Expert Reveals Four Hidden Risks of Anabolic Use in Video Interview
In the realm of health and medicines, anabolic steroids serve a specific purpose in certain medical cases, such as aiding individuals with muscle wasting conditions or those suffering from hypogonadism, a deficiency in sex hormones. However, it is crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with their consumption, particularly when building or recovering muscle.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances of a testosterone hormone, and their long-term use can have detrimental effects on both the brain and the heart. These powerful substances can increase the risk of stroke and blood clot formation, a serious concern that can lead to acute events such as heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms.
The heart is not the only organ at risk. Anabolic steroids can cause the heart muscle to enlarge (hypertrophy), compromising its ability to pump efficiently and potentially leading to long-term heart failure. Moreover, steroid use adversely affects cholesterol levels by increasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decreasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), a combination that raises cardiovascular risk substantially.
The neuropsychiatric effects of anabolic steroids are equally concerning. Chronic use can lead to mood disturbances such as aggression, mania, psychosis, and dependence. Some evidence suggests that high doses may cause irreversible neurotoxic damage to neurons. Studies have also found reduced brain volume in the cerebral cortex among steroid users, though the clinical significance of this is still under investigation.
It's important to note that anabolic steroids produce a strong "psychological addiction" separate from physical addiction. People who use anabolic steroids often feel compelled to continue their use due to the feelings of good health and excitement they experience.
In women, anabolic steroids can lead to deepening of the voice, hair loss, and changes in the menstrual cycle. In men, they can cause infertility, testicular atrophy, and gynecomastia, the development of breasts.
Anabolic steroids are prohibited in both amateur and professional sports due to their performance-enhancing effects and the associated health risks. It is advisable to avoid their use, as highlighted by Dr. Tartaglione, who emphasizes that they do not belong in any context outside of specific medical cases.
In conclusion, long-term anabolic steroid use leads to pathological heart enlargement and impaired function, worsened blood lipid profiles, increased blood pressure, and a propensity for clot formation, all of which elevate the risk of strokes and cardiovascular events. Neurotoxic effects and psychiatric symptoms, including potential brain structure changes, also occur with chronic use.
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- The company must prioritize mental health, recognizing that anabolic steroids can cause mood disturbances, aggression, psychosis, and addiction, which are significant concerns in health-and-wellness and mental-health discussion.
- In relation to therapies-and-treatments, it is crucial to explore alternative methods for muscle recovery and building, as anabolic steroids can lead to heart failure, strokes, cardiovascular events, and neurotoxic effects, thus posing severe risks that overshadow their potential benefits in non-specific medical cases.
