Steroids are dangerous for brains of teenagers

Leslie Henderson worries about adolescents. She is troubled because many adolescents take anabolic steroids which may be dangerous for them. These medicines may make teenagers aggressive. Moreover, steroids may affect various systems of consumers. According to Leslie Henderson, the most dangerous aspect connected with usage of these drugs by adolescents is following: these products influence on the brain negatively. They destroy not only functions of the brain; they also change the way it acts.
Anabolic steroids have been elaborated in order to treat certain health disorders. These preparations are capable to promote development of secondary male features in boys with delayed puberty. They have ability to prevent muscle loss in individuals with HIV/AIDS and other health problems. But these products are also often abused. They are taken for enhancement of muscle mass and strength. When doctors recommend administering steroids to cure certain diseases, they indicate relatively low quantities that don’t cause dangerous adverse results. When these products are taken for performance-enhancing effects, dosages are high. But it is necessary to know that high measures may cause serious unwanted reactions.
Non-therapeutic intake of steroids is very dangerous for teenagers. Their systems have not been yet developed. That’s why these medicines may lead to irreversible changes in them. Steroids may destroy their physical as well mental health of teenagers. As a result, negative consequences of steroids are manifested in them not only during adolescence but also when they grow up. If adult persons abuse steroids, they usually don’t suffer from such prolonged serious side reactions, as adolescents experience. That’s why Leslie Henderson and other specialists note that it is important to teach teenagers about negative impact of steroids on them. They should know about all probable dangers. If teenagers know about severe adverse reactions of steroids, they will probably stop taking these preparations for improvement of physique and performance.

Glucocorticosteroids and development of obesity

A late study has manifested that glucocorticosteroids induce increasing fat storage. These substances have direct influence on androgen receptors which reduce body fat deposits.
This research is especially precious in our era, when a lot of persons experience obesity. According to statements of certain scientists, it is necessary to lower amount of glucocorticosteroids in order to avoid or cure obesity.
When specialists conducted this study, they had the following goal: they attempted to understand ways, causes and stages of development of fat levels. Basing upon results of the study, the scientists have claimed that androgen receptors should be activated in order to lower fat deposits. So, obesity could be cured even at the early stages of development.
The androgen testosterone binds itself to androgen receptors. Thus, androgen receptors become able to manage creation of muscle mass, increase defined muscles, etc.
According to the research, glucocorticosteroids reduce activity of androgen receptors. So, they become inefficient to control growth of muscle mass and decrease of fat accumulation. That’s why fat is stored especially in abdominal area.
The specialists affirm that this study can promote developing new ways to cure and prevent obesity. The new methods will be connected with glucocorticosteroids and androgen receptors.

British steroid law bans purchase of steroids via internet

British citizens are not allowed to buy steroids via internet. Importation of steroids into the UK is claimed to be illicit under a new amendment to the steroid law. Those who live in the UK and import steroids into the country are punished. But Britons may freely buy, possess and apply steroids.
According to the “personal custody”, those that arrived to London for the Olympics were allowed to import steroids for personal usage. It was not claimed to be illicit under British laws. Nonetheless, those that live inside the UK don’t have any right to buy steroids at online pharmacies and import them from other countries to the UK.
Earlier British citizens were allowed to purchase steroids from outside the country. The amendment was recommended by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in order to protect health of those that take steroids. But could the amendment do it?
Many underground labs produce anabolic steroids inside the UK. They prosper on account of the amendment. But it is important to take in consideration that numerous underground labs manufacture fake steroids. So, British citizens have to buy steroids of low quality because it is forbidden to import steroids that are produced outside the country by safe pharmaceutical companies.
The government informed Needle-Syringe Program (NSP) workers that they would have to work more. It was confirmed that the amendment would increase the number of steroid users.
Actually, the amendment is likely to have negative influence on health of steroid users. Steroid-using sportspersons and bodybuilders may get serious undesirable reactions because they switch from quality steroids produced by safe pharmaceutical companies to worse drugs produced by underground labs located in the UK.

Why do feds pursue steroid users/dealers?

Federal prosecutors don’t possess sufficient knowledge about anabolic steroids, however they pursue those who produce, apply and/or sell these medications. They don’t read scientific literature about these preparations. The government uses information that is provided in Wikipedia. Although federal prosecutors say about undesirable consequences of steroids, they don’t know about these aspects sufficiently. Citing affirmations about steroids written in Wikipedia, they punish consumers/manufacturers/distributors of these medications, affirming that these medicines represent evil.
Several important questions appear here: Is it correct to base upon information written in Wikipedia in such situations? Are these statements true? Aren’t they exposed to manipulations? Aren’t they mixed with personal opinions of contributors?
Maurice Hall, the associate professor of communication and culture at Villanova University, confirms that it is not reasonable to base entirely upon affirmations written in Wikipedia. He adds that Wikipedia serves an excellent guide for footnotes. But information provided in Wikipedia may be not true entirely.
For example, when John Isaac Hudelson was sentenced to prison, feds based their conclusions linked with illicit operations of this person upon statements cited from Wikipedia. Feds claimed that Hudelson would be sentenced 47-54 months in prison because he administered and distributed steroids. Stephen Greubel, the defense attorney for Hudelson, argued that 47-54 months in jail were too much for his client. He claimed that Hudelson sold steroids, products that differed from such drugs, as amphetamine, methamphetamine, codeine, morphine, etc. The defense attorney confirmed that steroids didn’t cause addiction.
Federal prosecutors confirmed that John Isaac Hudelson manufactured, used and distributed steroids to his friends. They affirmed that while steroids didn’t lead to addiction, muscularity could be addictive. Moreover, they added that steroids could lead to serious adverse effects. All statements of federal prosecutors were based upon those presented in Wikipedia.
Finally, the government sent Isaac John Hudelson to 37-month imprisonment.

Tyler Hamilton: cyclists can avoid detection while doping

Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle have published a book linked with application of EPO and anabolic steroids. Tips given in the book can serve as a proof that Lance Armstrong used banned substances. The book has been entitled following: “The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at all Costs”. The book contains guidelines linked with usage of EPO and steroids in cycling and ways to avoid detection. It demonstrates that drug testing is inefficient in this sport.
Tyler Hamilton claims that sportspersons can administer steroids without being detected. The author claims that the WADA doesn’t have any chance to win. Hamilton describes weakness of the WADA in testing athletes for prohibited medications.
According to Tyler Hamilton, it is not difficult to avoid detection while taking EPO. It is needed to utilize the procedure “microdosing”. What does it actually represent? Sportspersons should not introduce 2,000 Units of EPO subcutaneously each 3rd or 4th day. They must inject 400-500 Units of EPO every 3rd or 4th night into veins. This method is called “microdosing”. Utilizing this way of administration, cyclists can avoid detection without any problem.
Since microdosing is an appropriate way to avoid detection while applying EPO, this method must be proper in case of steroid use as well. Thus, Tyler Hamilton supposes that cyclists and other sportspersons can avoid detection while taking anabolic steroids. He presents guidelines related to this issue in details in the book.  The author explains how it is possible to hit tests of anti-doping system.
Actually, it is unlikely that guidelines provided in Tyler’s book will change essence of cycling. While introduction of the biological passport by anti-doping agencies can’t stop doping, introduction of microdosing into usage of EPO is not the new beginning of doping in cycling. Instructions of Hamilton may change only the essence of doping in this sport. Usage of doping products is a part of cycling. Let notice the truth. Like there is no Santa Claus, there is no clean sport at the high level.

Effectiveness of steroids

There are three classes of steroids: corticosteroids, estrogens and progestogens, and anabolic-androgenic steroids.
Essence of corticosteroids is similar to that of hormones produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids may be in form of creams, ointment, inhalation drugs, etc. They are taken to treat inflammations, allergy, disorders of respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal and other systems.
Estrogens and progestogens represent female sex hormones. These substances induce developing female secondary features. Birth control tablets contain these hormones.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are medications which are also widely used in medicine. They have capacity to cure several types of breast cancer, testicular cancer, anemia, etc. These products are often prescribed to get better and faster recovery after several operations. Burn victims, persons with HIV/AIDS take anabolic-androgenic steroids for prevention of muscle loss. Certain steroids are also applied for treatment of osteoporosis. These remedies are also directed for treatment of infertility.
Furthermore, anabolic-androgenic steroids are applied for athletic needs. These drugs are able to build muscles and promote increasing energy. That’s why many sportspersons and bodybuilders take them for performance-enhancing effects. Several anabolic-androgenic steroids are capable also to burn fat, making muscles distinctive.
Intake of anabolic-androgenic steroids for non-clinical needs is illegal under laws of certain countries. Those who manufacture, distribute, buy and use these medications illegally may be sentenced to imprisonment and/or fines. These products belong to illegal substances in certain countries because they may cause different negative reactions. While some negative consequences are mild and disappear after discontinuation of usage, others are sever and even irreversible. Those that desire to get benefits, administering steroids for medical needs, should use these preparations under recommendations of doctors.

Anna Watson refuses modeling contract

When it is said about cheerleaders, we imagine brisk and slim females. But we have to realize that sometimes the reality differs from our imagination. The cheerleader Anna Watson is an example in this case. She has great muscles. But she is very nice.
A fitness modeling agency offered her a $75000 contract. But she didn’t agree to obtain it. Actually, it is surprisingly because numerous ladies want to get such contracts. But she didn’t agree to get it because she had to use steroids for this need.
When Anna Watson began to study at Hawaii Pacific University, she started weight lifting. The lady trained hardly and consumed circa 3000 calorie daily. Finally she was capable to lift 230 pounds. But her weight was insufficient to get a modeling fitness contract. However she consumed much protein, she could not get necessary pounds.
A modeling agent claimed that the steroid Anavar could help her to gain weight. Anna Watson had to gain 50 pounds in order to get the contract. So, she started using the steroid Anavar in order to increase body weight. She was eating “forever”, even if she didn’t feel hunger. Despites of her efforts, diet and administration of the steroid Anavar, she could not gain 50 pounds. The cheerleader gained just 10 pounds.
The cheerleader Anna Watson practices Christianity. She belongs to a local church. Finally, she decided to ask a weight lifting champion for recommendations. Hugh Kirby that is also a member of the church has advised her to stay far from administration of steroids. He claimed that these drugs could cause various unwanted effects. This person also mentioned that steroids could cause infertility. So, Hugh Kirby confirmed that it would be better to refuse the contract instead of experiencing health problems, especially infertility.
So, Anna Watson didn’t agree to obtain the contract. But she decided not to leave her workouts. The cheerleader dreams to become a personal trainer.
Actually, Anna Watson made a correct decision. It is reasonable to keep female features without a modeling contract instead of having the contract and experiencing signs of masculinization owing to intake of steroids.

Steroid dealers should not be allowed to avoid sanctions

However it is illegal to sell anabolic steroids in certain countries, some steroid dealers are not sanctioned appropriately. For example, lately two persons who sold steroids illegally didn’t go to prison. They were sentenced only to work certain hours. However these individuals advertised and sold steroids via internet, they avoided prison successfully. These individuals distributed medicines which could affect health of consumers. That’s why they had to be punished more harshly.
Numerous consumers of steroids don’t know anything about risks related to them. They don’t know that usage of steroids may cause certain health troubles. It is necessary to consider that some steroids are aromatizable. It means that they may convert into estrogen, increasing levels of this hormone. As a result, male users of such steroids may experience gynecomastia, abnormal fat distribution, water retention, etc. Undoubtedly, gynecomastia is very unpleasant effect for men. Sometimes it can’t be treated with preparations. Thus, it may require an operation.
Certain steroids are dangerous for women. They may cause signs of virilization in them. So, some females that administer androgenic steroids have deep voice, hirsutism, baldness, menstrual problems, infertility, etc.
Numerous steroids may influence on liver negatively. They may cause liver dysfunctions. If anyone has had liver problems before administration of steroids, these medications may lead to severer complications.
Nonetheless, nobody can doubt about benefits which can be acquired owing to usage of steroids. These medications promote developing new muscle tissues. They also increase existing muscles. Moreover, these medicines help to get strength. Certain steroids induce fat burning, making muscle more defined.
However potential positive effects of steroids are amazing, it is important to consider possible unwanted effects. It is confirmed that steroids may cause depression and uncontrolled aggressiveness. Thus, certain users of these medicines commit various crimes. While certain users may commit suicides, others violate, murder other individuals.
Steroids may lead also to other undesirable reactions that are not listed in the article. People should be aware of what they administer. Those that sell these medicines illegally should be punished appropriately.

Steroid use in football

Many articles report about intake of steroids in baseball. Sportswriters and reporters describe steroid scandals which occur in this sport. It is widely debated about steroid era in baseball. MLB players are required to submit to numerous drug tests. It seems that each individual interested in sports blames baseball players for intake of doping products. Do just baseball players apply steroids and other related preparations? What do you believe about football players? Don’t they dope? Why do we demonize only baseball players for application of forbidden products?
Application of doping products is widespread in football. Since 1960s intake of performance-enhancing drugs has an essential role in this sport. It is hard to imagine football without administration of steroids and other related medicines.
Strength and size are important aspects in football. Certain persons consider that football players possess great strength just because of intensive trainings and suitable diets. But it is wrong. Numerous football players apply prohibited preparations in order to get strength and enhance muscle size.
As you see, application of prohibited medicines is widespread among football players. Nevertheless, baseball players are more harshly criticized for application of steroids and other related medicines. Such baseball players, as Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were exposed to public shame because of steroid use. But such football players, as Lyle Alzado, Shawne Merriman, Chris Cooper and Thomas Romanowski, also applied prohibited medicines. Nevertheless, they were not so widely criticized, as dopers in baseball.
Furthermore, it is important to take into account that usage of steroids is linked with more risks in football.
It is claimed that football is unlikely to be cleaned from doping.

Steroid use by adolescents is unsafe

Teenagers’ addiction to anabolic steroids becomes a great problem nowadays. Why do teenagers take these drugs? They do it in order to increase their muscles, reduce fat deposits and make muscles defined. They want to make their bodies more attractive. In fact, teenagers take these drugs because they desire to look like models, sports stars and heroes. Since teenagers want to be famous so, as well-known sportspersons are, they try to improve their physique and performance with anabolic steroids.
But adolescents don’t take in consideration several important aspects in this case. Firstly, professional sportspersons and bodybuilders ask doctors for indications. So, health care providers explain how they should use steroids. That’s why administration of anabolic steroids by celebrated athletes is relatively safe. As for teens, they don’t know what they administer; they don’t know how steroids should be used. Secondly, the process of development is not over in teens. That’s why steroids may be dangerous for them. Anabolic steroids may destruct functions of reproductive, cardiovascular and other systems in teens.
Unfortunately, many adolescents take anabolic steroids. Certain surveys of the Michigan University display that the number of steroid users in high schools continues to enhance.
Furthermore, it is not a problem to get these preparations. High schools students get steroids without substantial efforts.
As a result, certain adolescents become addicted to steroids. While several teenagers try to stop taking these medicines, they can’t do it. Actually, it is quite difficult to escape from this addiction. Addicted consumers of steroids can’t stop using these drugs without help of high-qualified specialists. They must stay in special centers of rehabilitation where well-trained experts help them to get rid of the addiction.
It is necessary to educate teenagers about risks connected with anabolic steroids. Adolescents should know not only about positive effects of these products. They should be educated also about undesirable effects of these preparations. If schoolchildren and high school students are not educated about dark sides of steroids, they will administer these drugs. Finally, their systems will be destructed. If the society doesn’t worry about teenagers, they will experience many health troubles.

Anti-doping agencies put efforts to clean sports from doping

While athletes that dope seek new methods to avoid detection, anti-doping officers create new tools in order to catch those that use banned drugs. One of new techniques elaborated into anti-doping system is biological passport. It helps to set whether a sportsperson has administered any forbidden preparation. The biological passport measures certain biomarkers that can indicate whether a person has taken certain medicines. So, it can measure hemoglobin levels. Unexplained low or increased hemoglobin levels may indicate doping. Thus, the biological passport sets physical changes which play great role in detection.
It is clear that anti-doping system becomes more sophisticated. It creates new techniques to catch dopers and clean sports.
If you compare drug tests which have been applied earlier with those that are utilized nowadays, you can see that the difference is essential. Anti-doping efforts are significant. Drug testing becomes more advanced.
It was also created a test for detection of CERA. This drug was initially created in order to cure anemia related to kidney diseases. Since earlier there was not any drug test which could define metabolites of this substance, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain avoided detection at the Beijing Olympics. Recently his sample was re-analyzed. Anti-doping officials determined that this sportsman had taken CERA. As a result, Rashid Ramzi was stripped of his awards.
Earlier it was difficult and even quite impossible to catch those who administered HGH. Recently a blood test for this medication was also developed.
Another new drug test, known as Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, was also recently introduced. This test helps to define whether testosterone has been applied from outsides or it has been secreted in the body naturally.
So, anti-doping system is more sophisticated today. Anti-doping officials think that they will be capable to make sports free from administration of doping products.

Doping should be legalized

The cyclist Lance Armstrong never tested positive for any forbidden substance. But the sportsman forfeited his seven Tour de France titles because the USADA claimed that he had doped.
You can see that usage of prohibited substances is claimed to be a final sin of professional athletes. They are banned, if they are found guilty or just accused of doping.
For example, the British runner Dwain Chambers was banned because he tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone. This sportsman claimed that he was not the only Olympic  runner who used steroids. According to his affirmations, many runners of the US racing team applied forbidden preparations.
Some persons are probably bothered by reading articles about fight against application of banned products in sports. It seems that the fight never ends. Although anti-doping agencies try to eradicate doping from professional sports, a lot of athletes continue taking prohibited medicines. It is impossible to confront doping. It seems that it is better to legalize intake of performance-enhancing drugs. Let sportspersons use whatever they want!
Sportspeople break more excellent records from one year to another. It will be needed to measure thousandths of a second in order to define who the winner is. It seems that it will be impossible to see with a naked eye the fastest sprinters. That’s why certain specialists fear that it will be too difficult to keep sports interesting.
Some experts recognize that anti-doping systems fail. Athletes that have never tested positive for any banned preparation are suspended. Drug tests are not capable to promote catching those that take steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs.
Doping plays a great role in sports. Almost every winner of Tour de France has been involved in a doping case.
Fans have great expectations. Athletes have to push their bodies till the limits in order to win. They have to administer steroids and/or other doping products in order to keep their reputations and not disappoint fans. The society is guilty of athletes’ doping. Not only sportspersons should be blamed for usage of banned preparations. The society creates such culture where sportspersons can’t be at the top without usage of certain medicines. That’s why it is necessary to discontinue blaming athletes. It is better to allow doping in sports. Each sport should compose own list of banned medications. Just drugs that are harmful to certain sport itself must be banned. Let take boxing as an example. This sport must ban just those substances which take away fear because removing of fear in this sport is against its spirit.

Fight against doping promotes administering steroids

One may think that steroid scandals must have negative influence on pharmaceutical companies that manufacture these medications. But manufacturers of these medicines find ways to take advantages of different steroid scandals. Thus, pharmaceutical companies utilize them in order to advertise own medicines.
Let take as an example the case of the government and anti-doping officials against Barry Bonds. However one may suggest that this steroid scandal must suppress purchase of certain drugs, the reality has displayed opposite things. The pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories could take advantage of the case. The company found a lot of possibilities to advertise transdermal testosterone because of the accusations connected with Barry Bonds’ doping.
It was stated that the former baseball player Barry Bonds applied the transdermal testosterone product “AndroGel”. Of course, numerous reporters published news about this case. The pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories used this public scandal and started to advertise this product. Many Barry Bonds’ fans started purchasing and administering this gel. This situation influenced on profits of the company positively. According to certain sources, the profits of the company turned out to be great.
Testosterone products are widely prescribed and used. A lot of people administer them for hormone replacement therapy. The number of steroid prescriptions has enhanced by 90 % during last five years. Thus, the number of those that take steroids is growing.
The pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories manufactures and sells the testosterone product “AndroGel”. Since other companies saw that testosterone gel was in high demand, they also started to manufacture it. So, such medicines, as  AndroDream and Axiron, appeared. While AndroDream is produced by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Axiron is produced by Eli Lilly.
Pharmaceutical companies promote selling their preparations. They claim that steroids improve males’ health. Of course, any company understands that since a lot of males have insufficient production of testosterone and since these medications are efficient for gaining of muscle mass and strength, the number of potential customers is great.

Inhaled steroids should not be used daily by persons with mild-to-moderate asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids are medications that are utilized in case of asthma by kids and grown-ups. Persons that experience mild, moderate and severe asthma utilize these products each day. These products prevent inflammation of the airways. Health care providers supervise persons with this disease, adjusting dosage schedule every 6 weeks.
Unfortunately, inhaled corticosteroids, like other medications, may cause negative results. Regular application of these medications is linked with several risks. Is there any method for individuals with asthma to avoid these problems?
A recent study has demonstrated that doctors should not recommend applying these medicines daily to persons with mild-to-moderate asthma. This study turned out to be very valuable. It is likely to alter guidelines connected with treatment of asthma.
The study was conducted by specialists of the Texas Medical Brach in Galveston. The physician William Calhoun and his colleagues enrolled 340 individuals with asthma in the study. Some persons were given inhaled steroids daily; others used these preparations, when symptoms of asthma attacks appeared. Bronchial reactivity and functions of lungs were measured by the specialists during nine months. The results of the study displayed that there was not any essential difference between these two groups.
According to the specialists, if inhaled steroids are used, when symptoms occur, exacerbation can be prevented. Furthermore, these drugs have prolonged action. It means that positive effects are felt even certain days after application. The scientists suppose that these drugs may be used by individuals with mild-to-moderate asthma only when symptoms appear.
Why is this study valuable? According to certain sources, 25 million Americans experience asthma. Undoubtedly, they must be treated. This piece of news must be valuable for them. Furthermore, if inhaled corticosteroids are taken prolonged period of time, they may lead to grave adverse effects, such as hormonal imbalance, cataract, etc. Thus, if persons with mild-to-moderate asthma don’t take these drugs each day, they are more unlikely to get these adverse consequences.
Undoubtedly, it is early to modify recommendations linked with treatment of asthma. But this study may serve as a basis for further researches which may lead to some changes.