Why are steroids dangerous for teenagers?

Leslie Henderson cares about teenagers. She is troubled because numerous teenagers take anabolic steroids which may be dangerous for them. These medicines may make adolescents aggressive. Furthermore, steroids may affect various systems of consumers. According to Leslie Henderson, the most dangerous aspect related to usage of these preparations by teenagers is following: these medicines influence on the brain negatively. They destroy not only functions of the brain; they also alter the way it works.
Anabolic steroids have been elaborated in order to cure some illnesses. These products are able to promote development of secondary male characteristics in males with delayed puberty. They can prevent muscle loss in persons that have HIV/AIDS and other health problems. But these preparations are also often abused. They are used for increase of muscle mass and strength. When physicians recommend using steroids to cure certain illnesses, they prescribe relatively reduced quantities which don’t produce serious undesirable reactions. When these products are administered for performance-enhancing effects, measures are enhanced. But it is necessary to know that high doses may lead to severe side results.
Non-medical application of steroids is very dangerous for teenagers. Their systems have not been yet developed. That’s why these medicines may produce irreversible changes in them. Steroids may affect their physical as well mental health of adolescents. As a result, side results of steroids are seen in them not only during adolescence but also when they grow up. If adult people abuse steroids, they usually don’t suffer from such prolonged dangerous unwanted effects, as adolescents experience. That’s why Leslie Henderson and other experts claim that it is necessary to teach teenagers about negative influence of steroids on them. They should know about all possible dangers. If teenagers know about severe side effects of steroids, they will probably stop applying these preparations for improvement of physique and performance.

Researchers: obesity could be prevented through activation of androgen receptors

A recent research has demonstrated that glucocorticosteroids promote developing fat deposits. These substances have direct influence on androgen receptors that are responsible for decrease body fat deposits.
This study is especially valuable in our era, when a lot of individuals suffer from obesity. According to affirmations of several scientists, it is required to lower amount of glucocorticosteroids in order to prevent or cure obesity.
When scientists conducted this study, they had the following goal: they wanted to comprehend ways, reasons and stages of development of fat levels. Basing upon results of the research, the scientists have claimed that androgen receptors should be activated in order to reduce fat storage. So, obesity could be treated even at the early stages of development.
The androgen testosterone binds itself to androgen receptors. Thus, androgen receptors become able to control creation of muscle mass, enhance hard muscles, etc.
According to the study, glucocorticosteroids lower activity of androgen receptors. Thus, they become inefficient to manage growth of muscle mass and decrease of fat accumulation. That’s why fat deposits increase especially in abdominal area.
The specialists suppose that this research is capable to induce developing new methods to cure and prevent obesity. The new methods will be linked with glucocorticosteroids and androgen receptors.

Health of steroid users and new amendment to steroid law in UK

British citizens are not allowed to buy steroids at online drug stores. Importation of steroids into the UK is considered to be criminal under a new amendment to the steroid law. Those who live in the UK and import steroids into the country are sanctioned by authorities. But Britons may freely purchase, possess and use steroids.
According to the “personal custody”, those who arrived to London for the Olympics were allowed to import steroids for personal use. It was not considered to be illegal under British laws. Nonetheless, those that live inside the UK don’t have any right to purchase steroids at online drug stores and import them from other countries to the UK.
Earlier British citizens were allowed to acquire 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 use steroids. But could the amendment do it?
A lot of underground labs manufacture anabolic steroids inside the UK. They prosper because of the amendment. But it is important to take in consideration that many underground labs manufacture fake steroids. Thus, British citizens have to acquire steroids of low quality because it is banned to import steroids which are produced outside the country by trustworthy pharmaceutical companies.
Authorities warned Needle-Syringe Program (NSP) workers that they would have to work more. It was noted that the amendment would increase the number of steroid users.
In fact, the amendment is likely to influence on health of steroid users negatively. Steroid-using sportspeople and bodybuilders may get grave unwanted reactions because they switch from quality steroids produced by safe pharmaceutical companies to worse preparations manufactured by underground labs located in the UK.

Incorrect affirmations of feds about steroids are based upon information written in Wikipedia

Federal prosecutors don’t possess sufficient knowledge about anabolic steroids, however they pursue those that manufacture, apply and/or sell these preparations. They don’t study scientific literature about these products. The government uses information that is written in Wikipedia. However feds speak about negative effects of steroids, they don’t know about these aspects sufficiently. Citing affirmations about steroids presented in Wikipedia, they punish consumers/manufacturers/distributors of these medicines, affirming that these preparations represent evil.
Some important questions appear here: Is it correct to base upon affirmations presented in Wikipedia in such cases? Are these statements true? Aren’t they exposed to manipulations? Aren’t they mixed with individual opinions of sponsors?
Maurice Hall, the associate professor of communication and culture at Villanova University, affirms that it is not reasonable to base wholly upon affirmations written in Wikipedia. He confirms that Wikipedia serves an excellent guide for footnotes. But affirmations provided in Wikipedia may be not true completely.
For example, when John Isaac Hudelson was sentenced to prison, federal prosecutors based their conclusions linked with illegal deals of this person upon affirmations cited from Wikipedia. Feds confirmed that Hudelson would be sentenced 47-54 months in prison because he used and distributed steroids. Stephen Greubel, the defense attorney for Hudelson, claimed that 47-54 months in prison were too much for his client. He noted that Hudelson distributed steroids, medications which differed from such drugs, as amphetamine, methamphetamine, codeine, morphine, etc. The defense attorney for Hudelson confirmed that steroids didn’t cause addiction.
Federal prosecutors affirmed 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. Furthermore, they added that steroids could cause grave adverse reactions. All statements of federal prosecutors were based upon those presented in Wikipedia.
Finally, the government sent Isaac John Hudelson to 37 months in prison.

Usage of EPO and steroids without being caught by anti-doping agencies

Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle have published a book about usage of EPO and anabolic steroids. Guidelines described in the book can serve as a proof that the 7-time Tour de France winner 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 tips linked with application of EPO and steroids in cycling and methods to avoid detection. It manifests that drug testing is inefficient in this sport.
Tyler Hamilton notes that sportspeople can take steroids without being detected. The author claims that the WADA doesn’t have any possibility to win. Hamilton describes weakness of the WADA in testing sportspersons for forbidden drugs.
According to Hamilton, it is easy to avoid detection while applying EPO. It is necessary to utilize the procedure “microdosing”. What does it really represent? Sportspeople should not inject 2,000 Units of EPO under the skin every 3-4 days. They must introduce 400-500 Units of EPO every 3rd or 4th night into veins. This method is named “microdosing”. Applying this way of administration, athletes can avoid detection without any essential effort.
Since microdosing is an appropriate way to avoid detection while administering EPO, this way must be suitable in case of steroid use as well. Thus, Tyler Hamilton supposes that cyclists and other sportspersons can avoid detection while administering anabolic steroids. He presents tips connected with this issue in details in the book.  Hamilton describes how it is possible to hit drug testing of anti-doping system.
Actually, it is unlikely that tips presented 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 application of EPO doesn’t represent the new beginning of doping in cycling. Instructions of Hamilton may alter just the nature of doping in this sport. Administration 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.

Different types of steroids

There are three groups 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 medicines, etc. They are indicated to cure inflammations, allergic reactions, dysfunctions of respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal and other systems.
Estrogens and progestogens are female sex hormones. These hormones induce developing female secondary features. Birth control pills contain these compounds.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are medications that are also widely applied in medicine. They can treat some types of breast cancer, testicular cancer, anemia, etc. These medicines are often prescribed to receive better and faster recovery after certain operations. Burn victims, individuals with HIV/AIDS use anabolic-androgenic steroids for prevention of muscle wasting. Some steroids are also recommended for treatment of osteoporosis. These products are also prescribed in case of infertility.
Moreover, anabolic-androgenic steroids are applied for athletic needs. These medicines can create muscles and promote increasing strength. That’s why a lot of athletes and bodybuilders take them for performance-enhancing effects. Several anabolic-androgenic steroids are able also to burn fat, making muscles distinctive.
Administration of anabolic-androgenic steroids for non-therapeutic needs is illegal under laws of several countries. Those that manufacture, distribute, purchase and administer these medicines illegally may be sentenced to imprisonment and/or fines. These drugs belong to illegal preparations in certain countries because they may lead to different side reactions. While several undesirable results are mild and disappear after discontinuation of intake, others are serious and even irreversible. Those who want to receive positive effects, applying steroids for therapeutic purposes, should apply these drugs under guidelines of health care providers.

Anna Watson doesn’t want to affect her health with steroids

When it is noted about cheerleaders, we imagine brisk and thin females. But we have to understand that sometimes the reality differs from our imagination. Anna Watson is an example in this situation. She has amazing muscles. But she is very nice.
Elite Model Management offered her a $75000 contract. But she didn’t agree to get it. Actually, it is surprisingly because many ladies dream to get such contracts. But she didn’t agree to obtain it because she had to use steroids for this need.
When Anna Watson began to study at Hawaii Pacific University, she started weight lifting. She trained intensively and consumed circa 3000 calorie daily. Ultimately she could lift 230 pounds. But her weight was not enough to get a modeling fitness contract. Although she consumed much protein, she could not get needed pounds.
A modeling agent said that the steroid Anavar could help her to add weight. Anna Watson needed to gain 50 pounds in order to get the contract. So, she began to administer the steroid Anavar in order to add body mass. She was eating “forever”, even if she didn’t feel hunger. Despites of her efforts, nutrition regimen and application of the steroid Anavar, she could not gain 50 pounds. She gained just 10 pounds.
The cheerleader Anna Watson is a religious person. She attends a local church. Finally, she decided to ask a weight lifting champion for advice. Hugh Kirby who is also a member of the church has recommended her to be far from application of steroids. He claimed that these medicines could cause various adverse reactions. This person also noted that steroids could cause infertility. So, Hugh Kirby claimed that it would be better to refuse the contract instead of experiencing health troubles, especially infertility.
Thus, Anna Watson didn’t agree to obtain the contract. But she decided not to leave her workouts. The cheerleader wants to become a personal trainer.
In fact, the cheerleader made an appropriate decision. It is reasonable to keep female characteristics without a modeling contract instead of having the contract and suffering from effects of masculinization owing to administration of steroids.

Steroid dealers don’t go to prison

Although it is illegal to distribute anabolic steroids in several countries, some steroid dealers are not punished appropriately. For example, recently two persons that distributed steroids illegally didn’t go to prison. They were sentenced just to work certain hours. However these persons advertised and sold steroids online, they avoided prison successfully. These individuals sold medications which could affect health of consumers. That’s why they had to be punished more harshly.
A lot of users of steroids don’t know anything about risks linked with them. They don’t know that intake of steroids may lead to several health problems. It is important 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, fluid retention, etc. Undoubtedly, gynecomastia is very unpleasant effect for males. Sometimes it can’t be treated with preparations. Thus, it may require a surgery.
Certain steroids are dangerous for women. They may lead to signs of masculinization in them. So, some females that apply androgenic steroids have deep voice, excessive hair growth on the body, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, infertility, etc.
A lot of steroids are liver-toxic. They may lead to liver disorders. If anyone has had liver dysfunctions before administration of steroids, these products may lead to severer complications.
Nonetheless, no one can doubt about benefits that can be acquired owing to application of steroids. These medicines promote creating new muscle tissues. They also increase existing muscles. Furthermore, these drugs help to add strength. Certain steroids induce fat loss, making muscle more defined.
Although probable benefits of steroids are great, it is important to consider probable adverse results. It is affirmed that steroids may lead to depression and abnormal aggressiveness. So, several users of these products commit various crimes. While some users may commit suicides, others violate, kill other persons.
Steroids may cause also other adverse effects which are not noted in the article. People should know what they use. Those that distribute these medicines illegally should be sentenced properly.

Football players don’t play “clean”

A lot of articles report about administration of steroids in baseball. Sportswriters and reporters describe steroid scandals that take place in this sport. It is often discussed about steroid era in baseball. Professional baseball players are subjected to numerous drug tests. It seems that every person interested in sports blames baseball players for intake of performance-enhancing drugs. Do just baseball players take steroids and other related products? What do you suppose about football players? Do they dope? Why do we blame just baseball players for intake of forbidden preparations?
Usage of doping products is widespread in football. Since 1960s application of performance-enhancing drugs has an essential role in this sport. It is hard to imagine football without administration of steroids and other related medications.
Strength and size are substantial aspects in football. Several persons believe that football players possess great strength only because of intensive workouts and appropriate diets. But it is a wrong opinion. Many football players use prohibited medicines in order to add strength and increase muscle size.
As you see, intake of banned medicines is widespread among football players. Nevertheless, baseball players are more widely criticized for intake of steroids and other related medications. Such baseball players, as Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds were subjected to public shame on account of steroid use. But such football players, as Lyle Alzado, Shawne Merriman, Chris Cooper and Thomas Romanowski, also applied banned preparations. Nonetheless, they were not so widely demonized, as dopers in baseball.
Furthermore, it is necessary to take into account that usage of steroids is related to more dangers in football.
It is affirmed that football is unlikely to be free from doping.

Number of teens that use steroids continues to grow

Teens’ addiction to anabolic steroids becomes a great problem today. Why do teenagers take these preparations? They do it in order to increase their muscles, reduce fat deposits and make muscles hard. They desire to be more attractive. In fact, teens take these medicines because they want to look like models, sports stars and heroes. Since teenagers want to be famous so, as well-known athletes are, they put efforts to improve their physique and performance with anabolic steroids.
But adolescents don’t consider several important factors in this case. Firstly, professional sportspersons and bodybuilders ask specialists for recommendations. Thus, health care providers explain how they should take steroids. That’s why administration of anabolic steroids by celebrated sportspeople is relatively safe. As for adolescents, they don’t know what they use; they don’t know how steroids should be used. Secondly, the process of development is not over in adolescents. That’s why steroids may be unsafe for them. Anabolic steroids may destroy functions of reproductive, cardiovascular and other systems in teens.
Unfortunately, a lot of teenagers administer anabolic steroids. Some surveys of the Michigan University display that the number of steroid users in high schools continues to increase.
Moreover, it is not a problem to obtain these products. High schools students purchase steroids without substantial efforts.
As a result, some teenagers become addicted to steroids. While some teens try to stop applying these drugs, they can’t do it. Actually, it is quite difficult to escape from this addiction. Addicted consumers of steroids can’t stop administering these medicines 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 dangers linked with anabolic steroids. Adolescents should know not just about positive effects of these preparations. They should be educated also about side reactions of these drugs. If schoolchildren and high school students are not educated about dark sides of steroids, they will administer these medicines. Finally, their systems will be destructed. If the society doesn’t care about teenagers, they will get many health troubles.

Anti-doping systems continue to progress

While athletes that dope seek new methods to avoid detection, anti-doping officers create new tools in order to catch those that take forbidden medications. One of new techniques introduced into anti-doping system is biological passport. It helps to determine whether a sportsperson has used any prohibited preparation. The biological passport measures several biomarkers that can indicate whether an individual has applied certain drugs. So, it can measure hemoglobin levels. Unexplained reduced or high hemoglobin levels may indicate doping. So, the biological passport determines physical changes which play great role in detection.
It is clear that anti-doping policy becomes more advanced. It elaborates new methods to catch dopers and make sports free from doping.
If you compare drug tests which have been utilized earlier with those that are applied today, you may notice that the difference is essential. Anti-doping efforts are essential. Drug testing becomes more progressive.
It was also created a test for detection of CERA. This preparation was initially created in order to treat anemia related to kidney dysfunctions. Since earlier there was not any drug test which could define metabolites of this substance, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain could avoid detection at the Beijing Olympics. Recently his sample was re-analyzed. Anti-doping officers determined that this athlete had used CERA. As a result, Rashid Ramzi forfeited his awards.
Earlier it was difficult and even quite impossible to catch those that took HGH. Lately a blood test for this drug was also elaborated.
Another new drug test, known as Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, was also lately elaborated. This test helps to determine whether testosterone has been applied from outsides or it has been secreted in the body naturally.
So, anti-doping system is more advanced nowadays. Anti-doping agencies hope that they will be capable to clean sports from intake of performance-enhancing drugs.

Anti-doping systems don’t succeed

The American cyclist Lance Armstrong never tested positive for any prohibited substance. But he lost his seven Tour de France titles because the USADA suspected him of doping.
You may notice that intake of banned products is claimed to be a last sin of competitive sportspersons. They are sentenced to ban from competitions, if they are found guilty or only accused of doping.
For example, the British sprinter Dwain Chambers was banned because he tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone. This athlete confirmed that he was not the only Olympic  sprinter that administered steroids. According to his words, numerous runners of the US racing team applied banned drugs.
Some persons are probably bothered by reading articles about war on usage of banned preparations in sports. It seems that the war never ends. Although anti-doping agencies put great efforts in order to eradicate doping from competitive sports, a lot of athletes continue administering prohibited products. It is impossible to eradicate doping. It seems that it is better to legalize usage of doping products. Let sportspersons use whatever they desire!
Athletes break more splendid records from one year to another. It will be needed to measure thousandths of a second in order to determine who the winner is. It seems that it will be impossible to define with a naked eye the fastest sprinters. That’s why certain specialists fear that it will be very difficult to keep sports interesting.
Some specialists see that anti-doping systems fail. Sportspersons who have never tested positive for any prohibited drug are sentenced to lifetime suspensions. Drug tests are not able to induce catching those that take steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs.
Doping is an inseparable part of sports. Almost every athlete that won Tour de France was involved in a doping case.
The society has great expectations. Athletes have to push their bodies till the limits in order to win. They have to use steroids and/or other doping products in order to keep their reputations and not disappoint fans. The society should be demonized for athletes’ doping. Not only sportspersons should be demonized for usage of prohibited products. The society creates such culture where sportspersons can’t win without usage of certain preparations. That’s why it is necessary to stop demonizing athletes. It is better to permit doping in sports. Every sport must compose own list of banned preparations. Only medicines which are harmful to certain sport itself should be prohibited. Let take boxing as an example. This sport should prohibit just those products that withdraw fear because removing of fear in this sport is against its spirit.

Abbott Laboratories increased profits because of steroid scandal linked with Barry Bonds

One may believe that steroid scandals must have negative influence on pharmaceutical companies that manufacture these drugs. But manufacturers of these preparations find methods to take advantages of various steroid scandals. Thus, pharmaceutical companies utilize them in order to advertise own preparations.
Let take as an example the case of the government and anti-doping officials against the former baseball player Barry Bonds. However one may suggest that this steroid scandal must suppress purchase of some preparations, the reality has displayed opposite things. The pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories could take advantage of the case. The company found numerous opportunities to advertise transdermal testosterone because of the accusations connected with Barry Bonds’ doping.
It was confirmed that the former baseball player Barry Bonds utilized the testosterone gel “AndroGel”. Undoubtedly, numerous journalists published news about this case. The pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories utilized this public situation and started to advertise this product. Many Barry Bonds’ fans started obtaining and utilizing this gel. This situation influenced on profits of Abbot Laboratories essentially. According to certain sources, the profits of Abbott Laboratories turned out to be great.
Testosterone products are widely recommended and used. Numerous individuals apply them for hormone replacement therapy. The number of steroid prescriptions has enhanced by 90 % during last 5 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 noticed that testosterone gel was in high demand, they also began to produce it. Thus, such products, as  AndroDream and Axiron, appeared. While AndroDream is sold by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Axiron is sold by Eli Lilly.
Pharmaceutical companies promote selling their medicines. They affirm that steroids have positive influence on men’s health. Of course, any company comprehends that since many males suffer from insufficient production of testosterone and since these medications are efficient for gaining of muscles and strength, the number of potential customers is great.

Indications linked with treatment of asthma will be changed

Inhaled steroids are preparations that are utilized in case of asthma by kids and adults. Individuals that experience mild, moderate and severe asthma apply these drugs each day. Inhaled steroids prevent inflammation of the airways. Health care providers supervise patients with this disease, regulating dosage schedule each 6 weeks.
Unfortunately, inhaled corticosteroids, like other medications, may cause adverse consequences. Regular administration of these medications is connected with certain risks. Is there any way for individuals with asthma to prevent these problems?
A recent study has manifested that prescribers should not recommend applying these drugs daily to persons with mild-to-moderate asthma. This research turned out to be very valuable. It is likely to alter instructions linked with treatment of asthma.
The study was conducted by scientists of the Texas Medical Brach in Galveston. Dr. William Calhoun and his colleagues enrolled 340 persons with asthma in the study. Several individuals received inhaled corticosteroids every day; others applied 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 research demonstrated that there was not any significant difference between these two groups.
According to the specialists, if inhaled steroids are administered, when symptoms appear, exacerbation can be prevented. Moreover, these drugs have prolonged action. It means that positive effects are felt even several days after usage. The scientists suggest that these preparations may be used by individuals with mild-to-moderate asthma only when symptoms appear.
Why is this research valuable? According to certain sources, 25 million Americans suffer from asthma. Of course, they must be treated. This piece of news must be valuable for them. Furthermore, if inhaled steroids are administered prolonged time, they may lead to serious adverse reactions, such as hormonal imbalance, cataract, etc. Thus, if persons with mild-to-moderate asthma don’t administer these preparations each day, they are more unlikely to get these adverse effects.
Undoubtedly, it is early to alter guidelines linked with treatment of asthma. But this study may induce conducting further studies that may lead to some changes.