What are the Sport Drugs?
For more than thirty years and until now, the use of substances that
would enhance the performance of the athletes is rapidly increasing all
over the world. Most of the professional athletes as well as amateur
athletes take supplements that would help them during their training and
of course, on the competition. This includes the common vitamins and
minerals that are also used by the typical body builders as well.
However, there are some who opt for illegal drugs such as stimulants,
anabolic substances, and even prohibited street drugs just to enhance
their body’s performance even for a while only. Psychologists say that
these sports drugs were consumed by the athletes because of several
reasons including social, physiological, psychological, political, as
well as economic factors.
One of the most popular drugs that are flourishing the world of sports
is the anabolic steroid. This sport drug is also considered as the
ergogenic drugs or a substance that enhances the performance of the
athlete. This is the synthetic derivative of the natural hormone among
male called testosterone. More often than not, male athletes use
anabolic steroids so that they would have this “winning edge” when it
comes to developing their strength and power. Aside from that, they also
feel like their body ca recover better and faster even if they have done
tons of heavy workouts. Some anabolic steroids can be taken orally. But
there are other athletes who choose to have the anabolic steroids
injected in their body to get the effect faster. Unfortunately, after
prolong exposure to the anabolic steroids the male athlete might face
negative health conditions including prostate cancer, post-use
depression, high blood pressure, and more.
Aside from steroids, amphetamines are also used as a sport drug by other
professional as well as amateur athletes. Sometimes, it is also taken by
the athletes along with alcohol and other drugs including heroine,
barbiturates, and more. Athletes use amphetamine so that they would an
increased alertness during the training and during the competition.
Studies show that the amphetamines also increase the excitement of the
athlete for any upcoming sports event. There are also several occasions
that this sport drug makes the athlete unaware of his fatigue. Moreover,
athletes who are taking amphetamines usually sweat less even if they
have been running for a couple of hours or doing strenuous activities to
prepare for the competition. Because of this, there is a high risk for
heat stroke and other serious health conditions like cardiac arrest,
over fatigue, or even sudden death.
The first two mentioned sport drugs were usually taken by the athletes
because they want to improve their mood states during the competition.
Aside from that, it also makes the feel confident, increase their
endurance, and increase their alertness as well. Unfortunately, the
positive effects only last for a while. They no longer mind about the
negative side effects of these prohibited drugs just for the sake of
winning.
As for those who do not wish to take steroids or amphetamines, they take
legal drugs such as the painkillers. However, to get more than just a
pain-relieving side effect, athletes usually overdose themselves with
these painkillers that can be easily availed over the counter. They
would have an increased pain threshold and sometimes would not feel
anything at all even if they are already injured. |
