The internet offers so many controversial concepts that we often get puzzled while plucking out the "fact-flowers" from among the "bushy" myths! We remain in a dilemma and sometimes we even tend to adapt the wrong concepts. We then perform the "moral" duty of passing over our "precious" possessions to our acquaintances. This is how a myth spreads! Surprisingly, some of the people who spread myths are themselves doubtful about what they say. And a myth emerges as a hot topic when it involves controversial topics like steroid use or abuse.
The topic on steriod use seems to have taken a front seat nowadays with many teenagers or guy-next-doors resorting to an increased use of it. Bodybuilding and consequently steroid use has no longer remained as a choice with the celebrities and professional bodybuilders alone. And controversial views are on the rise with some websites claiming the "innocence" of steroids while others portraying them as perfect evils. Here are what we get to hear often about steroids as myths:
Myth 1: Steroids are Absolutely Safe!
Fact: The younger the user is, greater will be his health risk of steroid administration. Women who take steroids may experience side effects like facial hair growth and loss of feminine characteristics. Men may experience breast growth. Early fusion of growing bones, stunted growth, liver cancers, hepatitis, heart disease, rise in the blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels and increase of blood pressure, fluid retention, epileptic fits, virilization, stroke and even heart attacks are the possible side effects of steroid use.
Myth 2: All Steroids are Same and They have Similar Effects
Fact: Steroids can be anabolic or androgenic. Anabolic steroids help in the growth of the skeletal and muscle tissue whereas the androgenic steroids deal with secondary male sex traits such as hair growth, sex drive and sperm health. Corticosteroids form another category of steroids. These are used to treat inflammatory diseases like arthritis and are also deployed to battle asthma and certain extreme cases of allergies.
Myth 3: Steroids Help in Gaining Muscle and Skeletal Tissue, so They cannot Stunt Your Growth
Fact: Some forms of steroids have the capacity of getting converted into estrogen, the female hormone. The synthetic steroids convince the platelets to seal off much earlier than usual, leaving a youngster permanently stunted. Teenagers who take steroids in the growth phase, are exposed to a risk of stunted height and they may not be able to reach their natural intended height.
Myth 4: Only Bodybuilders are into Taking Steroidal Dosage!
Fact: Today, steroid use is not limited to the bodybuilders alone. Many college going teenagers take steroidal supplements without any prescription, just to get noticed among their friends, their sport coaches or to draw the attention and admiration of their women. It's a human tendency to seek attention and recognition from others. Even women, who are into some kind of sports, take steroids for better performance. Gymnasts, basketball players and women involved in other sports may take these supplements many times, so as to have a better endurance and strength and to boost up their performance level.
Myth 5: I can Stop Taking Steroids Whenever I Wish to, Without Getting Addicted to It
Fact: Any person who has been taking steroidal supplements for a long time, may face withdrawal symptoms ranging from fatigue, mood swings, reduced sex drive, restlessness and insomnia and a desire to take more steroids if the supplement is discontinued. This may force an individual to keep taking the supplements. The individual may experience a quick loss of muscle size, physical strength and mild depression. These symptoms may continue for around a year after the withdrawal (depends on the total amount of dosage taken). He may not feel very strong at heart and can start taking the supplements again, just to get rid of the withdrawal symptoms.
Myth 6: Steroids cannot Damage Heart Health if Taken in Small Dosages for a Long Time
Fact: Steroids may cause a sudden weight gain and increase in the water content of the body, which exert pressure on the heart. It decreases your HDL ("good" cholesterol) and increases the LDL ("bad" cholesterol) level, thus contributing to the rise in the blood cholesterol level indirectly. A recent research also shows that the prolonged use of steroids leads to a rise in the homocysteine levels in the blood, which further raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Myths may become really dangerous if you take the negative aspects to be the positive ones. It is a good idea to accept all the negativities in their positive forms, but this will hold true from a motivational point of view. You cannot think steroids to be extremely beneficial or harmless for your health. A fact is a fact and it will remain the same!
