Steroids are organic compounds with specific molecular configuration and are conventionally known as the male hormone. They are natural substances with several different effects in the human body.
The primary use of steroids in health care is to reduce inflammation and other disease’s symptoms. Steroids also make the whole immune system less active and are the ultimate anti-inflammatory drugs.
However, steroid’s use in medicine is limited by very serious side effects in the body. This is a reason why steroids tend to be used sparingly in local preparations such as sprays and creams, which ensure maximum steroid dose where it is needed, and minimum levels in the bloodstream.
Types of Steroids
There are two major types of steroids present in the body, the first being Corticosteroids, which are produced in the adrenal gland located just above the kidney, these hormones include aldosterone, which aids regulation of sodium concentration in the body, and cortisol, which plays several roles in the body, including serving as part of the body’s stress response system to decrease inflammation.
The second group of steroids, the Androgenic/Anabolic steroid, is hormones produced in the body to regulate the manufacture of testosterone in the testicles and ovaries. The androgenic part of testosterone is involved in developing the male sex characteristics, while the anabolic part is involved in increasing the amount of body tissue by increasing protein production. Anabolic steroids refer to hormones that are either taken orally or by injection that influence the body’s hormonal system to produce extra testosterone.
Both Anabolic and Androgenic steroids are available as prescriptive medications to be used in cases where the body does not make enough hormone and supplementation may be required. Some hormone supplements in this pathway include growth hormone and testosterone itself.
These medications are legally prescribed by health-care providers, but this group of drugs is often used illegally and abused to help increase athletes’ performance and improve physical appearance. When used in a well-nourished body, anabolic steroids will cause weight gain primarily due to an increase in muscle mass. Anabolic steroids should however not be confused with catabolic corticosteroids, which are used routinely as anti-inflammatory medications to help treat illnesses in which inflammation is part of the disease process.
While anabolic steroids may have beneficial effects when taken under medical supervision, they have many serious and irreversible side effects. These side effects are due to abnormally high levels of testosterone in the body and may include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, liver damage, heart failure, acne, baldness, as well as aggressive and violent behavior.
Why you should never take steroids
- Steroids Can Cause Impotence
Firstly, if you are yet to have kids and you plan to do so in the future, you’ll really want to think twice about steroid’s usage. A study published in the Western Journal of Medicine illustrated that there is a direct relationship between steroid use and incidences of impotence, illustrating this connection. Steroid usage shuts down natural production of testosterone, which is crucial for sperm development and function.
- Risk of sudden cardiac arrest death
Steroids put more pressure on the heart, pumps additional blood throughout the body to the newly built muscle mass and cause the heart to enlarge. This can put an individual at risk for sudden cardiopulmonary arrests, as was noted by a study published in the Cardiology journal.
The researchers looked at a case of a sudden cardiac death case of a 20-year-old who was in excellent health standing apart from the fact he had a history of steroid use.
- Hormonal changes
Another reason to avoid steroid use is because of the hormonal changes it causes in the body. You already realize that using steroids means there is a higher level of testosterone flowing through the veins while on them, but what else takes place? First, sperm production goes down and shrinking of the testicles occurs. Secondly, irreversible changes such as changes in male-pattern baldness, and the appearance of female-like breast tissue referred to as gynecomastia occurs.
- Liver problem
Since the liver is a primary detoxifying organ in the body, by injecting steroids into your system, the liver is being endangered as well. Those who use steroids have been known to suffer from liver tumors and peliosis hepatis, which is a case where blood-filled cysts form in the liver and can eventually rupture, leading to critical and potentially fatal internal bleeding.
External sources for this article include Emedicinehealth1https://www.emedicinehealth.com/steroids/article_em.htm#different_types_of_steroids, Globalchange2https://m.globalchange.com/steroids.htm, and Bestworkoutsupplementsblog3https://www.bestworkoutsupplementsblog.com/why-you-should-not-use-steroids/.
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