The use of steroids is most common in male athletes who feel they are not measuring up to athletic standards. Young men will take steroids in order to ‘bulk up’, or gain weight in muscle mass, and steroids can also make athletes run faster and harder while on the field. For this reason, steroids are almost always abused; as athletes begin to see seemingly positive results from taking the steroids, they begin to take more and more until their bodies can not handle it. In recent years, coaches and personal trainers have made it a point to discourage players from taking steroids, since the practice can lead to injury, physical complications, and even death.

There are several negative effects of taking steroids, including high blood pressure, severe mood swings, aggression and irregular heart beat. Men who have been on steroids for quite some time may have violent episodes and not remember the incident when it’s over. This poses a real threat for the family members of these men, which is another reason why steroid use is so dangerous. Steroid use can also cause heart attacks, severe hypertension, and stunted growth for men who began taking steroids during puberty.

If you know someone who is taking steroids, or if you are thinking of trying them yourself, think again. The short-term effects of taking steroids may seem appealing, but steroids can be very addictive, and could change your life forever–and not in a way you’d hoped. Talk to your coach, school counselor, parent or other trusted adult about the risks of steroid use, and do your personal best to become a star athlete–without becoming addicted to steroids.

Clemens allegedly used Anabolic steroids which are illegal to use except for certain prescribed and specific medical conditions. They must also be used under a physician’s strict supervision. However, when taken without medical supervision, they can have dangerous and even deadly side effects; even once off the drug, the side effects can be permanent.

For example, in 1992, football player Lyle Alzado died of a cancerous brain tumor that may in part have been caused by his long-term anabolic steroid use. There are certain steroidal medications, such as cortisone or other corticosteroids, which are also carefully prescribed under a doctor’s supervision. The anabolic steroids athletes use are different than these which function as anti-inflammatories.

In sports, anabolic steroids are illegal in part because they artificially enhance performance instead of relying on the athlete’s own innate ability and physical fitness to bolster performance. This, of course, is unethical. The only way to win fairly and without cheating is to rely on your own abilities. You have to work hard to maintain peak physical fitness and performance, but it’s the only right way to win.

Oftentimes, athletes, and especially young athletes, overlook the dangers of taking steroids to get the short-term performance benefits steroids can give them. However, this is a dangerous and even deadly practice, with long-term health consequences.

Here’s what can happen when athletes or anyone else take anabolic steroids:

* High blood pressure (which in turn can cause stroke or heart attack)
* A reduction in “good” cholesterol
* Cancer
* Liver damage
* Aggressive behavior, even leading to violence
* Depression
* Acne
* Stunted growth in young people
* Hair loss
* “Reverse” gender characteristics’ appearance, such as breast growth in men and facial/body hair growth and breast reduction in women

Although enhancing your performance by natural, honest methods is not as quick and easy as steroid use, in the long run, it’s much healthier and ethical to do so.

First, there’s no substitute for regular exercise. Exercise produces a natural “high” of its own, because it releases “feel-good” hormones called endorphins. However, endorphins are a completely healthy high and only benefit you.

Second, a good diet is also important. Your body can’t function as it should without proper nutrition. You need to fuel your “engines” properly in order to work out effectively.

Third, if the person is still growing, they have to be careful as to how much they challenge themselves with weightlifting or other extremely strenuous sports. Of course, weightlifting is good when done in moderation so that you can build muscles, but young athletes especially have to be careful of injury that may in fact be permanent. Only perform extreme types of exercise such as weightlifting under a coach’s specific supervision.

Finally, there are some supplements you can take that appear to be beneficial and healthy. A good multivitamin supplement is a good start.

Remember that you have to win honestly and fairly even though the focus of many sports is “to win,”. If you don’t, it simply doesn’t count.