Anabolic Androgenic Steroids The Miracle Working...

Ergogenic aids are believed to be the miracle working products that help athletes or any physically active person, to enhance their performance (Powers, p. 569). An example of an ergogenic aid is anabolic-androgenic steroids, which are known to build and strengthen the muscle. Athletes who chose to take anabolic-androgenic steroids can choose to either take it orally or inject it within their muscle, to try to enhance their performance within their respective sport. The type of performance that the anabolic-androgenic steroids would likely show improvement in are by increased muscle mass and striated muscle speed associated (Hassan et al. p.273). Also, it can be used to increase the strength of the tendons, ligaments and joints, which could help prevent injuries from occurring within athletes. Although anabolic-androgenic steroids sound like a positive steroid to take, it can have a negative effect on athletes’ heart, such as cardiovascular disease, as well as other serious he alth risk factors, if it is being overused. Researchers Hassan, Salem and Sayed have conducted a research on anabolic-androgenic steroids. The purpose of their study was to examine the cardiovascular effects that could damage the heart of athletes that use it excessively. Results such as an increase in blood pressure, decrease in high density lipoproteins and sudden cardiac death, were observed with the usage of echocardiography, Conventional Doppler and SRI (p. 273-247). They hypothesized that