With millions of people using steroids to enhance their physique, it’s important to understand what these substances do to your body and the potential risks involved. Steroids, particularly those that mimic testosterone, are popular among gym enthusiasts for their ability to boost muscle growth and performance. But how exactly do they work, and what are the consequences of using them?
When you exercise, especially through weightlifting, your muscles undergo stress and damage. The body repairs this damage by creating new muscle protein strands, which over time, increase in thickness and number. This process, known as muscle protein synthesis, is largely influenced by testosterone. Men typically have more muscle mass than women due to higher testosterone levels, which enhance protein synthesis.
Steroids are compounds with a specific chemical structure that can mimic the effects of testosterone. When you take steroids, they quickly enter your cells and bind to androgen receptors. This interaction allows them to enter the cell nucleus and activate genes that boost protein synthesis while reducing protein breakdown. This results in significant muscle growth, as users can develop three to five times more nuclei in muscle cells. Additionally, steroids can reduce body fat by inhibiting fat cell differentiation.
Users often experience rapid increases in muscle size and strength, along with enhanced recovery and exercise tolerance. However, prolonged steroid use can lead to several side effects. Steroid receptors in the central nervous system can cause behavioral changes, such as increased aggression, commonly known as “roid rage.” Studies indicate that steroid users may experience more severe manic and depressive symptoms compared to non-users.
For women, steroids can disrupt the menstrual cycle and reduce sexual drive. They may also cause masculinization, resulting in deeper voices and increased body and facial hair.
In men, steroids can lead to sperm abnormalities, decreased sperm count, and reduced natural hormone production, potentially causing testicular shrinkage. Low natural testosterone levels can result in erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Some men may also develop enlarged breast tissue due to the conversion of steroids into estradiol, which promotes mammary tissue growth.
Beyond these effects, steroid use is associated with a higher risk of acne, heart disease, and stroke. While steroids can enhance muscle growth and athletic performance, the potential health risks and side effects are significant and should be carefully considered.
In summary, while steroids can offer quick gains in muscle mass and strength, they come with a host of potential side effects and health risks. It’s crucial to weigh these risks against the benefits before considering steroid use.
We’d like to thank Hims for supporting this discussion. Hims is a company dedicated to helping men address issues like hair loss, erectile dysfunction, and skin concerns. They provide personalized advice from doctors online, ensuring privacy and scientifically backed treatments. By using generic versions of medications, Hims offers affordable solutions delivered directly to your door.
Support our show by visiting forhims.com/asaphair to get a comprehensive hair care kit for just $5. As we age, conversations about hair loss become more common, making this kit a great starting point. Take care of yourself by visiting forhims.com/asaphair. Don’t forget to subscribe, and we’ll see you next week!
Conduct research on the physiological effects of steroids on the human body. Create a presentation that explains how steroids influence muscle growth and the potential side effects. Present your findings to the class, highlighting both the benefits and risks associated with steroid use.
Participate in a structured debate on the ethical implications of steroid use in sports. Divide into two groups, with one supporting the use of steroids for performance enhancement and the other opposing it. Use scientific evidence and ethical considerations to support your arguments.
Analyze a case study of an athlete who has used steroids. Discuss the short-term and long-term effects on their health and career. Reflect on how the use of steroids impacted their personal and professional life, and share your insights with the class.
Participate in a workshop that simulates the decision-making process regarding steroid use. Work in groups to evaluate scenarios where individuals consider using steroids. Discuss the potential outcomes and ethical dilemmas, and propose alternative strategies for achieving fitness goals.
Attend a session with a healthcare professional or a former athlete who can share firsthand experiences and insights about steroid use. Prepare questions in advance to engage in a meaningful discussion about the health risks and societal impacts of steroids.
This episode is supported by Hims. With over three million Americans having used steroids, the desire to bulk up is strong. But what happens to your body when you take steroids, and are there major risks associated with performance-enhancing drugs?
Every time you lift weights at the gym, your muscles experience damage, but the body recovers by forming new muscle protein strands to repair the muscle fibers. Over time, these strands increase in thickness and number, and ultimately, if muscle protein synthesis is greater than muscle protein breakdown, your muscles will grow. The degree of growth is largely regulated by testosterone, which increases protein synthesis. This is why, generally, men have larger muscle mass than women, as they have higher levels of testosterone.
Steroids are compounds with a specific 4-carbon ring structure, which includes some chemicals used to treat various conditions. However, the type of steroid we’ll be discussing mimics natural testosterone with the intention to enhance performance and is used by more than 15% of gym-goers.
Within a single day of taking steroids, the expression of your genes begins to change. Steroids easily enter cells and bind to androgen receptors, allowing them to move into the nucleus and attach to DNA, activating hundreds of genes to increase protein synthesis while slowing protein breakdown. As a result, individuals who take steroids can have three to five times more nuclei in some muscle cells. Steroids can also inhibit the differentiation of fat stem cells and decrease body fat.
As you continue to take steroids, you may notice quickly increasing muscle size and strength, while also protecting muscle fibers against damage, making steroids appealing for exercise tolerance and recovery. However, prolonged use may lead to behavioral changes. Steroid receptors are found in parts of the central nervous system, which can lead to increased aggression, often referred to as “roid rage.” Studies have shown that athletes using steroids may develop higher manic and depressive symptoms compared to non-users.
In female users, steroids can interfere with the menstrual cycle and may decrease sexual drive. Masculinization can occur, leading to deeper voices and increased body and facial hair. Male users may experience sperm abnormalities and decreased sperm count, as well as a reduction in natural hormone production necessary for maintaining testicular size, potentially leading to shrinkage. Additionally, cycles of steroid use can result in low natural testosterone levels, causing erectile dysfunction and decreased libido in males.
Some male users may also develop enlarged breast tissue due to the breakdown of steroids into estradiol, which stimulates mammary tissue growth. Steroids can also lead to a high incidence of acne in nearly half of users and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
In summary, while steroids can help you bulk up faster and improve athletic performance, they come with a range of risks and side effects that should be carefully considered.
We want to thank Hims for sponsoring today’s video. Hims is a company that helps men address issues that can sometimes feel embarrassing, such as hair loss, erectile dysfunction, or skin concerns. Hims offers personalized recommendations and advice from doctors online, ensuring confidentiality and scientifically validated treatments. Their products are also more affordable because they use generic versions instead of brand names, and everything is delivered right to your door.
You can support our show by visiting forhims.com/asaphair to get a comprehensive hair care kit for only $5, which is an amazing deal. As we and our friends get older, conversations about hair loss often arise, making this comprehensive kit a perfect way to get started. So, let’s take care of ourselves, and you can begin by visiting forhims.com/asaphair. Make sure to subscribe, and we’ll see you next week.
Steroids – Organic compounds that serve as hormones and are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including inflammation reduction and immune response regulation. – Anabolic steroids are often misused by athletes to enhance muscle growth and performance.
Testosterone – A steroid hormone that plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues and the promotion of secondary sexual characteristics. – Testosterone levels can influence muscle mass and strength in both men and women.
Muscle – Tissue composed of fibers capable of contracting to effect bodily movement. – Regular exercise can increase muscle strength and endurance.
Synthesis – The process of combining different elements to form a complex product, such as the formation of proteins from amino acids in living organisms. – Protein synthesis is crucial for cell growth and repair.
Health – The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. – Maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise is essential for good health.
Risks – The potential for adverse effects or harm that may arise from a particular action or condition. – The use of anabolic steroids carries significant health risks, including liver damage and cardiovascular issues.
Protein – Large molecules composed of amino acids that perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalyzing metabolic reactions and DNA replication. – Adequate protein intake is vital for muscle repair and growth after exercise.
Growth – The process of increasing in physical size, often involving cell division and differentiation. – Hormones like growth hormone and testosterone play a significant role in the growth of tissues and organs.
Women – Adult human females, who may experience different health and physiological conditions compared to men, particularly in reproductive health. – Women generally have lower levels of testosterone than men, which affects muscle mass and strength.
Men – Adult human males, who typically have higher levels of testosterone, influencing various physiological traits such as muscle mass and body hair. – Men are more likely to experience certain health issues, such as prostate cancer, which is influenced by hormonal levels.
