People who may have been exposed to HIV should be tested. If they find out they have the virus, they can start treatment early. You can't tell just be looking at someone if he or she has HIV. And, since someone can be infected with HIV for many years without having any symptoms, some people may not know they have HIV.
Anyone who has ever shared a needle to shoot any drugs -- even once -- could become infected with HIV and should be tested. There are many ways to increase your strength and improve your appearance. If you are serious about your sport and health, keep the following tips in mind:. The abuse of anabolic steroids by high school, college and other amateur athletes is a dangerous practice.
Participants in amateur sports must be made aware of the physical and emotional dangers associated with steroid abuse. The "win at any cost " attitude embraced by some athletes must be redirected and replaced by personal dedication to the sport; a thorough knowledge of the sport's physical demands and requirements; maintenance of a healthy lifestyle; and, an appreciation of the satisfaction that comes from participation. Navigation menu.
Why Some Athletes Abuse Anabolic Steroids Believing that anabolic steroids can improve competitiveness and performance, uninformed or misguided athletes, sometimes encouraged by coaches or parents, abuse these drugs to build lean muscle mass, promote aggressiveness, and increase body weight. Supplements Over the counter dietary supplements, such as creatine, should be used with caution.
The Dangers of Anabolic Steroid Abuse When improperly used, anabolic steroids can cause serious health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease; liver damage and cancers; and, stroke and blood clots.
These effects can cause any or all of the following problems in men: Temporary infertility or sterility reversible Altered sex drive Prostate enlargement, and increased prostate cancer risk Irreversible breast enlargement Painful erections Shrinkage of the testicles Reduced levels of testosterone Abnormal sperm production Increased levels of estrogen Health care providers have reported the following problems in women: Increased risk of cervical and endometrial cancer Increased risk of osteoporosis Temporary infertility or sterility reversible Altered sex drive Birth defects in future children Changes in fat distribution Growth of facial and body hair Deepening of the voice Shrinkage of the breasts and uterus Clitoral enlargement Menstrual irregularity Changes in the male reproductive system are often reversible, if anabolic steroids have not been abused for a long period of time.
If you are serious about your sport and health, keep the following tips in mind: Train safely, without using drugs. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of rest. Set realistic goals and be proud of yourself when you reach them. Seek out training supervision, coaching and advice from a reliable professional. Avoid injuries by playing safely and using protective gear. Talk to your health care provider about nutrition, your health, preventing injury and safe ways to gain strength.
For more information, go to www. Revised: October However, it hasn't been shown conclusively to improve either strength or endurance. Erythropoietin is a type of hormone used to treat anemia in people with severe kidney disease. It increases production of red blood cells and hemoglobin — the protein that carries oxygen to your body's organs.
Taking erythropoietin improves the movement of oxygen to the muscles. Epoetin, a synthetic form of erythropoietin, is commonly used by endurance athletes. Erythropoietin use among competitive cyclists was common in the s and allegedly contributed to at least 18 deaths. Inappropriate use of erythropoietin may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and blockage in an artery in the lung pulmonary embolism.
Diuretics are drugs that change your body's natural balance of fluids and salts electrolytes , which can lead to dehydration. This loss of water can decrease an athlete's weight, which many athletes prefer. Diuretics may also help athletes pass drug tests by diluting their urine and are sometimes referred to as a "masking" agent.
Diuretics taken at any dose, even medically recommended doses, predispose athletes to adverse effects such as:. Many athletes take nutritional supplements instead of or in addition to performance-enhancing drugs. Supplements are available over-the-counter as powders or pills.
Creatine monohydrate is a supplement that's popular among athletes. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound produced by your body that helps your muscles release energy. Scientific research indicates that creatine may have some athletic benefit by producing small gains in short-term bursts of power. Creatine appears to help muscles make more adenosine triphosphate ATP , which stores and transports energy in cells, and is used for quick bursts of activity, such as weightlifting or sprinting.
But there's no evidence that creatine enhances performance in aerobic or endurance sports. Weight gain is sought by athletes who want to increase their size. But with prolonged creatine use, weight gain is more likely the result of water retention than an increase in muscle mass. Water is drawn into your muscle tissue, away from other parts of your body, putting you at risk of dehydration. It appears safe for adults to use creatine at the doses recommended by manufacturers.
But there are no studies investigating the long-term benefits and risks of creatine supplementation. Some athletes use stimulants to stimulate the central nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure. Common stimulants include caffeine and amphetamines. Cold remedies often contain the stimulants ephedrine or pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. Energy drinks, which are popular among many athletes, often contain high doses of caffeine and other stimulants. The street drugs cocaine and methamphetamine also are stimulants.
Although stimulants can boost physical performance and promote aggressiveness on the field, they have side effects that can impair athletic performance, including:. Do performance-enhancing drugs boost performance? Some athletes may appear to achieve physical gains from such drugs, but at what cost? The long-term effects of performance-enhancing drugs haven't been rigorously studied.
And short-term benefits are tempered by many risks. Not to mention that doping is prohibited by most sports organizations. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.
If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Prior to entering the league, only the NFL requires pre-employment testing for all players, although in the MLB, all players are subjected to testing within five days of reporting for spring training.
The frequency with which players are tested also varies greatly among professional leagues. In the NFL, all players are tested at least once per year, and the policy allows for targeted testing. Ten players per team are randomly tested each week, which continues during the playoffs for teams in the postseason.
There may also be up to six offseason tests per player. In the NBA, all players are subject to four random tests per season, and the league conducts reasonable-cause testing. Similarly, in the NFL, players are tested up to three times per year at random. Surprisingly, in the MLB, players are only subject to the test within five days of reporting for spring training and one other test on a randomly selected date, in addition to random tests in and out of season. In the NFL, a first violation leads to a minimum four-game suspension, while a third violation calls for a minimum month suspension as well as disqualification from the Pro Bowl and other honors for the year.
In the NBA , the first positive result for PEDs earns a game suspension; the fourth violation results in disqualification from the league. If a first-year player tests positive for drugs of abuse, he earns a one year suspension with a chance of reinstatement after one year; all other players are suspended for at least two years. A second violation leads to a game suspension without pay, and a third violation leads to a lifetime ban.
However, violations of drugs of abuse are treated clinically first, rather than through suspension. In the NFL, upon testing positive for a banned PED, the player is notified and the sample which is split in half during the original phase of testing is re-tested.
Mandatory physical examinations are conducted to rule out naturally occurring high levels of chemicals such as testosterone , and psychological examinations may also be conducted in case of suspected addition. The burden of proof is placed on the league during an appeals process. In the NBA, meanwhile, the approach is much more recovery-focused. Players who come forward with their drug problems receive league-funded counseling from the Life Extension Institute , a hour counseling center funded jointly by the NBA and the NBPA.
Any player testing positive for a drug of abuse or found to possess such a drug must submit to an initial evaluation by medical personnel, who then determine whether or not a treatment program is necessary. The treatment program is agreed upon by medical personnel and the player, who can complete treatment as either an inpatient or an outpatient.
Players who refuse to comply with the treatment program or who test positive for drugs of abuse after their evaluation and commitment to the treatment board may find themselves suspended or subject to other discipline.
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