Download
1 / 13
E N D
EFFECTS OF PED’S Spencer Kersh
The use of Performance Enhancing Drugs or PED’S as they are known is becoming a rapid growing phenomena in professional baseball today. Despite the strict and harsh consequences for the use of such drugs, players all over the major and collegiate levels are trying to beat the system in hopes of creating a name for themselves. Whether it’s a few more homeruns or a few miles faster on their pitches, people put their bodies at risk just for a little bit of extra glory and recognition. A lot of times the effects these substances have on their body is not even considered. What are those effects?
PEDs are popular among professional athletes for a reason: They’re effective in the short term. Athletes who take hormones or steroids experience a strengthening of the muscles, bones and tendons throughout their bodies, allowing them to train harder, longer and with fewer injuries. This is all very appealing to aspiring athletes, but the effects they have on your long term health can be great.
Common Drugs Used • Androstenedione • Primobolan • Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) • Clenbuterol • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Andro • Androstenedioneis a 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. The body metabolizes Androinto testosterone, which is considered a steroid. When supplements of testosterone are taken in high doses, they are known to have an anabolic effect increasing muscle size and strength.
Primobolan • This banned steroid has been linked to several Major League Baseball players, such as Alex Rodriguez. 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.
THG • This banned substance is another drug with very similar chemical structures to that of other banned substances. What makes this appealing is that it was specifically manufactured so that it would not show up on any doping tests. The FDA considers this an unapproved drug and it is illegal to buy or sell.
Clenbuterol • Clenbuterol is believed to increase the development of skeletal muscle by enhancing muscle protein synthesis, while at the same time aiding fat loss by increasing metabolism. Clenbuterol is also taken up by other tissues in the body. Animal studies have shown that clenbuterol use may lead to cell death or apoptosis in the muscles, including the heart. In general, the positive effects of clenbuterol seem to be short-lived. The effects of long-term clenbuterol intake on an athlete's performance, muscle strength and overall heart health are still unclear. This drug can cause cardiac hypertrophy which enlarges the heart ventricles and can potential be a very serious heart problem.
DHEA • DHEA is a natural steroid prohormone that's produced by the adrenal glands. The body then converts DHEA to male and female sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone). DHEA supplements have been marketed as anti-aging supplements so you can see why this option is appealing to veteran athletes approaching the end of their careers. The effects of this substance are not as great as those of others, however they are effects no one wants. Among those are acne, insomnia, oily skin, hair loss, irregular heartbeats and heart palpitations.
Common effects • Anabolic steroids all have common health effects while some more serious then others. Among the not so serious effects are infertility, acne and cysts, breast development in men as well as testicle shrinking in men. Some effects more specific to women are deeper voice, growth of body hair, and enlargement of the clitoris.
Serious Effects • All the banned substances can have serious long term health effects. Effects that can greatly shorten your life and definitely weaken your health. Anabolic steroids have been linked to terrible diseases such as cancer, HIV, and hepatitis. They also stunt growth for youth, increase blood pressure, cause heart attacks, ruptures tendons and cause delusions. As be the case with regular drugs (marijuana, heroin, cocaine etc.) the sudden halted use can cause irritability, mood swings, depression, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Conclusion • In conclusion to this report I would like to voice my opinion. My view point of the matter is pretty basic. I just ask the question, why? Why would one person already in great health expose their bodies to these substances? Then for young aspiring athletes, Do you really think you would get away with it? short term maybe, but in the long run everyone gets caught and once your caught, your reputation is shot. No matter your accomplishments, you will always be known as a cheater. Say the desired use is just for self admiration and nothing to do with competitive sports, even then people will just assume you have gotten your body to this point by doping up. Maybe some people are fine with those accusations but they will always be viewed in a lesser sense then someone who got big the honest way. I just personally do not see to much bright side, and all the side effects they cause just add to my already strong opinion.
Sources • Wedrow, Benjamin. "Anabolic Steroid Abuse Side Effects, Statistics, Treatment, Dependence, Addiction Symptoms - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. ., 04 Apr. 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. • Anabolic Steroids - A Threat to Mind and Body. NIDA Research Report Series. Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse. • DeNoon, Daniel J. "Why Steroids Are Bad for You." WebMD. WebMD, 16 Mar. 2005. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. • National Institute on Drug Abuse. "DrugFacts: Anabolic Steroids." National Institute on Drug Abuse. ., 01 July 2012. Web. 09 Oct. 2013. • Lawrensen, Doug. "Steroids And Their Harmful Side Effects." Muscle & Strength. ., 01 Oct. 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.
