Science and technology considered the human body as one of its most intriguing subjects. Its complexity drove scientists to great extents of research and discovery, wanting to unravel this fascinating machine. Since the 21st century, huge strides have been made toward the creation of human-like inventions such as artificial intelligence and enhanced robots (read more). But nothing came close to the authentic specimen.
The urge to find out the enigma of the human mind and body paved the way for many simple, yet significant discoveries. They found out that the human body is powered by many chemical substances, which include hormones.
Hormones are chemical messengers that travel in the bloodstream to exert several bodily functions. They control our development, reproduction, behavior, cognitive function, and mood. There are a wide variety of hormones that circulate our body—one such chemical is the steroid hormone, which is classified into two: corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are popularly known by professional athletes, bodybuilders, and image-conscious teenagers. Aside from “roids”, they are commonly referred to as APEDs or appearance and performance-enhancing drugs. According to this website (https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2016-04-21/before-you-try-steroids-to-build-muscle-read-this), they are called as such because most people use them for those specific reasons.
What is unknown to many are its medical benefits that have provided relief to millions of people with serious health conditions. Read on to know more about anabolic steroids: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
What are anabolic steroids?
The term “steroid hormone” refers to two things. One is the actual hormone that circulates throughout our body. The second is a man-made derivative of the male hormone testosterone. And that is known as anabolic steroids.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs that imitate the chemical structure, function, and effect of testosterone on the human body. They are best known for their bodybuilding and muscle-enhancing effects on the body. They can be taken in several forms such as tablets, injections, creams, patches, or drops.
These manufactured hormones are under the controlled substance category, which means that they are prescription-only medicines. They are prescribed by doctors and sold by pharmacists for medical and personal use alone. There are also several anabolic steroid drugs for sale on the internet. You can only procure it provided that you have the proper prescription.
Who uses it?
Initially, researchers created anabolics to address several health conditions. Today, they are used as treatments for patients battling chronic and terminal illnesses.
- AIDS patients
Aside from the debilitating impact of the virus, HIV-infected persons are also suffering from AIDS-related muscle wasting. It is a constant concern for them since muscle wasting leaves patients vulnerable to opportunistic infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Doctors prescribe them with anabolic steroids to help them build lean body mass and enhance their muscle strength and power. The drug also increases their blood levels to support adequate oxygen and nutrient transport.
- Aplastic anemia
Aplastic anemia is a disease characterized by failure of the bone marrow to produce sufficient amounts of blood cells in the body. The condition makes people susceptible to all kinds of infection, severe and sudden bleeding, and over fatigue.
According to this study, the use of anabolic hormones as therapy for patients with aplastic anemia produced positive responses. It stimulated stem cell proliferation within the bone marrow; which then resulted in the production of mature blood cells. It increases the patient’s hemoglobin concentration, platelet levels, and immunity.
Due to the favorable responses, patients were labeled as transfusion-independent after 8 weeks of steroid therapy.
- Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disabling condition that attacks the central nervous system. It disrupts the normal flow of stimulus towards the brain, causing the patient to experience muscle spasms, extreme weakness, visual disturbances, and balance issues.
The medical role of the synthetic anabolic hormone is to slow down the progression and relieve the symptoms of the disease. It acts by inducing its neuroprotective mechanisms and anti-inflammatory properties. This brings great relief to patients since the onset of inflammation triggers the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
The misuse of anabolic steroids
Due to its muscle-building capabilities, the drug is also regularly used by athletes and bodybuilders for non-medical purposes. Steroids were proven to help them build their physique and better their athletic performance.
However, illicit use of the drug is banned from several Olympic and athletic competitions. Athletes apprehended for its abuse and misuse are faced with suspension and possible expulsion.
Since 2019, its misuse has become prevalent even among teenagers and college students. A recent survey reported that almost 37% of senior high school students admitted to the regular use of the drug.
The epidemic had become a concern for health authorities because of the drug’s dangerous side effects. It not only causes physical changes but also profound psychological effects. The drug is also known for its abuse potential, accompanied by withdrawal symptoms upon sudden cessation of use. Sharing of injectable anabolic steroids may also expose its users from contracting blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and HIV.
What are its adverse effects?
Getting hooked on anabolic hormones present several harmful effects such as:
- Premature growth and development
- Acne
- High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Fatigue and sleep problems
- Mood behavior problems
- Depression, aggression, and irritability
- Mild hallucinations
- Long-term abuse subjects the user to permanent physical changes such as
- Shrinking of testicles and breast tissue development for males
- Development of facial hair and deep voice for females
Long-term usage also causes the abuser to develop permanent health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, liver and cardiovascular disease. It also takes a toll on their mental and psychological well-being. They usually experience sudden aggressive behaviors or angry outbursts. This also includes psychotic episodes and extreme hallucinations.
Like any medicine, steroid use must always be in moderation and under the strict supervision of healthcare personnel. Individuals prescribed with the drug should not deviate from its dosage and frequency without a doctor’s approval.
Seeking help to improve your body image and physical performance is allowed. But as responsible owners of our body, we should be able to tune in with what our body tells us. We should develop self-awareness and understand that there are always limitations to everything.
