Steroid Guide Review

What Are the Bad Side Effects of Steroids

Bad side effects of steroids are commonly observed in the field of sports.  Weight lifters, baseball players, cyclists, football players, and athletes participating in the Olympics have probably been the vast majority of steroid users.  It has been proven that everyone may react differently to steroids.  This means that steroid effects vary with each individual.

The long term use of anabolic steroids has been linked with numerous effects.  These bad side effects of steroids, however, are not predictable and definite with respect to the dose and the frequency they are taken.

There are numerous negative effects of prolonged use.  Steroids can increase the perception of physical strength of weight lifters.  This causes a recreational weight lifter to lift heavier weights than what is specifically and physically possible for him.  As a result, torn tendons are frequent because muscle strength increases faster than tendon strength.   Another side effect is the impairment of the immune system.  The body’s ability to combat infection is greatly impaired after taking steroids.  This can lead to serious problems.  Steroids are also known to cause certain cancers.  Liver damage is another serious problem to consider.  Other body systems may also be damaged such as the cardiovascular, hormonal, reproductive and nervous systems.

In order to be more specific about bad side effects of steroids, the following are listed.  Sometimes these are reversible after discontinuance of steroids.

In young athletes, steroids were found to limit final body height because steroids cause an early end to bone development.  Peliosis hepatitis is a rare type of hepatitis linked with steroid use.  Cardiovascular problems include high blood pressure, decrease in red blood cells, increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol.  These conditions when seriously present in the body can lead to stroke, heart attack, and blood clots in the lungs.

Physiological effects were also proven to coexist with physical problems.  Breast enlargement in men and atrophy of testicles may be present.  Other problems include decreased sperm count, impotence, premature baldness and acne.

In addition to physiological effects, psychological effects were also proven and considered.  Addiction, mania, psychosis, and irritability are common among men.