Steroids may help you gain stamina and muscles in a very short time with relatively less effort, but there is a huge risk involved. The traditional muscle gain steroids is a type of testosterone hormone, found in male bodies. Many steroids UK and the USA come with standard warning labels, clearly mentioning the side effects of the drug.
In this article, I am going to talk about the 7 long-term effects of Steroids.
Let’s get going.
1. Weight Gain
As we all know Steroids tend to increase the appetite and have a significant impact on the metabolism of the human body. Of course, the big appetite stays even after you stop consuming the drugs.
While taking the steroids, the weight stays under control but after 2-6 months, you may experience a steep rise in your weight. So if you have stopped taking steroids recently, make sure you keep your workout going.
2. High-Blood Pressure
When you consume steroids regularly for a long period, it may disturb the hormone called Cortisol. This hormone controls the presence of water and sodium in the human body. You may experience constant high blood pressure, sweating, fatigue, and restlessness right after withdrawal which may a long time to recover from.
Such patients are advised to watch their salt intake, drink water regularly and walk every day. Sometimes swelling may appear on joints such as the knee, and elbow as well. Contact your doctor to avoid any long-term damage.
3. High risk of Infection
It’s a surprise that Steroids tend to weaken the human immune system, especially after long-term usage. It means, your body is exposed to all kind of diseases and the chances of falling sick is higher than normal.
You may experience frequent fever, cough, cold, and other contagious diseases. Take regular vaccines to keep your body away from these infections.
4. High Blood Sugar Levels
Again, the Cortisol hormone is responsible for keeping a balance between sugar and glucose levels in the blood, Steroid directly impacts Cortisol, meaning you can have high blood sugar levels.
This may lead to dizziness, headaches, high-body temperatures, etc. Keep monitoring your blood sugar levels and if it stays more than 100 on empty stomach, consult with your doctor and dietician.
5. Mood Swings
Many people may not be aware, but regular use of Steroids may introduce some serious mood changes in humans. These changes may vary from happiness, depression, overreaction, and anxiety.
Simply reduce the dose quantity to control your moods. Also, seek personal counseling, avoid overthinking, and always react responsibly.
6. Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression
One of the most common effects of Steroids is sleeping disorder. More than 70% of the regular users developed insomnia at least once. Additionally, lack of sleep usually leads to overthinking which results in depression and Anxiety.
Sleeping disorders mostly appeared in people who had a regular evening dose. Ask your doctor to change the timings of the doses. Also, try to take at least 8 hours of sleep, maintain a good sleeping cycle, and keep the sleeping environment cool and lively.
7. Withdrawal Effects
One of the most horrendous effects of Steroids is dependency and addiction. 90% of regular users form addiction and suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
These symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people may be able to deal with them better than others. Usually, the symptoms consist of headache, cravings for the drug, behavioral change, anxiety, dizziness, loss of interest, and so on.
In such cases, patients are advised to seek medical attention. There are several rehab programs available for steroid withdrawal such as Detox centers, Inpatient/Outpatient programs, etc.
