What are the Signs of Steroid Use?
What are the Signs of Steroid Use?
4 min read
|
23 Jun 2023
Hack Your Workout |
Steroids; we’ve all thought about it, particularly on days when it feels like we are making no progress in our training. One of the big issues with steroids is that it can be pretty obvious we are on them.
So if you want to look like you got all your gains through hard work… you probably won’t be fooling anyone after a few cycles of the roids.
Have you ever seen a stacked guy walking around the gym with back acne and serious man boobs?
Chances are he’s on steroids.
Yes, it can be tempting… but steroids have a whole host of side effects which not only affect your appearance, but your health.
So what are the signs of steroid use?
How Do Anabolic Steroids Increase Muscle Mass?
Testosterone is a hormone present in both male and female bodies, and one of its jobs is to help us build muscle. Anabolic androgenic steroids are chemicals that mimic testosterone; they attach to our muscle cells’ androgen receptors and stimulate increased muscle protein synthesis. Anabolic steroids are taken in the form of a pill or injected.
There are lots of different types of steroids and some people take more than one type to increase the effect. Some are better for building the huge, bulked look; some are more likely to create a shredded physique.
Steroids can also reduce muscle soreness as they block cortisol (the stress hormone) which is partly responsible for muscle breakdown and pain after exercise.
How To Spot Steroid Users
So how can you tell if someone is taking anabolic steroids? Here are some of the more obvious ways you can spot someone who is engaging in anabolic steroid abuse.
- Rapid muscle growth that seems unnatural
- Red pimples and acne breakouts, particularly across the back and chest (assuming they are past their teen years!)
- Oily skin
- Angry outbursts and mood swings (roid rage)
- Large, very defined shoulder muscles (traps and deltoids)
- Full of energy and seem to be able to train for longer than others
- Can maintain a very low body fat percentage
- Losing body fat while gaining muscle simultaneously
- Men may develop extra breast tissue and start to lose their hair
- Women’s voices may deepen, and they may start to grow extra body hair and facial hair
- Yellow skin and eyes
The Other Side Effects Of Steroid Abuse
Not all side effects of steroid use are obvious to the average passerby… but there are a few you might start to notice pretty quickly should you start to take them.
Other side effects include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Feeling sick and vomiting
- Severe low mood
Men could be affected by:
- Decreased testicle size
Women could be affected by:
- Changes in their menstrual cycle
- An enlarged clitoris
There are also serious side effects that you might not notice right away but which could be life-threatening or life-altering:
- Increased risk of certain cancers
- Fertility problems
- Tumors and cysts
- Hormonal imbalances
- Blood clots
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Nerve damage if needles are used
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Increased risk of liver and kidney disease
- HIV and other infections if shared needles are used
Are Steroids Safe?
Steroids are available on prescription for certain illnesses and for people who don’t produce enough of the male sex hormones, but they are never prescribed to help a healthy person build muscle. Street steroids aren’t safe; selling them without a prescription is illegal, and taking steroids to help you build muscle is extremely dangerous.
You have probably heard people talk about steroid cycling, i.e., taking steroids for around 6 weeks followed by an off-cycle where they don’t take any. The reason behind this is to try and reduce the risk of side effects, but cycling doesn’t eliminate the risks, far from it.
It is also common for people to increase their steroid use as their bodies become more ‘tolerant’ to the side effects… but just because you are getting fewer spots doesn’t mean you aren’t putting yourself at risk of having a heart attack.
There is simply no safe way to use steroids, and steroid addiction is a serious issue.
What’s The Alternative To Anabolic Steroids?
Nervous about the risk of steroids but still need something to increase your gains? Thankfully there are a number of safe, all-natural alternatives that can help you reach your ultimate body.
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