Steroids and there effects on a human body

By Bryan Cocco
Overview
Steroids are being talked about quite a bit theses days. Whether it be about
major league baseball and other sports or just the people looking to get big.
in this Presentation I am going to show the facts that are known about steroids
I will do my best to take no side.
Steroids have been made illegal and only a doctors prescription can legally
get them. There are many others ways to come by steroids though. Black Markets
or other countries however a lot of the time these products are not very
good and can be more dangerous then the real thing.
Steroids are can be taken orally or injected intramuscularly with a needle.
Here are a few pictures of some common Synthetic steroids so you can see what I am
talking about.
Frank Zane (1984) Markus Ruhl (2001)
History of the steroid
Since 1950 anabolic steroids have been used by athletes
to better there performance in whatever activity they
are partaking in. Early steroids were dangerous because
they were not concerned with the safety of the user
mostly because there was not enough research to know
the damage that could be done to the human body by abusing
them.
Steroids were created in the late 1930s to treat hypogonadism, a
problem where the testicles do not produce enough testosterone for
normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. During the 1930s,
scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could increase
the growth of muscle in lab animals, which led to use of steroids
first by bodybuilders, and weightlifters, and then by athletes in other sports.
What are Anabolic Steroids
“Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids” is the full term for steroids. “Anabolic” means simple
substances are changed into more complex things, and Androgenic is a hormone that
controls masculine characteristics. They are also naturally occurring substances and
there are a lot of them, but not all of them promote muscle growth. They all have a few
things in common like 17 carbon atoms arranged in 4 rings.

Anabolic steroids are a group of

compounds that are closely related to
testosterone. These images show how
similar there molecular structures are.
Steroids in sports
This is an interesting before and after photo of the New York Yankees 1st
baseman Jason Giambi. He was recently accused of using a steroid that was banned
in Major League Baseball. It seems to me its been working well for him. The year
after that picture was taken (2000) he was the American league player of the year. If
the steroid accusations are true then I would say they have a large impact on sports.
This does not mean all good athletes use them but some are known for it. Mark
McGuire admitted to using Androstenedione a popular substance that is not a direct
steroid but converts itself into one in the liver. Almost every known synthetic steroid
is banned from nearly every professional sport.
Steroid short and long term effects
Steroids can change the body in many ways. Some ways for good. Some for bad.
Abuse of steroids can lead to some very negative effects. Some early effects are
things like severe acne on the back. This is because testosterone levels are raised
and It increases the size of pores in the skin. This is called Virilization it
is an irreversible condition. Once your pores are that size they will
stay that size.

Another common side effect is sped up balding. Steroids don’t

actually cause balding but they convert into Dihydrotestosterone
which causes hair loss. If you are a person who has a family
history for hair loss it is almost guaranteed that you lose your
hair.
Nasser El Sonbatty (1999)
Steroid short and long term effects

When steroids are taken for long periods

of time behavioral changes take place.
It makes a person angrier. This is commonly
known as Roid Rage. Steroids have also
been linked to causing depression. Mostly
because when a person is finished using
them their performance quickly falls.

When a steroid user finishes one of their cycles they may notice they are developing
some woman like characteristics. This is called Feminization. This is because excessive
levels of testosterone can convert into estrogen and things like males developing breasts
is not uncommon. This condition is called Gynecomastia.
this condition is caused by hormone imbalances and Can
be removed by surgery.
Steroid short and long term effects

Steroids cause a person who has not reached their full height potential to
stop growing. All steroid compounds with the exception of Oxandrone causes the
closure of the epiphyseal plates, And this stops growth.

Danny Padilla standing

at a mighty 5 feet 2 inches

Since steroids are known to cause hormonal imbalances

Headaches are a common occurrence is those who abuse
them. The hormone imbalance alters a persons endocrine
system and that makes heads hurt. Another reason for
the headache may be caused by High blood pressure.
 Steroid short and long term effects
Steroids also cause masculinazation obviously which are the results men seek
however I do not known to many woman that wish to look more like a man.
some. Steroids cause increased facial hair, enlarged clitoris, deepening voice, and
thinning of the hair just to name a few.

Juliette Bergman

Juliette Bergman Andrulla

Blanchette
Conclusion
Synthetic Steroids have many negative side effects. To many for me to think its
worth taking. Human beings have a pretty amazing genetic potential especially if your
lucky Enough to have been born with the ability to be a naturally talented athlete. Some
people are not born like that though and they want to give themselves an edge.
I can understand that. If a person is prepared to except the consequences of what they
are doing to themselves then by all means use steroids, but when your testicles are
shrinking and your loosing your hair do not complain about it because you know what
your going to be in for. My humble advice for a person who is thinking of using
steroids At least wait till you have fulfilled your genetic potential. If you are still
unsatisfied with your results then maybe try them. Just make sure you know what
you are doing. They can do amazing things to a human body but if abused they will
destroy it. One more thing do not get caught. A minimum of a 5 year jail sentence
And up to 500,000 dollar fine depending on what steroid your caught using.
Bibliography
Kurt Kurowski, M.D. “The Preparticipation Athletic Evaluation”
2000. http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000501/2683.html (4/23/04)

Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D. “Anabolic Steroid Abuse”

2000. http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Steroids/AnabolicSteroids.html (4/23/04)

National institute of drug abuse. “Anabolic Steroids”

2000. http://165.112.78.61/SteroidAlert/Steroidalert.html (4/25/04)

Derek Charlebois. “Taking Steroids: What Could It Hurt?”

2001. http://www.bodybuilding.com/teen/derek4.htm (4/25/04)
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Worlds most famous steroid user