Performance enhancing drugs boost athletic performance, increase muscle build, and aids in the loss of body fat. I don't have much real life experience with these drugs besides a story that my friend told me about a person she used to know. Apparently this boy was abusing steroids to get ahead on his sports team and as a result, was experiencing "roid rage." In class we learned that this is not a myth, and that steroid users do indeed have a tendency to get angry faster. Other health risks and symptoms of drug use include acne, stunted growth, high blood pressure, liver damage, risk of stroke, headaches, baldness, and risk of ligament and tendon injuries. Stimulants as seemingly harmless as caffeine can result in nervousness, irritability, dehydration, and psychological addiction. Erythropoietin, or EPO, a type of hormone used to treat anemia in people with severe kidney disease, may result in heart attack and pulmonary edema. Not all performance enhancements are drugs. Finally, carbo-loading, a tactic of increasing consumption of carbohydrates depicted in the satirical advertisement above, can result in severe weight gain. Many of these substances are safe as long as they are used in moderation, like caffeine. Strength training and high protein diets can be safe, but continuous periods of abuse will only have negative effects on the human body. Ultimately, the risks that come with abusing certain performance enhancements are not worth it.
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