Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that imitate the male sex hormone, testosterone, and help with the growth and repair of muscle tissue. They work by imitating the properties of naturally occurring hormones, and their chemical composition is similar to testosterone, which can activate the body’s testosterone receptors. Once the receptors are stimulated, a domino effect of metabolic reactions takes place as the drug instructs the body to increase muscle tissue production. Testosterone has two effects on the body: anabolic, which maintains bone density, supports muscle growth, and speeds up recovery from injury, and androgenic, which develops and maintains male sexual characteristics.
People who illegally use anabolic steroids often do so to increase lean muscle mass, reduce fat, and speed up recovery from injury. They can take the form of tablets, capsules, or injectable liquids, depending on the type of steroid. Steroids can make people train more often and for longer periods of time, with improved recovery, which can often lead to rapid increases in lean muscle mass.
However, the misuse of anabolic steroids, especially over a long period of time, has been linked to many health problems, including acne, stunted growth in teens, high blood pressure, changes in cholesterol, heart problems, liver disease, kidney damage, aggressive behavior, baldness, breast growth, low sperm count/infertility, shrinking of the testicles, changes in menstrual cycle, and more. Steroids can also have serious psychological side effects, such as aggression, delusions, and extreme feelings of mistrust.
In conclusion, anabolic steroids can help with the growth and repair of muscle tissue by imitating the properties of naturally occurring hormones, but their misuse can cause serious health problems. It is important to use them only under medical supervision and for legitimate medical purposes.