An ergogenic aid is a substance that helps the body perform better. Food and stress-reduction techniques are considered to be ergogenic aids, as are certain chemicals such as caffeine. Substances marketed as athletic-performance enhancers are often labeled as nutritional supplements, which means they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and, therefore, their safety and efficacy may be unknown. Some of these ergogenic aids have mild to severe adverse side effects.
Psychological Changes
Psychological changes from the use of ergogenic aids are common and range from mild to severe. For instance, caffeine--a widely used stimulant among not only the general population, but athletes as well--can cause anxiety when taken in large quantities. This anxiety will generally disappear once the caffeine is out of the body. A more dangerous stimulant is ephedra, or ephedrine, which is similar to amphetamine and is often combined in products with caffeine. Ephedra not only causes anxiety, but also possible paranoid psychoses. Common psychological side effects of anabolic steroids, another ergogenic aid, include mood swings, aggression, irritability and bipolar mental states.
External Physical Changes
Changes in physical attributes can be seen among users of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Steroid use in men can cause breast development, shrunken testicles, balding and severe acne on the entire body. Women may experience reduced breast tissue, deepened voice, balding, facial hair and enlarged genitalia. HGH can cause enlargement of bones in the face, hands and feet.
Internal Complications
Internally, many serious conditions may develop from misuse of ergogenic aids. Caffeine, in high doses, can cause muscle cramping and dehydration, which would be detrimental to an athlete's performance. Steroids, HGH and ephedra can lead to chronic cardiovascular problems, such as elevated blood pressure, heart arrhythmia and increased cholesterol. These risk factors can precede severe and potentially fatal events such as stroke or heart attack. Other internal consequences include liver problems, diabetes, infertility, compromised immune system and kidney damage. Injected ergogenic aids such as anabolic steroids potentially could cause HIV and hepatitis infections if a sterile needle is not used.
References
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics: Ergogenic Aids
- McKinley Health Center: Ergogenic Aids: Nutritional Supplements for Athletes
- Jack Hartley: Caffeine and Sports Performance
- "Pediatrics": Popular Ergogenic Drugs and Supplements in Young Athletes
- NSCA: Growth Hormone: Understanding the Endocrinology and Ergogenics
