Find out what are the side effects of the most popular drugs in bodybuilding for gaining muscle mass and forming relief muscles. In this article, we will talk about the side effects and characteristics of the popular doping in bodybuilding. Moreover, it will not be about the use of doping by experienced athletes, but about adolescents. Everyone understands perfectly well that thoughtless use of AAS can lead to serious health problems, but this does not stop teenagers.
If you ask the question - why do they need it, then the most likely answer will be the desire to stand out from their peers and pump up as soon as possible. However, this is not entirely correct, since very often problems are associated with psychology. No one is trying to challenge the fact that AAS can be a powerful tool for enhancing athletic performance. However, this is only possible if they are used correctly. Let's look at the side effects that can be caused by the use of anabolic steroids.
Side effects of doping in bodybuilding
Today, the negative impact of AAS on the human body is often spoken about. Some of these effects are not serious, while others can do a lot of harm. If you decide to start using anabolic steroids, you must understand that they will always manifest themselves to varying degrees. You must first weigh the risks and benefits of using AAS. Only then can the final decision be made.
- Retention of sodium in the body. A very common side effect causing swelling in the water retention area. Very often this phenomenon of athletes is expressed in smoothing the relief of the muscles and increasing the volume of the body. Most often, swelling appears on the floor of the eyes and on the cheeks. As a result, your blood pressure may rise, which can be reduced with appropriate medications. Testosterone esters cause maximum fluid retention in the body.
- Acne (acne). Another common negative effect of AAS. If you are prone to getting acne, then the problem may get worse. The strength of this side effect is associated with the strength of the androgenic activity of steroids. If any type of anabolic steroid is causing you acne, then you shouldn't use it.
- Gynecomastia. This phenomenon often frightens athletes by media representatives. Gynecomastia is an unnatural enlargement of the mammary gland in men. It manifests itself when using anabolic steroids prone to aromatization. You should remember that after the appearance, gynecomastia cannot go away on its own, and will increase with each new cycle. Gynecomastia can be avoided by using low doses of steroids and by carrying out short cycles.
- Increased aggressiveness. This is one of the most common side effects caused by steroid use. Sometimes athletes say that this allows them to better endure high loads, but much more often the increase in aggressiveness is negative. This effect is caused by powerful androgens.
- Increased blood pressure. Very often, when using AAS, blood pressure increases. This is due to the retention of a large amount of fluid in the body and an increase in body weight. The first symptoms of impending hypertension are headache, sleep disturbance and difficulty breathing. As a result, the work of the heart and vascular system can be disrupted.
- Heart problems. Anabolics significantly increase the risk of developing diseases of the vascular system and heart. In most cases, this is due to a change in cholesterol balance, which is shifted towards low density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol). As a result, plaques may begin to appear on the walls of the vessels, and then complete blockage of the vessels is possible.
- Hypertrophy of the heart muscle. If steroids are used for a long time and in high doses, then this can cause an increase in the size of the heart, which is very dangerous. If you have the first symptoms of cardiac hypertrophy, then you need to stop using AAS, reduce body weight and switch to using low-intensity cardio loads.
- Virilization. This is a whole group of side effects that can occur in girls using anabolic steroids. Virilization is a process of development of secondary sexual characteristics of a man, which is irreversible. Most often, virilization is manifested in a hoarse voice. It is also possible to increase the size of the clitoris, the appearance of facial hair, etc. The main reason for virilization is the long-term use of steroids in high doses.
- Water-salt retention. Very often, as a result of the use of AAS, there is a violation of water-electrolyte homeostasis in the body. This leads to the retention of a large amount of fluid in the body and severe swelling. If fluid accumulates in small amounts, then this can be considered a positive point, since the articular-ligamentous apparatus functions better.
- Feminization. The first signs of feminization are the aforementioned gynecomastia, an increase in the body's ability to store fats and muscle softening. The main reason for this phenomenon lies in the high concentration of estrogen. With an excessively high content of estrogen in a man's body, female sexual characteristics may appear.
This problem can be exacerbated by insufficient androgen levels. It should also be noted that simultaneously with an increase in the level of female hormones, there is a drop in the rate of testosterone production. Genetic predisposition is of great importance here. In some athletes, the manifestation of gynecomastia is almost impossible, while in others it can appear even with the use of 10 milligrams of methane.
For more on early courses of steroids, see this video:
