He broke his own world record by running the 100 meter race in 9.79 seconds. Days later, Johnson was stripped of both his medal and the world record because he tested positive for the use of steroids. http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eolympics/IntroductionToPoetry/Introduction.
o Marion Jones: Track Star, won five medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sidney Australia, but agreed to forfeit all medals and prizes dating back to September 2000 after admitting that she took performance-enhancing drugs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Jones.
o Floyd Landis- Champion bike Racer won the Tour de France racer Floyd Landis won the Tour de France in 2006 and was the leader of the Phonak (Swiss) professional cycling team, but his win was blemished when he tested positive for synthetic testosterone http://www.answers.com/topic/floyd-landis.
o Lyle Alzado- professional NFL football player played 15 seasons, played for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns but most famous playing for the Los Angeles Raiders, where he won a professional cycling team championship in the 1983 Super Bowl. Alzado died from cancer in 1992 at the age of 43. He is most remembered today for being one of the first major U.S. sports figures to admit using steroids. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Alzado.

These athletes were admired for their great skills and athletic abilities. The average sports fan, weekend warrior, and amateur athlete could only dream of being that talented. But their rewarded accomplishments became tainted and the product of performance enhancing drugs, not “natural” talent. Whenever the public hears news like this it leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth.
Young people sometimes idolize sports figures and look upon them as role models. Whether famous celebrity athletes like it or not, being a role model comes with the territory and carries a great deal of responsibility. Many teens want to look like and emulate these athletes (role models). While trying to outperform competition, at the amateur level, they might turn to steroids without fully understanding the consequences of using performance enhancing drugs or not even care.
What side affects comes with the juice? Stay tuned!