Essay On Effects Of Drugs On Athletes

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Register to read the introduction… Anabolic steroids have both behavioral and physical side effects. Some of the side effects go away once the user stops taking steroids. However, there are some side effects that may be permanent such as stunted growth in adolescent users (“Dangers”). Steroids may cause an increase in aggressive behavior as well as impaired judgment and feeling invincible (“Steroids (Anabolic)”). Serious psychiatric dysfunctions are linked to taking steroids. This includes paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, and delusions. Some physical side effects of using steroids are head baldness and increased hair on the body (“Dangers”). Acne on the back is one of the biggest signs that someone is a user (Hoffman). Since steroids supply the body with testosterone, the body does not make its own testosterone anymore. This causes testicles to shrink and may cause a reduction in sperm (Hoffman). Steroids also increase bad cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol (Mayo Clinic Staff). Risk of having a stroke is greater for steroid users (“Dangers”). Steroids can be lethal to anyone having a mental or cardiovascular disease (Hoffman).
Athletes take anabolic steroids at higher doses than a doctor would prescribe for medical purposes, which makes it easy to become addicted (“Dangers”). Abusers have increased risk of heart attacks, coronary disease, liver damage, jaundice, fluid retention, high blood pressure,
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Athletes are not under medical supervision. They are uneducated in the proper dosage amounts, behavioral side effects, physical side effects, and addiction risks. Performance-enhancing drugs are prohibited for use in sports. The International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and many other professional sports leagues have banned the use of steroids by athletes, because of the potential side effects and because they give the user an unfair competitive advantage (Drug Enforcement Administration). Therefore, the risks that athlete’s take in using performance-enhancing drugs to improve their performance is not worth the short-term

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