What are the warning signs of steroid use?
• Large gains of muscle mass over a short period of time (20lbs. of muscle gained over a summer by a high school athlete is not to be expected by weight training alone). • Increased time spent in the gym and a preoccupation with training. • Dramatic changes in personality like moodiness, aggression, and hostility. • Growth of breast tissue in males (gynecomastia). • Increased acne, especially on the back, face, and chest. • Facial puffiness due to water retention • Needle marks in the buttocks. • Increase in blood pressure and heart rate (Goldman, 1992). Slang for steroids include: roids, juice, sauce, slop, product and vitamins (Berkowitz, 1989). 6. What are the side effects of steroids? • Adverse effects on the liver – jaundice, hepatitis, liver tumors, cancer, peliosis hepatis (blood filled cysts in the liver). • Adverse effects on the cardiovascular system – coronary artery disease, decreased HDL (good cholesterol), increased LDL (bad cholesterol), heart attack, blood clotting abno
