Steroids are widely being used by men worldwide. Although, it helps in building a healthy body it is mostly used for body building. These steroids are abused by many people and they are not aware of the side effects it can cause. Therefore, it is really important for the one who takes steroids to be educated of pros and cons of steroid use. Excessive use of steroids can cause number of side effects in men. The body starts developing in an artificial system controlled by steroids rather than the natural hormones. There is total inhibition of secretion of natural hormones in severe cases. At times due to steroid abuse, the body has a deferred homeostasis functioning.

Since most anabolic steroids are ingested orally, there is a high risk of liver damage which results in poor filtration system of the body. Going through the blood –lipid profile, of the person who intakes steroids on a regular basis. We observe, there is a low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol. In severe cases, it can lead to gynocomastia (breast tissue development in males). The skin’s sebaceous glands are highly active due to steroid abuse and thus cause acne. There is increased aggressiveness and changed behavior due to increased androgen in the body.

From TimesUnion.com:

“A key principle of the (’94) law is that supplements were not subject to pre-market approval, since the cost and time alone required to see a product through FDA approval would sound the death knell for this industry,” Hatch said. As for products that contain steroids, he said, “Simply put, under current law, these products are not allowed to be marketed.”

Michael Levy, director of the FDA’s division of new drugs and labeling compliance, told the panel his agency has a limited ability to keep dietary supplements with steroids from being marketed.

“FDA generally cannot identify violative products before they enter the marketplace,” Levy said. “After products enter the market, we must undertake a painstaking investigative and analytical process” to show the products violate the law.

Daniel Fabricant, interim executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association, which represents retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of health foods and dietary supplements, said, “The barriers to enforcement are simple: money, manpower and will.”

Like many stories in the past, the story of Jareem is equally disturbing. But one thing that cannot be possibly denied is the fact that steroid users often neglect the usefulness of qualified medical advice before consuming steroids and supplements. Steroid abuse is fatal and steroid users need to realize this fact.

From TimesUnion.com:

“A key principle of the (’94) law is that supplements were not subject to pre-market approval, since the cost and time alone required to see a product through FDA approval would sound the death knell for this industry,” Hatch said. As for products that contain steroids, he said, “Simply put, under current law, these products are not allowed to be marketed.”

Michael Levy, director of the FDA’s division of new drugs and labeling compliance, told the panel his agency has a limited ability to keep dietary supplements with steroids from being marketed.

“FDA generally cannot identify violative products before they enter the marketplace,” Levy said. “After products enter the market, we must undertake a painstaking investigative and analytical process” to show the products violate the law.

Daniel Fabricant, interim executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association, which represents retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of health foods and dietary supplements, said, “The barriers to enforcement are simple: money, manpower and will.”

It is really sad to know about one more possibly new episode of steroidabuse. One thing that people tend to forget while using steroids or supplements is the fact that both of them need to be used as per qualified medical advice and as per the instructions. Steroid abuse can only lead to side effects like what Jareem faced.

This news blog is a serious attempt to educate all those who think that steroids are harmful to human health and are not worth the risk.

From Entertainment.howstuffworks.com:

Anabolic Steroids

A steroid is a chemical substance derived from cholesterol. The body has several major steroid hormones — cortisol and testosterone in the male, estrogen and progesterone in the female. Catabolic steroids break down tissue, and anabolic steroids build up tissue. Anabolic steroids build muscle and bone mass primarily by stimulating the muscle and bone cells to make new protein.

Athletes use anabolic steroids because they increase muscle strength by encouraging new muscle growth. Anabolic steroids are similar in structure to the male sex hormone, testosterone, so they enhance male reproductive and secondary sex characteristics (testicle development, hair growth, thickening of the vocal cords). They allow the athlete to train harder and longer at any given period.

Anabolic steroids are mostly testosterone (male sex hormone) and its derivatives. Examples of anabolic steroids include:

* Testosterone

* Dihydrotestosterone

* Androstenedione (Andro)

* Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

* Clostebol

* Nandrolone

From the above facts, it can be clearly seen that anabolic steroids are excellent performance enhancing products for every one, including endurance athletes and bodybuilders, who expect to deliver top-notch performance with dedicated efforts and a high sense of perseverance.

It is, however, very important to note that steroids are to be used and not to be abused. This is because steroid abuse can lead to severe health risks.