Many bodybuilders, particularly those of the professional and top amateur variety, have a reputation for being some pretty crazy animals when it comes to the compounds they put into their bodies. Even back as far as the 1970s when drugs were just making their way into mainstream bodybuilding circles, guys would eat Dianabol by the handful all day long. In the 1990s, it was an obsession with getting extremely ripped that had some bodybuilders depriving themselves of water for weeks, and using very dangerous drugs such as EPO. The results were tragic, with many bodybuilding greats passing away immediately before or after competitions. Since then, the propensity for suicidal conditioning has lessened, but we’ve seen far more sensible use of diuretics. However, the advent of growth hormone and insulin has led to a generation of bodybuilders over the last 15 years that have irreversible bone growth and potential early onset of diabetes. Yes, some bodybuilders are probably certifiably crazy.

The reality is that outside of a few rare specimens of the suicidal variety, most bodybuilders who use steroids are well aware of some of the most potent and dangerous side effects. First off, above all, is the fear of cancer. Oral steroids are very toxic upon the organs of the body, particularly the kidneys and liver. Use of these strong compounds for more than 6 weeks leads to blood polyps on the organs which can lead to cancer. They are very scary and very real. Beyond that, hair loss, acne, bloating, and Gynecomastia, along with the inevitable crashing of natural testosterone production, are the most major concerns. The way we look, and the potential for cancer, and the main factors covered by blood panel tests and other conventional means.

One common ailment suffered by bodybuilders – and almost completely overlooked in many steroid periodicals profiling certain drugs – is high blood pressure. Known as hypertension, elevated blood pressure, is can lead to an increased chance of heart attack or stroke. Since heart disease will inevitably claim one-half of people reading this article, it’s a very real and necessary measure to minimize the potential causes of high blood pressure. A lot of bodybuilders today do suffer from hypertension. Anytime you see a picture of a bodybuilder sitting calmly at an expo booth with a face bright red despite not doing much of anything, there’s a good chance his blood pressure is through the roof.

Many aspects of the bodybuilding lifestyle contribute to high blood pressure. The high volume consumption of food leads to high bodyweight. Your heart doesn’t know if it’s carrying 240 pounds of muscle or fat – it does the same amount of work either way to push blood to maintain the new weight. The use of stimulants also elevates the blood pressure. As do most anabolic steroids.

To avoid letting your blood pressure get to a point where it can threaten your life, have your pressure checked at your local Wal-mart or neighborhood pharmacy. If you’re in the higher range, consult a doctor and cut out those factors which are causing this problem – even if they include your beloved AAS. Health trumps all, and without it, you have nothing!

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