Health Risks Of Illegal Steroids

Synthetic hormones that mimic the male sex hormone, or anabolic steroids, promote rapid muscle growth in users. Unless a doctor prescribes a steroid to treat a certain medical condition, use of any steroid remains illegal. The main reason people use steroids centers around the improvement of athletic performance. People also take steroids to increase muscle mass and reduce body fat. Although steroids increase athletic performance and muscle size, they also create a number of significant health risks.

Hormones

Illegal steroid use causes the body to decrease or stop regular hormone production. These hormonal changes can be temporary or permanent. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, temporary changes associated with steroid use for men consist of decreased sperm production and shrinking of the testicles; permanent hormonal effects of steroid use include male pattern baldness and breast development. In addition to male pattern baldness, women can experience excess growth of excess body hair, deepening voice, and enlargement of the clitoris.

Cardiovascular System

Long-term steroid use causes damage to the cardiovascular system. Recently, the American Heart Association found that long-term use of steroids weakens the heart more than previously thought; causing heart impairment significant enough to increase the risk of heart failure. In addition to heart damage, steroid use increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. The NIDA reports steroids also increase the risk of blood clots and atherosclerosis, or fatty deposits in the arteries.

Liver Damage

Steroid use has demonstrated an increased risk of liver damage, including tumors, cancer and a condition known as peliosis hepatis. Peliosis hepatis causes blood-filled cysts to form in the liver. This condition rarely exhibits symptoms, but cysts sometimes rupture, causing internal bleeding and death. Other symptoms of peliosis hepatis include jaundice, an enlarged liver and liver failure.

Infections

Illegal anabolic steroids users frequently inject the drug into their body. Often, these users are injecting steroids in an environment that isn't sterile and may include using contaminated needles or sharing needles with other users. Steroid use in this manner subjects the user to life-threatening infections such as HIV and certain forms of hepatitis. The NIDA reports non-sterile steroid use also increases the risk of bacterial infections at the injection site. These infections result in the formation of painful abscesses.

Psychiatric Effects

The misuse of anabolic steroids has been shown to have severe behavioral effects in users, causing depression, increased aggression, delusions and mania. It's common for steroid users to exhibit "roid rage," or uncontrolled outbursts of anger, frustration or combativeness. Although the level of behavior disorder varies by user, the NIDA reports research that demonstrates steroid use does contribute to violent and aggressive behavior changes in users.