Athletes of all kinds strive to be stronger and faster. This characteristic has brought rise in athletes turning to unnatural ways to aid in improving their performance. Androgenic anabolic steroids are what athletes have turned to in order to perform at a higher level in their sport or to improve their body composition. For many years, steroids were abused solely by professional athletes and elite bodybuilders. However, over time this use has spread to recreational athletes and has found its way into high schools across the country. This growing epidemic of anabolic steroid use has inspired a closer look into these controversial drugs. The increased performance from anabolic steroid use is heavily outweighed by the negative effects steroids
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One of the most controversial and widespread system of the body of which steroids affect is the cardiovascular system. Peter Angell et al states in their article, “The developing list of case studies provides compelling evidence of the significant, and often fatal, association between AS and CVD (cardiovascular disease)” (121). There are a multitude of case studies looking into the relationship between these two. However, the studies can be misleading due to limited participants in the studies. It is hard to determine causality of CVD from AS use simply because they have not studied enough users. Statements like the one above are what has caused disagreements among athletes and medical professionals. World record squat holder and weightlifting coach, Brandon Smitley, chooses not to partake in AAS use even though AAS use is widespread in his sport (Smitley). He also agrees the scientific community has over-exaggerated the side effects of anabolic usage. Due to the limited studies, Angell then discusses how the recent information linking CVD to AS use is “largely contradictory and inconclusive” (130). The controversy between these two subjects have led to loss of credibility to medical professionals studying the connection between AS and CVD due to them exaggerating …show more content…
The blindness these users have to these changes that will begin to occur in their body is unsettling. The most important aspect to focus on in the current state of this epidemic, is prevention. Prevention of steroid use has to begin with informing. Yes, AAS are illegal and have been now for some time. However, simply making these drugs illegal has not stopped anyone who wishes to partake in them from attaining them and taking these drugs without being caught. Sabyasachi Chatterjee wrote in the International Scientific Journal of Sport Sciences, “A large information and credibility gap concerning anabolic steroids exists between athletes and the medical and scientific communities and this gap can be closed only if both groups are better informed about AAS” (23). This statement embodies exactly what must be done in order to stop or if anything decreases the use of AAS among athletes. The prevention and informing needs to start at the lowest level. Programs need to be placed in high schools regarding the numerous and extreme negative effects these drugs can have on all types of users. If high schoolers are informed that one day they could have trouble starting a family or could increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, then just maybe this will stop a few young adults from partaking in an illegal activity that can affect the rest of their
One of the most controversial and widespread system of the body of which steroids affect is the cardiovascular system. Peter Angell et al states in their article, “The developing list of case studies provides compelling evidence of the significant, and often fatal, association between AS and CVD (cardiovascular disease)” (121). There are a multitude of case studies looking into the relationship between these two. However, the studies can be misleading due to limited participants in the studies. It is hard to determine causality of CVD from AS use simply because they have not studied enough users. Statements like the one above are what has caused disagreements among athletes and medical professionals. World record squat holder and weightlifting coach, Brandon Smitley, chooses not to partake in AAS use even though AAS use is widespread in his sport (Smitley). He also agrees the scientific community has over-exaggerated the side effects of anabolic usage. Due to the limited studies, Angell then discusses how the recent information linking CVD to AS use is “largely contradictory and inconclusive” (130). The controversy between these two subjects have led to loss of credibility to medical professionals studying the connection between AS and CVD due to them exaggerating …show more content…
The blindness these users have to these changes that will begin to occur in their body is unsettling. The most important aspect to focus on in the current state of this epidemic, is prevention. Prevention of steroid use has to begin with informing. Yes, AAS are illegal and have been now for some time. However, simply making these drugs illegal has not stopped anyone who wishes to partake in them from attaining them and taking these drugs without being caught. Sabyasachi Chatterjee wrote in the International Scientific Journal of Sport Sciences, “A large information and credibility gap concerning anabolic steroids exists between athletes and the medical and scientific communities and this gap can be closed only if both groups are better informed about AAS” (23). This statement embodies exactly what must be done in order to stop or if anything decreases the use of AAS among athletes. The prevention and informing needs to start at the lowest level. Programs need to be placed in high schools regarding the numerous and extreme negative effects these drugs can have on all types of users. If high schoolers are informed that one day they could have trouble starting a family or could increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, then just maybe this will stop a few young adults from partaking in an illegal activity that can affect the rest of their