Health Risks
Long term abuse of these drugs can affect not only your health but also your state of mind. The signs of abusing steroids may include rapid weight and muscle mass gain and unusual mood swings like increased aggressiveness. Severe acne of the face, chest and back is sometimes a good indicator.
The health risks and side effects can be explained by the excess androgen and anabolic drug levels present in the body. When a person uses steroids for a long time it can lead to numerous effects on different organs:
The heart is at high risk due to the excessive amount of steroids in the body. The heart must enlarge just like any other muscle would in response to the person's added size and blood volume. The enlargement leads to a decrease pumping ability and it also changes the hearts natural rhythm which can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Emotional effects of the drugs lead to depression. Aggression is common. This changes lead to manic episodes of aggressive behavior commonly referred to as roid rage which may lead to violent outbursts of anger. Depression and suicide may occur too.
Youth who have yet to finish growing that take steroids could stunt their bodies natural growth and stop their bones, joints, and muscles from reaching full maturity. In many cases steroids also lead to premature sexual development.
Other risks related to steroid uses include:
Information was obtained from mayoclinic.com