May 5, 2006

The Best Wealth is Your Health

Steroids: play safe, play fair

By Dr. Meena Sathappan
Special to the Times

“There is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life,” said the Roman emperor Marcus Antoninus.

The desire to have an advantage over others is an oft-exhibited human behavior. So it is only natural that the desire for an “edge” exists in all sports, at all levels of play.

Athletes, whether they are young or old, professional or amateur, are always looking to gain an advantage over their opponents. Successful athletes rely on practice and hard work to increase their skill, speed, power, and ability. However, some athletes resort to drugs to improve their performance on the field or court.

Some high school and even middle school students are using steroids to gain an edge, improve their skill level, or become more athletic. Steroid use is not limited to males. More and more females are putting themselves at risk by using these drugs. It is important to know that using anabolic steroids not only is illegal, but can also have serious side effects.

What are steroids?
Anabolic means, “building body tissue.” Anabolic steroids help build muscle tissue and increase body mass by acting like the body’s natural male hormone, testosterone. In other words, these are powerful drugs that many people take in high doses to boost athletic performance. Colloquially, they are also called ‘roids, juice, hype, or pump.

Lower doses of anabolic steroids sometimes are used to treat a handful of very serious medical conditions. They should not be confused with corticosteroids, which are used to treat common medical conditions such as asthma and arthritis. Corticosteroids are strong medications, but do not have muscle-building effects. Anabolic steroids are the ones abused by athletes and others who want a shortcut to becoming bigger and stronger.

Who uses steroids?
In the past, steroid use was seen mostly in college, Olympic and professional sports. Today, athletes and non-athletes, in high schools and middle schools, are using steroids. Most major professional and amateur athletic organizations, including the National Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Football League (NFL) have banned steroids for use by their athletes.

Most commonly, steroid use can be found among the following groups:

- Athletes involved in sports that rely on strength and size, like football, wrestling or baseball.

- Endurance athletes, such as those involved in track-and-field and swimming.

- Athletes involved in weight training or bodybuilding.

- Anyone interested in building and defining muscles.

How are steroids used?
Steroids can be taken in the following two ways – by mouth or injected with a needle. It is important to note that athletes who share needles are at risk of serious infection, including Hepatis B and HIV, the AIDS virus.

Some athletes take even higher doses, called “megadoses,” to produce faster results. Others gradually increase the amount they take over time, which is called “pyramiding.” Taking different kinds of anabolic steroids, possibly along with other drugs, is a particularly dangerous practice known as “stacking.”

Do steroids make one a better athlete?

No, steroids cannot improve an athlete’s agility or skill. Many factors help determine athletic ability, including genetics, body size, age, sex, diet, and how hard the athlete trains. It is clear that the medical dangers of steroid use far outweigh the advantage of gains in strength or muscle mass.

What are the side effects of steroids?
Steroids can cause serious health problems. Many changes take place inside the body and may not be noticed until it is too late. Some of the effects will go away when steroid use stops, but some may not.

Possible side effects for males and females include the following:

- High blood pressure and heart disease

- Liver damage and cancers

- Stroke and blood clots

- Urinary and bowel problems, such as diarrhea

- Headaches, aching joints, and muscle cramps

- Nausea and vomiting

- Sleep problems

- Increased risk of ligament and tendon injuries

- Severe acne, especially on face and neck

- Baldness

Risk for adolescents
High school and middle school students and athletes need to be aware of the effects steroids have on growth. Anabolic steroids, even in small doses, have been shown to stop growth too soon. Adolescents may also be at risk of becoming dependent on steroids, which also could lead them to get addicted to drugs and alcohol.

As one of the famous newspaper columnists, George Will said, “Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.” When it comes right down to it, harming one’s body or getting disqualified from an organization or event aren't smart ways to try to improve athletic performance. Being a star athlete means training the healthy way: eating the right foods, practicing, and strength training without the use of drugs.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics &www.kidshealth.org.

Dr. Meena Sathappan is a board-certified Pediatrician who lives and practices in Evergreen. She is available for questions and consultation at Aasha Pediatrics, 2060 Aborn Road, # 230, San Jose, CA 95121 (corner of Aborn Road and Capitol Expressway). You can call her at 408-274-9099, or e-mail her at msathappan@gmail.com. Website: www.aashapediatrics.com.