Anabolic steroids are synthetic forms of testosterone. They are widely used by athletes and body builders to boost muscle mass , strength, and endurance . However, these performance-enhancing drugs have also gained infamy due to the scandal and controversy that surrounds them.
So , what is a steroid ? How is it created? And why is it potentially dangerous? Let’s find out at jbhnews .
Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones . They are derived from testosterone , which is naturally produced by the body. Testosterone plays an important role in maintaining the health of male reproductive organs and in maintaining the physical and mental health of males.
However , when testosterone levels are too high, they can lead to serious health problems. That is why most men have testosterone levels that are much higher than normal . However, athletes and body-builders who use steroids to boost testosterone levels may suffer from some of the same health problems that men have when their testosterone levels are too high.
Steroids are taken orally or through an injection, and they are available as pills, syrups, gels , and patches .
Steroids work by releasing certain hormones into the body . These hormones help enhance muscle growth and speed up recovery time after a workout.
Steroids are doping substances in many countries. They are strictly prohibited in competitive sports, and many countries also have laws against steroid use among non-athletes as well. They can result in severe side effects including heart troubles, liver damage , high blood pressure, psychiatric problems, breast enlargement in women, and infertility in men .
How Are Steroids Created ?
The human body has natural testosterone. To create synthetic anabolic steroids, scientists synthesize the various building blocks of testosterone in the lab. These building blocks include alkylating agents like chloromethyl (CCl3) ethers. The alkylating agents react with the hydroxyl groups of the steroid molecules to form carbon-oxygen bonds. These bonds are called cleavable bonds , and they are destroyed by heat, water, or acid. For example, a molecule of 17β-Estradiol is destroyed when treated with hydrogen chloride chloride gas (HCl) to produce 17β-chloroestradiol .
Other reagents such as alcohols may also be used to create various steroids .
Steroids are considered controlled substances because each drug has a specific limit on the quantities of it that can be produced and sold . This limit is set by the US Pharmacopeia (USP). Each USP grade steroid is assigned a code number based on its chemical makeup. For example , the generic form of testosterone is known as testosterone propionate. This code number is assigned by the USP.
Although many anabolic steroids have been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) , people are increasingly turning to the Internet to purchase these drugs and use them illegally .
Why Is Anabolic Steroid Use Illegal ?
The use of steroids is illegal because of their performance-enhancing properties. They are used to increase strength and muscle mass as well as to improve one’s athletic performance . These effects are achieved by increasing the levels of testosterone in the body. However , an increase in testosterone levels also results in other side effects that interfere with normal bodily functions.
An increase in testosterone levels also makes a person more susceptible to diseases that affect men like prostate cancer and diabetes .
Many steroid users also take other drugs like cocaine or hallucinogens that can increase their heart rate and cause a heart attack or stroke .
