Some causes for the use of performance enhancing drugs are peer pressure, role models, media influences, and self body image. There are many types of performance enhancing drugs that people do not often consider "harmful" ranging from anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, to strength training, or carbo-loading. Strength training- the use of weights or resistance training to help build muscle- is often overlooked to have potential risks since many people consider that since it is exercise and builds muscle, how could it have risks? In order to create larger muscles, the muscles are subjected to enough force to overload the muscles themselves. If done improperly or not monitored, possible risks include herniated disks in the back, bone fractures, growth plate injuries, and cartilage damage. What concerns me about performance enhancing drugs is both the cause and effect of the drugs itself. In the media today, there is a very narrowed skew of "desired" bodies and a high level of performance in athletes, which causes many individuals to turn to unhealthy methods in order to obtain and sustain this unrealistic view. Many stimulants and performance enhancing drugs "benefits" seem to be overshadowed by the risks and consequences, as they can cause dehydration, increased blood pressure, organ damage, severe mood swings, or anxiety attacks. If there are dramatic and severe effects of performance enhancing drugs, why does society keep pushing one specific body type and such high level of human performance in sports?
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