Bodybuilders may be driven to taking steroids because of their profession. But now, many general gym-goers are beginning to find the shortcut to a muscular body, irresistible. What they don't realise is that in the long run, "brittle bones, high blood pressure and a moon-face are some of the more prominent side-effects," says general physician Arun Kumar.
"The damage to the liver and kidney are well known. If not administered correctly, steroids can be life-threatening as well," says Kumar. Executive in a multinational company, Prem Gupta, 23, found this out the hard way.
Two years ago, Prem joined a gym in Andheri where the trainer recommended he take 'specific doses' of the steroids Sustanon and Deca (the latter is now banned). He had to inject them into his system every alternate day for two months. "I knew they were steroids, but stupid and ambitious as I was, I went ahead because I wanted quick results," says Gupta. Prem gained 15kg of muscle weight in two months, which brought about a drastic change in his physical appearance -- and confidence. "People started reacting positively to my new physique," he says. "I started feeling good about that."
Shortly after, Gupta developed a high fever that he assumed would go away in a day or two. But it kept returning. After having fever for over a month, and losing a lot of his strength, Prem admitted to the doctor treating him that he had consumed steroids.
"Thankfully my liver wasn't damaged because I had maintained a good diet even when taking steroids," he says. "But my immunity had taken a battering, and it took a long time to return to good health. It was scary." It's been two years since the ordeal, and Prem is back at the gym. But he's staying away from steroids, even if it means having a less muscular body.
No comments:
Post a Comment