What Are The Effects of Steroid Use - Coursework Example

Birke et al (2007) observe that the first step in the scientific design of an experiment involves formulating questions that outline the objectives of the experiment. The thematic connotation of this experiment is steroid use and its inspiration comes from the works of Charles Brown Sequard. Browns focus was on the role of steroids in prolonging or diminishing the human lives (Birke et al, 2007; Lau, 2008). His use of testicular extracts from dogs and guinea pigs to see if they could enlarge the lifespan of mankind failed to produce results, but foundation was for on this study. This experiment aims to answer the following questions, 1. What are the effects of steroid use to the growth of mankind? 2. What are the effects of steroid use as compared to other drugs? 3. How does steroid use affect human health? 4. Which steroid is safe for human consumption? The next stage involves conducting background research on steroids (Birke et al, 2007). Using secondary research mechanisms, the following are literature on all aspects of steroids. Steroids are drugs which have similar values to other drugs as such cholesterols and hormone testosterone and their chemical characteristics and structure are similar to a greater percentage. The steroids in common use are anabolic/ androgenic steroids which emanate from cholesterol and testosterone (Kiesbye, 2007). Their major function is to build masculinity in men and women. A study done in 2001 that involved examination of high doses of anabolic steroids for 52 weeks confirms this. The dosage was 600 mg a week and a confirmation was made on the capabilities of steroids to build muscles. Anabolic is a scientific term that refers to growth of larger units from smaller units of an organism while androgenic refers to elements that have the capability to produce male characteristics. Stanozolol is an example of an anabolic/androgenic steroid. Glucocorticoids are another group of steroids and they act as anti-inflammatory agents. Their production occurs at the adrenaline glands. Steroids are soluble in fats; therefore they can remain in the body tissues for a long period of time. By conducting this experiment, one of the objectives is to analyze the effects of steroid use to the growth of mankind. Available literature suggest that steroid use has numerous disadvantages in comparison to advantages, and they can lead to infertility in men and women, stunted growth among the adolescents, excessive acne, heart and liver diseases including cancer (Kiesbye, 2007).Another side effect includes the development of cardiac arrhythmias which refers to irregular rate of heart beats. It can be slow, fast or regular or irregular. Drugs such as cocaine, alcohol and lithium salts produce similar side effects as steroids (Friedman, 2009). Some of these drugs have medical use while others, such as cocaine have no medical value. Alcohol can cause liver diseases when large quantities are used, this is because it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that arises out of metabolism of alcohol in a human’s body. This leads to a condition known as jaundice, a medical condition that turns the skin into yellow color. Compared to cocaine, they have similar effects. Cocaine has the ability to accelerate heart attacks through irregular and rapid heart beating, an aspect known as tachycardia, and this experiment aims to prove this fact. These problems can be mitigated by consulting a physician in case a person wants to use the drugs, and his role is to prescribe the correct drugs basing on a person’s health and body conditions. Finally, steroids are used by a variety of people, and among them include athletes, teenage boys and girls. Athletes use steroids to improve their performance in the field while non-athletes use them to boost their self-esteem, and improve on their physical appearance and appeal to the opposite sex. Teenagers and young adults are the main culprits of this. Construction of an hypothesis is the next stage of my scientific experiment on the effects of steroids in mankind. For the experiment to be a fair test there must be dependent and independent variables. The following are the hypotheses for this experiment, 1. If an adolescent takes 20mgs of steroids a week for 60 weeks, then he will have stunted growth. 2. If an athlete takes a similar quantity of 20mg of steroids in comparison to cocaine, then they will achieve similar results. 3. Constant use of 20mgs of steroids weekly for a period of 60 weeks causes heart diseases such as cancer and irregular heartbeats. 4. Taking 5gms of anabolic in comparison to 5gms of Glucocorticoids steroids is safe for human consumption. The next stage is to test the developed hypotheses through a series of experiments (Birke et al, 2007). The first procedure is to develop a plan on how to change the independent variables in my hypotheses and how to measure the impact of these changes to the dependent variables, and in doing so, making sure that the controlled variables are constant. In the first hypotheses, the independent variable is an adolescent, while the controlled variables are the 20mg of steroids and the time period of 60 weeks. Growth is a dependent variable. To measure growth, I will need a tape measure for measuring and a pencil, and the height to be in use is 5feet tall. Observations will be conducted on the samples and a request be made so that changes in their height can be measured. In the second hypotheses, the independent variable is an athlete specializing in long distance running, and the quantity of steroids and cocaine to used are 20mg, these are controlled variables. The dependent variable is the time they will each take in finishing the race. This will be measured by use of a clock and volunteers will be required in respect to steroids, while in respect to cocaine, research will be done on time taken by various athletes who run under similar conditions and the same distance. This will be compared by the results of my experiments. On hypotheses number three, the independent variable is the seven day period known as the week. The controlled variable is 60 week period while the dependent variable is the numbers of times a heartbeat occurs. To measure this, I will need a stethoscope and an individual who has this health condition and has satisfied the 60 week usage policy. The assistance of medical institutions will be sought and government agencies. Finally, the independent variable in hypotheses number four is the quantity of anabolic and glucocorticoids steroids, which is 5gms. The controlled variables are anabolic and glucocorticoids steroids while the health condition of an individual is the dependent variable. To measure this condition, lab tests will be necessary in order to identify their health status (Lau, 2008). This will involve taking blood samples of people known to be using the substances and conducting lab analysis to come up with a conclusion. From these experiments, a conclusion will be made, and this is the final stage of a scientific research. My expected findings are numerous and they will just strengthen the findings of various scholars who have studied this field. Concerning hypotheses number one, adolescents are likely to experience stunted growth due to excessive use of steroids. Adolescents are in a period of growth and estrogen metabolites which are produced by steroids can make growth plates in their born tissues to fuse, leading to stunted growth. Cocaine and steroids have similar effects in enhancing the performance of an athlete and many sporting organizations have banned athletes known to have used them. This experiment is likely to prove this notion. This experiment is most likely to prove that steroids are responsible for left ventricular hypertrophy. This refers to the increase of cells in the ventricle which negatively affects the hearts capability to pump blood in the body resulting to heart attacks. Consumption of whatever amount of steroids is not safe for humans, and the only way that it can have positive effects, is when it is prescribed by a physician. References Birke, L. I., Arluke, A., & Michael, M. (2007). The sacrifice: How scientific experiments transform animals and people. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press. Friedman, L. S. (2009). Steroids. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Kiesbye, S. (2007). Steroids. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Lau, D. (2008). Steroids. New York: Rosen Central. Read More