Do you hope to achieve high results in your favorite sport with medications?.

Then you should know the truth about the effect of these drugs on your body, according to an online edition for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old Pannochka. net We learn the opinion of experts in preventive medicine from the Mayo Clinic (Minnesota, USA).

Most serious athletes will tell you that the thirst for victory can be stronger than anything else. Professional athletes dream of gaining recognition, satisfy their personal ambitions, protect the honor of their team, and even the country. In addition, there is fierce competition in sport. In such conditions, the use of sports drugs is extremely common.

But it should be remembered that the use of these substances is not without risk. Take the time and learn the main pros and cons of sports.

In this article you will find useful information about such tools:.

• Anabolic steroids.

• Androstenedione.

• A growth hormone.

• Erythropoietin (EPO).

• Diuretics.

• Creatine.

• Stimulants.

Anabolic steroid.

Some athletes regularly take one of the types of steroid hormones - anabolic steroids (anabolic). These are derivatives of sex hormones, which have a pronounced ability to enhance protein synthesis, that is, a set of muscle mass. The main predecessor of anabolic steroids is the male sex hormone testosterone.

Testosterone has two main effects on the human body:.

• Stimulates the development of male sexual characteristics.

• Increases anabolism (a set of muscle mass).

Some athletes still use ordinary testosterone to improve their performance. Very often athletes use synthetic modifications of this hormone, which have a stronger effect on the set of muscle mass, but do not have pronounced androgenic properties. These drugs are available in the form of tablets, injections, and even creams.

Why are these substances so attractive to athletes? In addition to increasing muscle volume, anabolics help to recover quickly after heavy loads and reduce damage to muscle tissue. All this allows athletes to work more and more intensively. And some also like the sensations that they experience against the background of taking anabolic (residual androgenic effect).

"Designer" steroids.

A particularly dangerous class of anabolic steroids are the so-called "designer" steroids - synthetic anabolics, which are designed specifically to not be detected during doping tests. They are made specifically for athletes and are not approved for medical use, so they can be very dangerous to health.

Risks associated with taking anabolic steroids.

Many athletes have to take anabolic doses that are many times higher than therapeutic doses. Constant overdose of these drugs leads to severe, sometimes irreversible side effects. Researchers can not even evaluate all these effects, because during the trials of drugs they are not given to participants in such doses - it's just unethical.

Side effects of anabolic steroids in men include:.

• Breast Augmentation.

• Baldness.

• Drying of the testes.

• Enlarged prostate.

• Infertility.

• Impotence.

Side effects of anabolic steroids in women include:.

• Rough Voice.

• Clitoris enlargement.

• Hair growth on the body.

• Baldness.

• Amenorrhea.

Common side effects of anabolic steroids in women and men:.

• Severe acne.

• Increased risk of tendonitis and rupture of tendons.

• Liver pathologies, including tumors.

• Increased levels of "bad" cholesterol.

• Lowering the level of "good" cholesterol.

• Problems with the circulatory system.

• Increased blood pressure.

• Aggressive behavior (steroid rage).

• Mental disorders, depression.

• Drug addiction.

• Slowing growth and development in adolescents.

• Risk of infection due to intravenous drug use.

In the United States and some other countries, taking steroids is not only banned by many sports organizations, but also illegal. Over the past 20 years, the US has created a more effective legislative framework that pushed the sports steroids industry onto the black market.

Androstenedion.

Androstenedione (andro) is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries (in women) and testicles (in men). This hormone is normally converted into testosterone and estradiol, both in women and men.

In the US, androstendione is available quite legally, but only with a doctor's prescription - this is a strictly controlled drug. Manufacturers and magazines for bodybuilders covertly advertise its ability to improve the set of muscle mass. Nevertheless, in this country, the use of andro for sports purposes is illegal.

Scientific research disproves the claims of producers. Scientists say that in men the additional androstenedione slightly increases the level of testosterone and does little to strengthen the muscles. They assure that most of the androstenedione in the body is converted to estrogen - the female sex hormone.

Risks associated with taking androstendione.

Side effects of androstenedione in men are as follows:.

• Acne.

• Drying of the testes.

• Reduction of sperm production.

• Breast Augmentation.

In women with the application of large doses of this drug, male sexual characteristics (masculinization) can develop, including a rough voice, body hair and male pattern baldness.

In both sexes, androstenedione, like anabolic steroids, disrupts the lipid profile - increases the level of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and lowers the level of HDL ("good" cholesterol). This contributes to blockage of blood vessels and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in the future.

A growth hormone.

HGH is one of the most important hormones in the human body. It has an anabolic effect, that is, it stimulates muscle growth. Athletes take growth hormone to improve their performance and set muscle mass.

This substance is less effective for these purposes compared with traditional anabolic steroids. In most countries, gonadotropin is available only on prescription. It is used in the form of injections.

Risks associated with the use of growth hormone.

HGH has a huge number of serious side effects, among which:.

• Joint pain.

• Muscular weakness.

• Fluid retention (edema).

• Carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Cardiomyopathy.

• Hypercholesterolemia.

• Diabetes.

• Hypertension.

It can also be mentioned that, since the 1980s, cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (mad cow disease) have been documented in the world, which are associated with the use of illegal preparations of growth hormone derived from the pituitary gland of dead animals.

Erythropoietin (EPO).

Erythropoietin is a hormone that is used to treat anemia in people with severe kidney disease. It increases the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which improves the delivery of oxygen to the muscles. Epoetin, the synthetic form of erythropoietin, is used in athletes who need endurance (marathon runners, bicycle riders).

Risks associated with the use of EPO.

The use of erythropoietin was especially common among riders in the 1990s, leading to at least 18 confirmed deaths. Incorrect use of EPO increases the risk of vascular thrombosis, which results in stroke, myocardial infarction and pulmonary edema.

Diuretics.

Diuretics are drugs that alter the natural balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body. Diuretics can lead to dehydration. Loss of fluid is sometimes required for athletes to reduce body weight to the required level (for example, to enter the desired weight category). Diuretics can also help not particularly honest athletes undergo a doping test, because they make the urine more dilute.

Risks associated with taking diuretics.

We must remember for ever that diuretics, even in the recommended therapeutic doses, predispose to the development of a variety of side effects:.

• Dehydration.

• Muscle spasms.

• Prostration.

• Dizziness.

• Violation of balance.

• Potassium deficiency.

• Arrhythmia.

• Pressure drop.

• Heatstroke.

• Death.

Creatine.

Many athletes take nutritional supplements to improve their performance. These funds are available in pharmacies and supermarkets of doctors' bases. In the US, the most popular food supplement for bodybuilders is creatine monohydrate. Creatine is a natural substance that is produced in our body and helps muscles release energy.

Some experiments have shown that creatine can have beneficial effects in sports - a slight and short-term increase in the efficiency of the muscles. Creatine helps muscles produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is responsible for the accumulation of energy in cells and is used for short-term "flashes" of activity, such as weight lifting or sprints. But there is no evidence that creatine is useful in sports that require endurance.

The human liver every day produces about 0.07 ounces (2 grams) of creatine. We also get creatine from meat food. Creatine is stored in muscle tissue, and its level is relatively easy to adjust. Since the kidneys constantly remove excess creatine from the body, the benefits of dietary supplements with this substance are in question.

Risks associated with the use of creatine.

In the United States, creatine is recognized as a nutritional supplement, but not a drug. This means that the FDA does not require manufacturers to adhere to the same stringent production and quality control standards as in the case of medicines. Even in this country, cases have been reported when food additives with creatine contained unintended substances, because of which athletes "failed" doping tests.

Possible side effects of creatine:.

• Stomach ache.

• Muscle spasms.

• Nausea and diarrhea.

• Weight gain.

With long-term use of creatine, weight gain can be caused not only by muscle mass, but also by ordinary fluid retention in the body-edema. Moreover, the liquid can pass into the muscle tissue from other organs, which is fraught with a violation of the water-electrolyte balance. High doses of creatine can damage the liver and kidneys.

In recommended doses, creatine is considered a relatively safe remedy, but its effectiveness is not confirmed by serious studies.

Stimulants.

Some athletes, like ordinary people who try to "work harder and climb higher," abuse stimulants. These are substances that spur the central nervous system, increase blood pressure and increase heart rate.

Stimulants can:.

• Increase Stamina.

• Relieve fatigue.

• Suppress appetite.

• Improve attention and reaction.

Common stimulants are caffeine and amphetamines. Complex preparations for colds often contain a stimulant ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Energy drinks, popular among athletes, are rich in caffeine. Street drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine) also stimulate the central nervous system.

Risks associated with taking stimulants.

These substances, of course, can improve the reaction and aggressiveness of the player on the field, but they have side effects that have a bad effect on the performance of the athlete:.

• Irritability.

• Insomnia.

• Dehydration.

• Hallucinations.

• Heatstroke.

• Development of sustainability.

Other side effects of stimulants include:.

• Tachycardia.

• Arrhythmia.

• Weight loss.

• Tremor.

• Hypertension.

• Convulsions.

• Stroke.

• Infarction.

Summarize the overview. Some athletes, really, can win thanks to "wonderful" medicines, but at the price of this gain can be health, and even life. The decision remains for each of us.

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