Serious side effects
While steroid use leads to increased lean body mass, strength and muscle definition and decreases the recovery time from exercise, it also can have serious long term side effects (some of which may not be apparent until after a long-time abuser's playing days are over).
Steroids can have effect the following:
- Liver
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
- Hepatitis
- Liver tumor
- Cancer
- Peliosis hepatitis (blood filled cysts in the liver)
- Cardiovascular system
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart arrhythmias
- Decreased HDL (good cholesterol)
- Increased LDL (bad cholesterol)
- Heart attack
- Abnormal blood clotting
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Stroke
- Male reproductive system
- Decreased testicular size
- Sterility
- Prostate gland disorders
- Increased breast development (Gynecomastia)
- Increased nipple size
- Changes in sex drive (usually up then down)
- Female reproductive system
- Amenorrhea (disruption/cessation of menstrual cycle)
- Shrinkage of breast tissue
- Clitoral enlargement (irreversible)
- Deepening of voice (irreversible)
- Excessive hair growth (irreversible)
- Male pattern baldness (irreversible)
- Psychological
- Aggression
- Anger
- Hostility
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Violence
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Depression (often accompanied by suicidal thoughts)
- Major mood swings
- Males taking steroids can experience the male counterpart to anorexia nervosa, which may be the most dangerous side effect of all
- Other
- Severe acne
- Kidney tumors (rare)
- Degeneration of tendons (a common problem due to the tremendous increases in muscle strength and size)
- Stunting of growth in children and adolescents
- Increased fluid retention (leading to swelling in the face)
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nosebleeds
- Stomach aches
- Urinary and bowel problems
- Hair loss
- Insomnia
- Altered thyroid function
- AIDS (sharing dirty needles)
- Weakening of the immune system
- Needle damage, and
- Death.
