musclebuildingforum.com

Every bodybuilder knows that steroids affect muscle tissue in the body... However, many overlook the simple and seemingly obvious fact that anabolic steroids also affect other body tissues... Heart, liver, prostate, brain, kidney, and other organs and systems of the body are also affected by steroids... Changes to these organs are commonly known as side effects, the unintended consequences of drugs which are manifested in the body’s composition and behavior exhibited... Most users are aware of the obvious side effects of steroids – water retention, acne, increased aggression, and others... But many users are unaware of the effects that anabolic (and androgenic) steroids have upon the blood, particularly red blood cells... Side effects on red blood cells Steroids exert a positive influence on red blood cell production by increasing their production speed and volume... A higher red blood cell count allows the blood to carry more oxygen to the various parts of the body, including muscle tissue, heart, circulatory system, and brain... Endurance during exercise and other strenuous exercise is improved... Remember the cyclists who “doped” with blood to increase biking endurance? The key processes are the same... Blood with increased levels of red blood cells makes for better endurance, hence one of the great unknown effects of steroids... Enhanced aerobic capacity could mean 1-2 more reps per set, and 20-30 more minutes of cardio, which can lead to an edge in competition results... How does it work? Key receptors located in the kidneys are stimulated by steroids and thereby spurn increased levels of red blood cell production... Further details go beyond the scope of this discussion, but bodybuilders should recognize that even when not in pre-contest or diuretic-consumption/water deprivation mode, the kidneys are indeed affected by steroids at all times... Some trainers with kidney problems believe that off-season use and abuse of steroids has no risk to their renal function, as they’re drinking plenty of water and not engaged in the risky pre-contest diuretic use... That is untrue... Any anabolic or androgenic agent administered to the body does affect kidney function... Advantages of one steroid over another? No steroid has any particular measurable advantage over another in terms of red blood cell production acceleration... Other agents, such as EPO, exist which greatly expand red blood cell production, but bodybuilders do not commonly use them, as they have no meaningful effect upon muscle-building or fat loss... The key concept to understand is that steroids affect many systems in the body, including blood production...