Mind And Body

Question 1

What do Anabolic Steroids do?

Answer 1

By taking anabolic steroids, the performer will have an increased amount of testosterone.

Question 2

What are the health risks associated with anabolic steroids?

Answer 2

• Liver damage
• Testicular atrophy (leads to a decreased sperm count)
• Skin problems including acne
• Mood swings
• Premature baldness

Question 3

Who might use anabolic steroids?

Answer 3

Anabolic steroids could provide an advantage in sports such as sprinting or weightlifting. This is because performers are able to train harder thus increasing their strength and power.

Question 4

What are the main reasons for taking Anabolic Steroids?

Answer 4

• To allow them to train harder for longer so they can increase their power and strength
• To speed up recovery time
• To increase their chances of winning
• Due to pressures from others

Question 5

What effect does taking beta blockers have on the body?

Answer 5

They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline, so helping slow down the heart rate

Question 6

What are the reasons for taking beta blockers?

Answer 6

• they have a calming effect
• they reduce muscle tremor or shaking
• reduce the performer’s anxiety
• increase the performers chances of winning

Question 7

What are the health risks associated with beta blockers?

Answer 7

• slower heart rate-therefore oxygen delivery, therefore drop in performance in endurance events
• lowered blood pressure
• sleeping disorders resulting in tiredness

Question 8

Who might use beta blockers?

Answer 8

Beta blockers would be taken to give a performer in a sport that is reliant on precision;
Archery
Gymnastics
Diving
Target shooting

Question 9

What effects do diuretics have on the body?

Answer 9

Diuretics are drugs that increase the rate of urination, so increasing the amount of fluid the body loses. They also mask the presence of other performance enhancing drugs.

Question 10

Why do performers take diuretics?

Answer 10

• to achieve quick weight loss (due to fluid loss from the body)
• to mask or hide other performance enhancing substances the performer may have taken making them harder to detect.

Question 11

What are the health risks associated with taking diuretics?

Answer 11

Side effects of diuretics include:

• dehydration
• nausea and headaches
• heart/kidney failure

Question 12

Who might use diuretics?

Answer 12

Diuretics could be an advantage in any activity with a weight category or where it is a benefit to be light for example:

• boxing
• horse racing (jockey)

Question 13

What effects do narcotic analgesics have on the body?

Answer 13

Narcotic analgesics were designed to temporarily relieve pain. They act on the brain and spinal cord to dampen the effect of painful stimuli, thus masking pain.

Question 14

What are the main reasons for taking narcotic analgesics?

Answer 14

• increase the performer’s pain threshold
• give a sense of being invincible
• they mask injuries so the performer can continue to compete

Question 15

What are the health risks associated with taking narcotic analgesics?

Answer 15

• nausea/sickness
• anxiety/depression
• kidney/liver damage
• addiction
• further damage to the injury during training
• concentration loss

Question 16

Who might use narcotic analgesics?

Answer 16

-sprinters
-boxers
-footballers
-swimming
Any performer with an injury who wishes to carry on training

Question 17

What effects do stimulants have on the body?

Answer 17

They increase brain activity, making an individual feel more awake and alert, as if they have more energy.

Question 18

What are the reasons for taking stimulants?

Answer 18

• to increase alertness
• increase levels of aggression
• to reduce tiredness
• increase heat rate (therefore oxygen delivery)

Question 19

What are the health risks associated with taking stimulants?

Answer 19

• insomnia
• anxiety
• aggression
• heart rate irregularities

Question 20

Who might use stimulants?

Answer 20

1. A sport where an increase on aggression would be useful e.g. Physical sports like rugby and ice hockey, so they are prepared to take physical knocks
2. Where performers need to stay alert for a long time e.g. Baseball, long distance cycling

Question 21

What are two examples of peptide hormones?

Answer 21

HGH and EPO

Question 22

What effects does taking HGH have on the body?

Answer 22

Human growth hormone, HGH, can help increase muscle mass and muscular strength

Question 23

What are the health risks associated with taking HGH?

Answer 23

• arthritis
• heart failure
• abnormal growth in feet and hands
• diabetes

Question 24

Who might use HGH?

Answer 24

An activity where an increase in strength would be helpful, for example:

• sprinting
• weight lifting

Question 25

What are the reasons for taking EPO?

Answer 25

Erythropoietin, EPO, can help increase red blood cell production therefore increase oxygen delivery to working muscles.

Question 26

What are the health risks associated with taking EPO?

Answer 26

• increase thickness of blood
• blood clots/strokes/deep vein thrombosis
• increased risk of heart attack

Question 27

Who might use EPO?

Answer 27

Any activity where an increase in oxygen delivery would be useful, for example:

• long distance running
• long distance cycling