What Are Steroids?

What are Steroids?

Anabolic steroids were developed to treat hypogonadism, a condition in

which the tests do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that can boost the body's ability to

produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some athletes take steroids in

their hopes that they will improve their ability to run faster, lift heavy objects,

jump higher, or have more endurance.

Steroid Dangers?

Taking high doses of steroids increases risk of enlargement and abnormalties

of the heart, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. It reduce

fertility in both women and men. You can get hepatitis or HIV if steroids are

injected with dirty needles. Both women and men can get liver cancer. For guys

it can cause baldness, painful erections, and shrinkage of testicles. For girls it can

deepen voice, breast reduction enlarged clitoris, growth of facial and body hair. For

both guys and girls acne, mood swings, and swelling, increase of feelings of

hostility, and increase in bad cholesterol levels

Treating steroids

Physicians have found that supportive therapy is sufficient in some cases.

If symptoms are severe or prolonged, medications or hospitalization may be

needed.