Drugs and Athletes

-
Without belaboring this issue, let us list some of the effects of drugs in athletics.
First, caffeine is believed by some to increase athletic performance. In one experiment on a marathon runner, running time for the marathon was reduced by 7 percent by judicious use of caffeine in amounts similar to those found in one to three cups of coffee. Yet experiments by others have failed to confirm any advantage, thus leaving this issue in doubt.
Second, use of male sex hormones (androgens) or other anabolic steroids to increase muscle strength undoubtedly can increase athletic performance under some conditions, especially in women and even in men. However, anabolic steroids also greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular damage because they often cause hypertension, decreased high-density blood lipoproteins, and increased low-density lipoproteins, all of which promote heart attacks and strokes.
In men, any type of male sex hormone preparation also leads to decreased testicular function, including both decreased formation of sperm and decreased secretion of the person’s own natural testosterone, with residual effects sometimes lasting at least for many months and perhaps indefinitely. In a woman, even more dire effects can occur because she is not normally adapted to the male sex hormone hair on the face, a bass voice, ruddy skin, and cessation of menses.


Other drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine, have been reputed to increase one’s athletic performance. It is equally true that overuse of these drugs can lead to deterioration of performance. Furthermore, experiments have failed to prove the value of these drugs except as a psychic stimulant. Some athletes have been known to die during athletic events because of interaction between such drugs and the norepinephrine and epinephrine released by the sympathetic nervous system during exercise. One of the possible causes of death under these conditions is overexcitability of the heart, leading to ventricular fibrillation, which is lethal within seconds.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pleural Effusion

-
Image
Pleural effusion , sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess  fluid  between the layers of the pleura  outside the lungs. The  pleura  are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing. Differential Diagnosis Exudative malignancy, infections, connective tissue disease, pulmonary embolism, hemothorax, pancreatitis, chylothorax Trabsydatuve HF, hypoalbuminemia (GI losing enteropathy, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, malnutrition), SVC obstruction, hepatohydrothorax, urinothorax, atelectasis, trapped lung, peritoneal dialysis, hypothyroidism, pulmonary embolism Note: pulmonary embolism, malignancy, and sar coidosis can present as either exudative or transudative effusions. HF following diuresis may become ‘‘pseudo exudative’’ (check albumin gradient) Clinical Features History dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, weight loss, fever, trauma, occupational exposures, past
Read more

Hypogonadism

-
Image
Low Testosterone Low serum testosterone, also called Hypogonadism or Andropause, severely affects around 39% of men over the 45 years of age. The incidence of low testosterone generally increases with age. Symptoms Symptoms related with low testosterone could be either sexual or non-sexual. Sexual symptoms usually include weak erectile function, low libido and decreased sexual activity. Nonsexual symptoms often include increase in body fat, fatigue, decrease in muscle mass, and depression. Causes High blood pressure High cholesterol levels Diabetes Obesity Men who have a history of chronic opioid use                              Treatment options for Hypogonadism Testosterone. Gel therapy Testosterone injections and testosterone patches. Oral testosterone or implantable testosterone pellets Diagnosis Several tests are done to diagnose side effects such as: PSA test (a screening test for diagnosing prostate cancer).
Read more

Heart Failure

-
Image
Differential Diagnosis of HF Exacerbation/ Dyspnea Cardiac Myocardial HF exacerbation, myocardial infarction Valvur aortic stenosis, acute aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation/stenosis, endocarditis Pericardial Tamponade Dysrhythmia Respiratory Airway COPD exacerbation, asthma exacerbation, acute bronchitis, bronchiectasis, foreign body obstruction Parenchyma pneumonia, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, ARDS, interstitial lung disease exacerbation Vascular pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension Pleural pneumothorax, pleural effusion Systemic sepsis, ARDS, metabolic acidosis, anemia, neuromuscular, psychogenic, anxiety. Pathophysiology Anatomic/Physiologic Classification of Cardiomyopathy Dilated (dilatation and impaired contraction of one or both ventricles) idiopathic, ischemic, valvular, viral, genetic, late manifestation of hypertrophic heart disease, tachycardia induced, alcohol induced, peripartum. Hhypertrophic (disorder with dispro
Read more