Deaths and serious illness from steroid use: what the data shows
A study puts the life expectancy of steroid users at just 62 years. Tumours, colitis and intensive care cases run through the testimonies.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Cycling can cost you your life: the harsh reality of steroids
The image of the gym full of tattooed men in their forties who abused anabolic steroids in their youth is no coincidence. Many of them are no longer around, and those who are carry serious health problems. A book titled 'The Dangers of Everyday Life' includes a longitudinal study that trinc athletes who used these substances from the 1990s onwards: life expectancy came out at 62 years, and many did not even reach 57.
The collected testimonies paint a grim picture. Tumours in the neck and shoulder that nearly killed an employee of a hydroelectric company in Tarragona; two people admitted to intensive care before the age of 40, one of them with severe jaundice that earned him the nickname 'Homer Simpson'; and a long list of intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and various tumours. Those who quit using are not spared either: health problems persist years later.
However, not everyone suffers the same fate. Sprinter Ben Johnson, famous for his positive test at Seoul 1988, turns 66 in good health. But his case is the exception, not the rule. Most of those who 'cycle' end up paying a high price, and the evidence points to premature death being a real risk, not an urban legend.
The image of the gym full of tattooed men in their forties who abused anabolic steroids in their youth is no coincidence. Many of them are no longer around, and those who are carry serious health problems. A book titled 'The Dangers of Everyday Life' includes a longitudinal study that trinc athletes who used these substances from the 1990s onwards: life expectancy came out at 62 years, and many did not even reach 57.
The collected testimonies paint a grim picture. Tumours in the neck and shoulder that nearly killed an employee of a hydroelectric company in Tarragona; two people admitted to intensive care before the age of 40, one of them with severe jaundice that earned him the nickname 'Homer Simpson'; and a long list of intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and various tumours. Those who quit using are not spared either: health problems persist years later.
However, not everyone suffers the same fate. Sprinter Ben Johnson, famous for his positive test at Seoul 1988, turns 66 in good health. But his case is the exception, not the rule. Most of those who 'cycle' end up paying a high price, and the evidence points to premature death being a real risk, not an urban legend.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (20 replies).
More summaries
-
On Deadly Ground: the one Steven Seagal gem worth defending
On Deadly Ground, with its eco-themed plot and star-studded cast, is Steven Seagal's best film. Find out why the critics got it wrong.
-
Ceuta and Melilla: The Resurgence of the Sovereignty Debate
Ceuta and Melilla are back at the heart of the sovereignty debate. Ultranationalism, cession proposals, and shared sovereignty clash amidst deep disagreement.
-
The villain's final death: justice or just the script?
From Joffrey to John Doe: cinema chews over our hatred of villains and turns it into catharsis. These are the deaths audiences remember with a smile.
-
Diomande’s Girlfriend Sparks AI Debate: Real or Generated?
The girlfriend of footballer Diomande divides social media: is the photo real or AI-generated? A betting house pendant fuels the controversy.
-
Married American man with three children has affair with someone in Spain
A 120 kg American man, nearly two meters tall, married with three children, is in a relationship with a person in Spain. Get the details.
-
New parents: when a baby strains a relationship
A young father describes the strain of living with his partner after becoming parents, amid tensions with family and doubts about their future.