AccuDiagnostics

Posts Tagged ‘steroid use’

Hundreds of thousands of high school students are using steroids. This fact, while disturbing, is generally met with little interest and several discreet winks from the proud father to the high school football star. However, steroid use in teenage girls in on the rise, and is cause for concern.

In varying studies, between 7  – 11% of high school girls in the US admit to the use of anabolic steroids. Unlike their male counterparts, they are not seeking an increase of muscle, but rather to tone and slim their bodies. Most young, female steroid users also have eating disorders. These girls see steroids as a quick fix for weight control and body fat reduction, alongside their preexisting regimen of diuretics, diet pills, amphetamines, and laxatives. Several girls who reported steroid use in the survey also admitted to other unhealthy behavior including early sexual intercourse, drug and alcohol use, emotional distress and attempted suicide.

Anabolic steroids are man-made muscle-builders closely related to testosterone, the male sex hormone. Often, steroids are legally prescribed to individuals suffering from diseases such as AIDS. Illegally, they are used to quickly build muscle. They are very dangerous, and regular use can impair or destroy the liver, heart, and kidneys. They can also interfere with the normal sexual development of developing children and teenagers.

Prolonged steroid use puts teenage girls, especially those who are still actively developing, at an increased risk of severe acne, smaller breasts, irregular periods, excessive facial and body hair, paranoia, anger, and may cause them to have deeper voices. Other symptoms of steroid use include loss of head hair, heart problems, liver tumors, and severe hormone imbalances.

A person’s body naturally creates steroids. However, the use of artificial steroids can suppress this normal bodily function and stop the body’s production altogether. As a steroid user is weaned from the medication, the body will begin to make them itself. The time between the elimination of artificial steroids from the body and the commencement of natural steroid production is called the “bridge.” This transition sometimes causes dizziness, stomachaches, and tiredness. This condition has been aptly named ‘steroid withdrawal.’ The biggest mistake a person can make is stopping immediately altogether.

Concerned parents can verify their worries through a simple, steroid-detecting urine or blood test. Generally, steroids are not detectible very long. Some only stay in the system for two or three days, others are detectible in the system for two or three months. Steroid use can be stopped safely, but the process should be overseen by a doctor.



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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.

The demographic of steroid users has vastly changed in recent years.  From body builders and professional athletes to teenage girls.  Body image is a huge concern for young woman and is the motivation behind steroid use.

One study reports that a half million 8th -10th graders have used anabolic steroids in this country, and 50% of teens surveyed didn’t think steroids were dangerous.  Teenage girls are the largest group of steroid users in the United States.

Steroids are body sculptors creating lean muscle mass.  Many young women who desire a firm and toned body find steroids to be the answer; which can result in obvious changes such as facial hair, acne, violent and aggressive behavior, and numerous serious long-term effects.  The emotional effect steroids cause can also result in suicide.

Parents of teens whose steroid use resulting in suicide believe educating the public is essential.  They say if they knew the signs of steroid use, their children would be alive today.  Steroid testing is a quick and painless urine test.

To find out more information on steroid use and steroid testing use the following links;

Steroid Testing

Steroid Use

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.