Steroids – Adverse Effects and Medical Uses

There has been a lot of talk about steroids and their proper usage. While improper taking might cause serious health problems, following recommended dosage can have several benefits. If you are interested in steroid usage, then perhaps it might interest you to find out that steroids have many adverse effects. In order to stay healthy, you need to be aware of them all and stick to the dose recommended in the first place.

Steroids are often taken in high doses and for long, constant periods of time. Adverse effects appear real soon and they can lead to serious consequences. Depending on the dose taken, we can expect for an individual to suffer from high blood pressure (medical history of elevate BP – high risk), cholesterol levels to be modified (HDL decrease, LDL increase) and cardiovascular disease to affect his/her health. Not less serious is the appearance of acne, an adverse effect caused by the stimulation of sebaceous glands by steroid intake. Increased testosterone levels lead to serious outbreaks of acne, so take care of the steroid dose taken.

Many cases have been reported where steroid consumption has led to ventricular defects. It seems that high steroid usage can have a direct effect on the left ventricle of the heart. This part of the heart is enlarged and becomes thickened after long term steroid intake. Unfortunately, the cardiac enlargement of the left ventricle will affect the heart’s overall capacity of contracting and relaxing, having a negative effect on the cardiac cycle. Most of the people who take steroid and suffer from such cardiac problems try to reduce the seriousness of the situation by exercising more (cardiovascular workout).

It’s not for nothing that there are so many articles and information on steroids and the way they influence the health of the cardiovascular system. Sure, a steroid can promote muscle strength and help to its growth. But at the same time, it can lead to hypertension, chances in the normal rhythm of the heart and even myocardial infarction. When taken in high doses, steroids can also have adverse effects on the liver. Doctors have become increasingly concerned about the number of cases of liver cancer in patients who have taken excessive steroid quantities over a stretched period of time.

Depending on the gender of the person taking the steroid, one should know that there are certain side-effects quite specific. Upon taking steroids, men are likely to wake up with gynecomastia (development of breast tissue in males), impaired sexual function and even infertility. All of these effects, including the atrophy of the testes, are reversed once the steroid intake has been reduced or stopped. As for women, steroid usage can lead to the appearance of body hair, changes in the voice and enlargement of female sexual organs. For anyone wanting to take steroids, these adverse reactions should be known.

Doctors have worked for a long time on steroids, trying to put to good use their beneficial properties. Today, medicine benefits extremely from steroid-based treatments, especially in patients who have been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. Stimulating the production of hemoglobin, steroids give another chance to those who suffer from leukemia and similar types of cancer. They are also used in children who have growth problems and/or suffer from eating disorders, promoting their appetite. The truth is that there are numerous uses for steroids, apart from building muscle mass and strength. And who knows how many more we will discover in the future?