What is a Performance Enhancing Drug?
Performance-enhancing drugs are any substance taken to perform better
athletically. This term is referenced often and typically refers to anabolic steroid use in sports by professional and amateur athletes. Other substances may also be taken to improve performance, including human growth hormone (hGH). (Drugfreesport.com) Human growth hormone (HGH), is available only by prescription and is administered by injection.
History of the drug
The use of performance-enhancing drugs by
professional athletes, or "doping", has been acknowledged as a problem since at least the
1960s.
1976 - The International Olympic Committee
(IOC) bans the use of steroids.
1999 - The IOC creates the World Anti-Doping
Agency.
2000 - The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is established.
Types of Performance Drugs
Performance-enhancing drugs are called
names such as: anabolic steroids androstenedione human growth hormone erythropoietin diuretics creatine stimulants
What is an Anabolic Steroid?
Some athletes take a form of steroids, known
as anabolic-androgen steroids or just anabolic steroids, to increase their muscle mass and strength. The main anabolic steroid hormone produced by your body is testosterone.
Testosterone has two main effects on your body: Anabolic effects promote muscle building.
Androgenic effects are responsible for male traits, such as facial hair and a deeper voice.
How Do Anabolic Steroids Work?
Anabolic steroids change muscle mass and
strength by two processes. First, the steroids lead to an increased production of proteins, which are the building blocks of muscle. The steroids also block the effect of the hormone cortisol on muscle tissue, so that existing muscle is broken down at a slower rate. Additionally, anabolic steroids lead to cells differentiating into muscle more readily than fat. (Hemenstiene)
What Effects does PED have on the body?
Anabolic steroids come with serious physical side effects
Men may develop:
Prominent breasts
Baldness
Shrunken testicles
Infertility
Impotence
Women may develop:
A deeper voice
An enlarged clitoris
Increased body hair
Baldness
Infrequent or absent periods
Pictures of Women on Steroids
Picture of men on Steroids
Serious Effects on the body
Other side effects include:
Heart palpitations
Heart rhythm abnormalities
Weight loss
Tremors
Mild high blood pressure (hypertension)
Hallucinations
Convulsions
Stroke
Heart attack and other
