
The Dark Side of Bodybuilding: Risks and Consequences of Anabolic Steroid Use
Reading Time: 2 minutes Introduction to Steroid Use in Bodybuilding In the pursuit of muscular enhancement and athletic superiority, many American men turn to anabolic steroids, a synthetic variant of the male hormone testosterone. While these substances may provide significant gains in muscle mass and strength, their use comes with a considerable health cost that is often overlooked in the bodybuilding community. Physiological Effects of Anabolic Steroids Anabolic steroids function by mimicking the properties of naturally occurring testosterone, promoting increased protein synthesis within cells, resulting in the buildup of cellular tissue, particularly in muscles. However, this accelerated growth process does not come without risks....