Composition
11 November 2007
Steroids
In today’s society, we place an enormous amount of importance on sports and the way we physically look. With this focus on sports comes the desire to perform at extraordinary levels to please their fans and to make more money. These incentives lead people to seek for anything that will give them an advantage over their opponents, competition, or rivals. This competitive, or shallow in the case of non-athletes, attitude is what led to the development of anabolic steroids. According to Houston Astro first baseman, Lance Berkman, “The steroid issue is not quite as big as some people think. This is a hot-button issue now. People are making a mountain out of a molehill.” (Thinkexist.com 1). Lately, due to the increased attention of the media, steroids have come into the public’s eye as a growing problem in today’s society.
To understand the usage of anabolic steroids, we must first understand what steroids are and how they work. Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, which is a natural male hormone. The real name for this form of steroid is anabolic/androgenic steroids. The word “anabolic” means growing or building, and the word “androgenic” means the developing of male sexual characteristics. Over the years, scientists have attempted to limit the androgenic effect on the body to reduce the “masculinization” from taking this steroid (drugfreesport.com 1). An anabolic steroid works by spiking the body’s testosterone hormone level. By doing this, the steroid connects to the androgen receptors indirectly stimulating protein synthesis. In other words, it helps the body retain dietary proteins, thus aiding to the growth of muscles, bones, and skin. The anabolic effect also promotes the retention of nitrogen, which helps...