Steroid Use Could Raise Teen Athletes' Odds for Concussion
Use of steroids among high school athletes is a continuing problem, and now new research finds these youths are also more likely to suffer a concussion while they play.
The study was published Oct. 20 in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.
“The neurobehavioral shifts of steroid use may lead to increased aggressive play and a subsequent heightened risk for concussions,” said researcher Kennedy Sherman, of Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation.
“Moreover, athletes using steroids are likely to have higher muscle volume and increased muscle strength, amplifying the momentum and impact of head-on collisions," Sherman added in a journal news release. "Steroid use and concussions each have numerous health consequences, and when occurring together in a person, these effects may be amplified.”
Researchers used data from a Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey, finding that 3.7% of young athletes reported previous steroid use. About 20.7% of all athletes reported having sustained a concussion.
Among those who did not use steroids, nearly 20% reported a concussion, compared to about 55% of those who did use steroids.
The good news? The prevalence of steroid use among high school athletes decreased from 3.4% in 1999 to 1.9% in 2019. The highest rates were in 2001 and 2003, at 5.3% and 4.4%, respectively.
Use varied across ethnic groups. The highest rate was seen in the American Indian/Alaska Native group, at 7.2%.
Student athletes use steroids to increase muscle strength and muscle mass.
But using the drugs has side effects, including severe, long-lasting and sometimes irreversible damage. They can cause early heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure, male infertility and psychiatric problems. People taking these drugs also may have increased aggression and anxiety, and decreased impulse control.
Coaches need to be aware of potential steroid use among players, the researchers said. They urge coaches, trainers and physicians to apply concussion protocols and remove players from games for evaluation when a concussion is suspected.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more on anabolic steroids.
SOURCE: Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, news release, Oct. 20, 2023
Matumizi ya steroids katika vijana wa shule ya sekondari ni tatizo la kuendelea, na sasa utafiti mpya unagundua vijana hawa pia ni uwezekano mkubwa wa kupata mshtuko wa ubongo wakati wa kucheza. Utafiti huo ulichapishwa Oktoba 20 katika jarida la Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. "Mabadiliko ya tabia ya neva ya matumizi ya steroids yanaweza kusababisha kuongezeka kwa mchezo wa fujo na hatari iliyoongezeka ya mshtuko wa ubongo", alisema mtafiti Kennedy Sherman, wa Chuo Kikuu cha Chuo Kikuu cha Oklahoma cha Tiba ya Osteopathic katika Taifa la Cherokee. "Zaidi ya hayo, wanariadha wanaotumia steroids wana uwezekano wa kuwa na kiasi cha juu cha misuli na nguvu ya misuli iliyoongezeka, ikiongeza kasi na athari za mgongano wa kichwa", Sherman aliongeza katika taarifa ya habari ya jarida. Matokeo ya matumizi ya steroids na mshtuko wa ubongo ni tofauti, na wakati wa pamoja, athari hizi zinaweza kuongezeka.Wanafunzi walitumia data kutoka kwa uchunguzi wa mfumo wa ufuatiliaji wa tabia ya hatari ya vijana, wakigundua kuwa 3.7% ya wanariadha vijana waliripoti matumizi ya steroids ya awali. Karibu asilimia 20 ya wanariadha wote waliripoti kuwa na mshtuko wa ubongo. Kati ya wale ambao hawakutumia steroids, karibu 20% waliripoti mshtuko wa ubongo, ikilinganishwa na karibu 55% ya wale ambao walitumia steroids. Habari njema? Uwezekano wa kutumia steroids kwa wanariadha wa shule ya sekondari ulipungua kutoka 3.4% mnamo 1999 hadi 1.9% mnamo 2019. Kiwango cha juu zaidi kilikuwa mwaka wa 2001 na 2003 na kilikuwa 5.3% na 4.4%. Matumizi yalitofautiana kati ya vikundi vya kikabila. Kiwango cha juu zaidi kilionekana katika kikundi cha Wahindi wa Amerika / Wenyeji wa Alaska, kwa 7.2%. Wanafunzi wa michezo hutumia steroids ili kuongeza nguvu ya misuli na uzito wa misuli. Lakini kutumia dawa hizo kuna athari za upande, kutia ndani uharibifu mkubwa, wa muda mrefu na nyakati nyingine usioweza kurekebishwa. Wanaweza kusababisha mshtuko wa moyo wa mapema, kiharusi, uvimbe wa ini, kushindwa kwa figo, utasa wa kiume na matatizo ya kisaikolojia. Watu wanaotumia dawa hizo pia wanaweza kuwa na hasira na wasiwasi ulioongezeka, na kudhibiti msukumo kumepungua. Watafiti walisema kwamba makocha wanapaswa kuwa na ufahamu wa uwezekano wa kutumia steroids miongoni mwa wachezaji. "Wanafunzi, waendeshaji na madaktari wanahimizwa kutumia itifaki za mshtuko wa ubongo na kuondoa wachezaji kutoka kwa michezo kwa tathmini wakati mshtuko wa ubongo unashukiwa. """ Maktaba ya Kitaifa ya Tiba ya Marekani ina habari zaidi juu ya steroids anabolic. "Jarida la ""Journal of Osteopathic Medicine"" la Oktoba 20, 2023"