First-Hand Steroid Knowledge

Written by guest author Carolann S. 43-year veteran nurse

Being a 43-year veteran nurse and newly retired and having personal experience taking steroids for many years due to asthma, I have a lot to say about steroid use. My passion is health and fitness.

My message, today speaks to high school coaches, youth organizations, booster clubs, instructors, parents and parent teacher associations, and finally yet importantly, the student high school athletes who think they can succeed better in sports if they take steroids.

I know all about anabolic steroids developed just for athletics because my husband has been a weight lifter for over 40-years, yet reaching his fitness goals and never taking any kind of steroids. He has many years of research under his belt about steroid use.

I was a 20-year prescribed systemic steroid user for asthma and I have first hand experience about how steroids can tear all vital organs apart. Steroids took care of the asthma, but at a cost. It makes no difference what he or she calls the steroid, they are all the same and do the same kind of damage to the body, especially to the heart.

Students, Avoid Anabolic Steroids

The FDA banned anabolic steroids several years ago because of their dangerous properties. They did the correct thing because anabolic steroids were used in abundance and frequently misused. Since that, time manufacturers have compounded anabolic steroids (now considered safe steroids) and these are now FDA approved for consumer use.

However, just because the FDA approves a product does not mean that it is safe for every one's body. I am not speaking specifically of anabolic steroids, but of all medicines, vitamins, minerals, supplements and steroids. Everyone reacts differently to these things. Someone may react adversely to these steroids, but they may not bother another individual taking the same product. Every person needs to be aware of this fact.

Steroids prescribed to a patient by a physician for short-term can be effective doing little to no damage to the body. The reverse side is that this is definitely not safe for recreational or athletic enhancement.

The growing use of steroids with high school athletes is on the rise. Students are taking steroids to get increased muscle mass in less time and decrease his or her body fat content.

My message is directed to athletic coaches, instructors, parents, and finally yet importantly the students who think they can succeed better in sports if they take steroids. Student athletics have a common goal in mind when taking steroids and this is to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat content, developing a physic to die for, which very well may happen.

Steroids increase muscle mass and increases the heart muscle. An enlarged heart is not a good thing and puts him or her at risk for a sudden heart attack of which he or she may or may not survive.

Long-Term Danger to Students

If anything on this planet is out of his or her sight, it is going to be out of his or her mind also and he or she will not give the thing a second thought, because he or she cannot directly see these side effects, maybe for years. There are just too many side effects related to steroid use to count, however the following are the top eleven of the more serious.

• Glaucoma with irreversible blindness
• Cataracts with blindness and possible reversal of the blindness
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity
• Acid reflux
• Brittle bones or Osteoporosis
• Myopathy
• Lowers immunity to fight off infections
• Cushing Syndrome

Warning Signs a Student is Taking Steroids

Certain warning signs appear in a student taking steroids and parents and coaches need to be aware of these warning signs. If the student is speaking words that the parent does not know the meaning such as juice, sauce, slop, vitamins, product, and roids they may be talking about or taking steroids. If a parent notices any of the following in their child they need to speak with the child, the doctor and the child's coach.

• Muscle mass growth in short period of time
• Obsessed gym workouts
• Moodiness, aggressive behavior, hostile attitude
• Male develops larger than normal breasts
• Skin tightens abnormally to accommodate new muscle mass
• Increase acne outbreaks
• Puffy body appearance
• High blood pressure
• High heart rate
• Needle marks on the buttocks

Reference

http://taylorhooton.org/steroid-abuse-among-connecticut-teenagers-is-a-growing-problem/
http://espn.go.com/high-school/story/_/id/4476299/athletes-facing-multitude-training-issues/
http://sub.gmnews.com/news/2005-12-22/Sports/048.html
http://www.thefoxhealth.net
Personal experience of this author