BY BRANDON SLOANE
The United States is experiencing a “healthy” revolution. Never before have so many Americans been focused on staying in good shape. One of the most obvious trends is that more and more Americans are starting to exercise on a regular basis. Gym memberships are at an all-time high and nutritious exercise supplements are selling in record numbers. While this all may seem like a change for the better in American society, there are a number of serious medical problems that can arise from people being too obsessive and reckless when they work out.
Negligent steroid-use is one of the biggest health problems that people experience in regards to exercising. Anabolic steroids are used to build up muscle by synthetically producing testosterone in the body. When used properly, this drug can help patients treat certain medical conditions and prevent muscle wasting. Many of today’s adolescents utilize this drug in order to grow muscle faster and get stronger even though they do not necessarily have the medical condition that would warrant steroid-use. When used improperly, the effects of steroids can be deadly. According to KidsHealth.Org, some side effects of improper steroid-use include balding, dizziness, nausea, mood swings, depression, urinary problems, and high blood pressure. What’s more, is that the use of steroids without a prescription is illegal and can result in up to a year in prison. Being able to bench press 50 extra pounds is not worth the consequences associated with taking steroids.
Pre-workout powders are also a big issue that hinders healthy workouts. Products such as “Jack3d” and “OxyElite Pro” are legal products that have sold over 1 billion doses as of early 2012 and are used to help people get the extra boost their bodies need when they work out. However, these products may not be as great as they are touted up to be. According to an article by TheDailyAztec.com, there were two cases last year of United States soldiers dying from heart attacks during exercising and were both reported to have been taking a chemical found in these products called DMAA. There were also many reports of kidney failures, seizures, and loss of consciousness by other personnel also ingesting this chemical. Since it is considered a dietary supplement and not a drug, the FDA has little ability to conduct market approvals before the product is put out on the shelves of stores. Because of this lack of regulation, many takers of supplements like “Jack3d” are at risk of sickness and even possible death.
One of the most popular supplements in America today is Creatine. Creatine is used in a similar way to steroids in that when ingested, it can help boost muscular performance and increase results during workouts. However many people neglect to follow how to correctly use these supplements.
“Taking supplements like Creatine recklessly can be very bad for your body,” Exercise Physiologist Leslie Feldman said. “It can cause kidney problems, heart exhaustion, dehydration, and muscle cramps.”
Another big fitness issue is that of people over-exercising and doing irreparable harm to their bodies. A lot of people feel that the best way to get in shape is to exercise frequently. While this is true to some extent, there is also a point to which over-exercise can actually be detrimental to one’s health.
“If you over-exercise and don’t give your muscles proper rest, you can do a lot of damage to yourself,” Feldman said. “You can tear muscle fibers, cause muscle inflammation, and even be subject to arrhythmia if you do not properly hydrate yourself.”
Feldman went on to say that exercising properly is more important than the actual frequency of how often you exercise and that it is a key part to maintaining your health.
“If you want to properly work out, you need to make sure to let your muscles recuperate after a workout.” Feldman said. “You should try to alternate muscle groups to work out, stretch before you exercise, eat healthy, and focus on working out your cardiovascular system just as much as your muscles.”
While it is a great thing that Americans are now trying to overcome the obstacle of obesity through dieting and exercise, we need to realize how to do it properly. If we are reckless in how we use drugs such as Anabolic steroids, or in how we repeatedly work out our muscles without adequate rest, we can end up doing more harm to ourselves than good. Having the will power to get up and exercise is only half the battle. Doing it in a smart and responsible way is just as crucial.
