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Introduction
Drugs are not just recreational; in fact, for some, it is performance enhancing. This is a scenario quite prevalent in the sports industry. Yet, in spite of the narcotic law imposed for sports events, some players either find their way or are even forced to indulge in such performance-enhancing drugs.
One of the worst-case scenarios that a healthy sports person can encounter after being under enhanced drugs is addiction. A scenario that can not only destroy their career as a sportsperson but also take months or even years to recover from.
This is why every enthusiastic player should take this as a warning before trying to go for that temporary win right before an event.
In fact, every athlete under the influence of a substance poses some risk of physical harm, which can reduce their sports capabilities. Therefore, it is not always about performance. Substances of any recreational kind should also be balanced in the life of an athlete, and here is why.
Harmful Effects Of Substance On An Athlete’s Body
Here is how substances, even recreational, can ruin an athlete’s body like show poison.
1. Liver Damage
The performance-enhancing drugs, which some push inside their body, come with their own adverse side effects. Potential liver damage is one of them. These drugs are anabolic in nature, and they are known for the vascular damage they cause in the body.
In rare cases, it can also cause a condition called peliosis hepatis. This is when the liver is filled with a blood-filled enlarged cyst. If one doesn’t discover the condition and treat it soon, the liver might lose its functioning, slowly shutting the body down.
2. A Case Of Roid Rage
It is common among male athletes known for taking recreational drugs alongside the performance-enhancing kind. Roid rage is referred to as a strong, angry, aggressive sexual desire exaggerated by these anabolic drugs. Sometimes, it can take a painful turn for the player suffering from it.
As a result, they might indulge in criminal aggressive behavior, whether sexual or get into a physical fight. These are not only bad for the athlete’s body but damning for their reputation.
3. Acromegaly – Deformation Of Body
Sometimes, an athlete’s drug use starts getting obvious. The culprit is Acromegaly caused by peptide hormone (another kind of performance-enhancing substance). When taken in the teen years, it can heavily stunt a child’s growth.
However, on the other spectrum, when consumed too much after a certain age, it can cause deformation and enlargement of some parts of the body. Mainly, we see this deformation around the jaws, brow, skulls, hands, and feet).
4. Stimulants Inducing Mental & Physical Problems
Right before any sports event, athletes often on stimulants to help:
- Lose all the weight they have gained from the off-season.
- Trying to enhance focus and concentration.
However, when one cannot find the healthy balance as a doctor states in the prescription, it can lead to physical and mental problems. The extreme stimulant can cause the following turbulences during practice before a season:
- Insomnia.
- Excessive weight loss and losing physical strength.
- Hand and foot tremors, which incapacitate an athlete.
- Heart rate is increasing.
- Increase in blood pressure.
- Increase in anxiety before an important event.
Why Striking A Healthy Balance Between Substances Is Important For Athletes
Striking a healthy balance between substances is crucial for athletes as it directly impacts their performance, health, and integrity of the sport. Proper nutrition, hydration, and supplements can enhance endurance and recovery.
However, excessive or improper use of substances like steroids or stimulants can lead to severe health issues and tarnish an athlete’s reputation. Maintaining equilibrium ensures sustained peak performance while safeguarding long-term well-being.
Athletes must rely on evidence-based guidance from healthcare professionals to optimize their substance intake, allowing them to excel in their respective disciplines without compromising their physical and ethical standards.
