Dorothy FarrarAnabolic steroids (anabolic)
Anabolic steroids ensure a positive nitrogen balance in the body and thus promote the building of muscle mass. Anabolic steroids in sports are considered doping and are illegal.
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are drugs that contribute to an accelerated build-up of fat-free mass, or muscle mass, in the body. They ensure a metabolic state that promotes the development of muscles. Anabolic steroids mainly promote the synthesis of proteins, also called proteins. Anabolic steroids are used both in livestock breeding and in human medicine. In medicine, they are used to treat bronchial asthma, COPD, growth disorders and reduced testicular performance. They have severe side effects and can increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Overdose should be avoided. In addition, the drug is used illegally as doping in sport.
Effect and medical application
The intake of anabolic steroids results in an extremely positive metabolic situation for muscle building. The main effect of these drugs is increased protein biosynthesis. Protein biosynthesis is a chemical process that produces protein from simple amino acids composed of proteins. These drugs cause a positive nitrogen balance in the human body, which is conducive to building muscle mass.
Anabolic steroids have, therefore, as the name suggests, an anabolic effect. However, the anabolic preparations have an androgenic effect, which in most cases has a negative effect. The anabolic steroids have a strong influence on the external and internal genital organs. In addition, they have a strong effect on the human psyche. There are different groups of anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids, derivatives of the hormone testosterone, were developed during the Second World War to regain strength of weakened and malnourished prisoners of war.
In human medicine, they are nowadays used for insufficient testicular performance, bronchial disease COPD, bronchial asthma, growth disorders or physically very weakened people. β2-sympathomimetics have a bronchodilator effect and were therefore developed to treat people with bronchial asthma. Growth hormones are also anabolic steroids. They unfold their anabolic effect in cell and body growth.
Shapes and groups
Substances that have an anabolic effect can be divided into different groups. In addition to anabolic steroids, selective androgen receptor modulators, β2sympathomimetics and growth hormones are also among the anabolic agents. The most common are the steroids, which also include the body’s own sex hormone testosterone. This hormone has different tasks and is present in both the male and female body. A central task for the development of artificially produced steroids is the building of muscle mass.
Artificially produced steroids, which are similar to testosterone in its effect, are also used. These include Metenolone (Primobolan Depot®, Primobolan S®), Furazabol (Miotolan®), Metandienone (Metanabol®, Naposim®) and Nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin®). A common active ingredient of β2-sympathomimetics is clenbuterol (Spiropent®). An active ingredient that can be assigned to the growth hormones and is also an endogenous substance is somatotropin (genotropin®, humatorope®, saizen®, omnitrope®).
Dosage
Anabolic steroids are often taken abusively. Many athletes use the muscle-building effect and use the drugs as doping agents. This is illegal and can have life-threatening consequences. A necessary therapy with anabolic steroids should be discussed with the attending physician. Depending on height, weight and medical problems, each patient should be individually adjusted to a drug in terms of quantity and type.
Regular blood checks are indispensable. Too high doses of anabolic steroids should be avoided. They not only damage the organs, but cannot be meaningfully metabolized by the body in too high quantities. On the other hand, anabolic steroids in too low a dosage can not achieve the desired effect.
Plant-based, natural and pharmaceutical alternatives
There are a number of steroid-like substances that have a comparable anabolic effect. Natural anabolic steroids include the substances methoxy, methoxivone or methoxyisoflavones. Also on the market is the substance ipriflavone. This substance was developed in the 90s as a bone-building agent and is also intended to stimulate muscle building. For many substances, however, scientifically sound studies for their effectiveness are still lacking.
Especially in asthma, lifelong medication with β2-sympathomimetics such as salbutamol® is not always necessary. The condition can be kept at a low limiting level by a healthy lifestyle. In particular, smoking should be avoided. For athletes who abuse anabolic steroids to quickly build muscle mass, a change in diet is alternative. Certain diets can accelerate the build-up of fet-free body mass and thus achieve the desired effect.
Interactions and side effects
Side effects for anabolic steroids are quite common. Side effects typical of anabolic steroids include acne, liver damage, and cardiovascular problems. In addition, anabolic substances also have an effect on the psyche and can result in an increased willingness to use violence and depression. Long-term use of anabolic steroids primarily weakens the pumping capacity of the left heart and should be avoided.
This is also a risk factor for heart failure. In men, sperm production can also stop. In women, steroids can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, increased hairiness, and clitoral growth. Side effects of β2 sympathomimetics are headaches, muscle tremors, muscle spasms and cardiovascular problems. Taking growth hormone increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as blood cancer.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.