What will you gain from anabolic steroids?

Here at Westpark Fitness, we support the Zero Gains #zerogains initiative by the HPRA (Health Products Regulatory Authority). This aims to educate people on the negative side effects of taking performance enhancing substances such as anabolic steroids - along with the very serious health risks and proven link to this that has been studied and established. We champion our members to reach and maintain their health and fitness goals without needing to take any substances that can be harmful to their physical and mental health in both the short term and long term. While there are many gym and sports supplements which are proven to be perfectly safe, studied, effective and popular; the use of anabolic steroids is illegal for a reason. In general:

Male steroid users can experience adverse side effects including:

• The growing of breasts colloquially called ‘man boobs’
• Erectile dysfunction and shrinkage of testicles
• Infertility and reduced sperm count
• Stomach cramps and pain

Female steroid users can experience adverse side effects including:

• Excess hair growth on both the face and body
• Voice can become deeper and huskier
• Problems associated with periods
• Shrinkage of breasts

Younger and teenager users can experience:

• Premature ageing of the bones
• Stunted growth and height

The following negative side effects can also occur for all steroid users:

• Increase in high cholesterol and the risk of blood clots
• Severe acne on both the face and body
• High blood pressure and heart failure
• Hair thinning, hair loss and baldness
• Kidney problems and fluid retention
• Liver damage

In tandem with the physical side effects as mentioned above, there are also a host of emotional and mental negative side effects which can also develop if you use and therefore alter the natural processes and chemical and hormonal makeup of your body by taking steroids.

This can include:

• Aggression, depression, mood swings and violence (‘roid rage’)
• Problems sleeping as your sleep cycle is altered
• Increase in irritability and manic behaviour
• Hallucinations
• Delusions

What will you gain from anabolic steroids?

Knowing all of the above, it becomes clear as to why the HPRA have named this campaign ‘Zero Gains’ as it shows that there is really no logical benefit to taking anabolic steroids due to the bevy of physical and mental health drawbacks which can be life-threatening and can affect users for their entire lives. There is a reason that anabolic steroids are illegal and we support the HPRA in their crusade to educate the public about this hugely harmful aspect of enhancing performance. For more information you can visit their website here: www.zerogains.ie