Anabolic steroids

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorUniversity, Bachelor's February 2008

download word file, 8 pages 5.0

Are Anabolic Steroids Safe Even if you didn?t have any or little knowledge of steroids and were asked this question, you would probably answer no. Why? Would it be because a high school kid somewhere in California died from taking them? Or would it be because you read it in Readers Digest? Many people think you are selling your soul to the devil when you take steroids. There is an incredible amount of myths, misinformation, and misconceptions about anabolic steroid use and their dangers. Although there are risks, most people are misinterpreting them.

One of the biggest misconceptions about steroids is that it is a magic pill. A magic pill that will transform a 130 pound weakling into the hulk in a month. Steroids alone do not make muscles grow. They only aid in muscle growth. Steroids basically speed up muscle repair and slow down the body?s natural tendency to break down muscle.

Popular media has insinuated to the public about horror stories and the dangers. If they are so dangerous then why do doctors prescribe them? Why do pharmacies all over the planet still make them and sell them? To have an opinion on whether steroids are safe are not, it would help to know how they work and what responsibilities are needed when choosing to take them.

Anabolic Steroids are a synthetic for of the naturally occurring hormone, testosterone. Anabolic steroids are used to promote accelerated muscle hypertrophy in both males and females.

Hypertrophy describes the increase in size of muscle as the result of stress put upon the muscle. Muscles go through hypertrophy in order to adapt to the increased demands placed upon them to perform. This is the primary goal of weight training.

Once steroids are introduced into the bloodstream, they circulate throughout the body and...