Anabolic steroids are the synthetic derivatives of testosterone – a potent androgenic hormone produced chiefly by the testes and responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics. Often, these steroids are medically prescribed as part of a regimen to help restoring strength in aging men and women.
Anabolic Steroids are also extensively used in treating various medical conditions, such as, hypogonadism, delayed puberty, and some types of impotence. They are also used against several chronic wasting diseases, such as AIDS and Cancer.
Dr. Alan Mintz, the founder of the Las Vegas-based Cenegenics Medical Institute, opines that anabolic steroids are wonderful medicines, which give power to the aging people to help them live healthy life in later years. The doctor believes that anabolic steroids have great benefit, if they are taken or used in right way.
However, anabolic steroids are often used as performance enhancing drugs in various sports fields. They are commonly used by pro bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other jocks. Anabolic steroids are also used by young boys and girls for various cosmetic purposes.
Dr. Alan Mintz however opines that hormonal overload in a healthy body can lead to serious health and ethical issues. He believes that 20-25 years old young people do not anabolic steroids. The drugs are good, if the people using them are not able to produce testosterone naturally in their bodies. However, there are several side effects and health problems that these drugs can cause, if they are abused. Some of the side effects include – premature balding or hair loss, dizziness, mood swings (anger, depression and aggression), hallucinations, extreme feelings of mistrust or fear, sleeping problems, vomiting and nausea, trembling, high blood pressure, aching joints, jaundice, liver damage, urinary problems, shortening of the final adult height, increased risk of developing heart disease, and strokes.
But, studies have proved that steroids taken in low doses do not cause health problems. Steroids are good, but they become bad and ugly, if they are abused or overused.
“The concern I have is that hysteria over steroids use will cause people to lose sight of the potential good side of these hormones. It's really going to scare people away from their legitimate medical use,” says Dr. John Baxter, the former president of the Endocrine Society & the professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco.
