Hormone Use And Abuse By Athletes

Physical activity exerts an important influence on the endocrine system, modulating synthesis and secretion of several hormones. Almost every organ and system in the body is affected by physical activity and exercise, mainly through the endocrine and neuroendocrine system. Mode, intensity, and duration of the exercise bout, age, gender and fitness level of the individual as well as environmental and psychological factors may affect the endocrine response to physical activity. On the other hand, several hormones are able to influence physical performance and body composition. Thus, a bi-univocal interrelationship between exercise and hormones exists. In this book new developments on metabolic and endocrine response to exercise are revised and introduce the "hot topic" of hormonal doping in sports. In the past decades, hormone abuse has become a widespread habit among professional and – most of all and more frequently – recreational athletes. A substantial part of this volume is devoted to the effects of exogenous hormones on performance. Anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin properties, use and misuse in sports are widely described. Specific methods to detect hormone abuse are presented and discussed. The contributors to this volume are well-known experts and dedicated researchers in the fields of sports medicine and endocrinology, endocrine physiology, pharmacology, and doping detection. The purpose of this volume is to provide all professionals involved in sports medicine and endocrinology a state-of-the-art overview of the complex interactions between physical activity and the endocrine system and to focus on hormone abuse in sports at competitive and recreational level highlighting its negative consequences for long-term health.

Physical activity exerts an important influence on the endocrine system, modulating synthesis and secretion of several hormones. Almost every organ and system in the body is affected by physical activity and exercise, mainly through the endocrine and neuroendocrine system. Mode, intensity, and duration of the exercise bout, age, gender and fitness level of the individual as well as environmental and psychological factors may affect the endocrine response to physical activity. On the other hand, several hormones are able to influence physical performance and body composition. Thus, a bi-univocal interrelationship between exercise and hormones exists. In this book new developments on metabolic and endocrine response to exercise are revised and introduce the "hot topic" of hormonal doping in sports. In the past decades, hormone abuse has become a widespread habit among professional and – most of all and more frequently – recreational athletes. A substantial part of this volume is devoted to the effects of exogenous hormones on performance. Anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin properties, use and misuse in sports are widely described. Specific methods to detect hormone abuse are presented and discussed. The contributors to this volume are well-known experts and dedicated researchers in the fields of sports medicine and endocrinology, endocrine physiology, pharmacology, and doping detection. The purpose of this volume is to provide all professionals involved in sports medicine and endocrinology a state-of-the-art overview of the complex interactions between physical activity and the endocrine system and to focus on hormone abuse in sports at competitive and recreational level highlighting its negative consequences for long-term health.

Doping, Performance-Enhancing Drugs, and Hormones in Sport: Mechanisms of Action and Methods of Detection examines the biochemistry and bioanalytical aspects of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and other questionable procedures used by athletes to enhance performance. The book informs the specialist of emerging knowledge and techniques and allows the non-specialist to grasp the underlying science and current practice of the discipline. With clear and compelling language appropriate for a broad spectrum of readers, this book provides background on prevalence, types of agents, their actual or supposed benefits, and their negative effects on health. The technical aspects of detection are discussed, followed by a discussion of why detection is a problematic and still-evolving science. To facilitate comprehension, each chapter is organized in a uniform way with six sections: (1) standard medical uses, (2) why the drugs are used by athletes, (3) biological mechanism of action, (4) what research says about efficacy in improving performance, (5) major health side effects from use and abuse in sport, and 6) concluding key points. Presents the scientific concepts of how performance enhancers work, how they are used, and how they are detected and masked from detection Features language that is neither simplistic to scientists nor too sophisticated for a large, diverse global audience Provides a short “close-up” in each chapter to illustrate key topics that engage, entertain, and create a novel synthesis of thought

This book is an up-to-date, extensive overview of the effects of physical activity and training on endocrine function. It gives insights into a complex relationship by describing effects with respect to exercise performance, growth, development, and ageing. It includes discussions of the endocrine response depending on exercise mode, intensity, and duration as well as on gender, age, and fitness level. Additionally the book deals with the impact of environmental and psychological factors on endocrine level. A substantial part of Sports Endocrinology is devoted to the 'hot topic' of hormonal doping in sports. The properties of androgens, growth hormone, erythropoietin, and dietary supplements are highlighted. The use and abuse among professional and recreational athletes is discussed and specific methods of detection are presented and explained. All contributors are well-known experts in sports medicine and endocrinology, endocrine physiology, pharmacology, and doping detection, so this book is a must-read for every professional involved in the field.

Sometimes it seems that the sports pages are filled with the stories of superstar athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. But in fact, most users of these substances are just regular folks trying to improve their workouts or lift more weights at the gym. Unfortunately, these drugs are serious business and can be extremely dangerous. This book looks at the types of performance-enhancing drugs that exist and the problems that follow their use and abuse. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives. Each title in this series contains an introduction with Helpline contact information, color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. At the end of each book a page is dedicated to Educational Videos which are offered through the use of a QR code, that when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, speech etc. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

The ghrelin story started more than 30 years ago with the discovery of synthetic GH secretagogues. Only in 1999 was ghrelin‚ a natural GH-releasing peptide, discovered. Ghrelin, however, is much more than simply a natural GH secretagogue. In fact, this hormone is one of the most important factors known for regulating appetite and energy expenditure. Furthermore, ghrelin is the trigger for other neuroendocrine, metabolic and nonendocrine actions.This book, written by researchers who provided the major contributions to our current knowledge of this complex system, gives a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in ghrelin research. The hormone's influence on the cardiovascular, metabolic and gastroenteropancreatic system, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, prolactin secretion, thyroid axis, gonadal axis as well as on behavior is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the clinical perspectives for ghrelin-derived therapeutic products are presented.Illustrating the tight inter-relationship between endocrinology, metabolism, cardiovascular disease and internal medicine, this book is essential reading for all scientists interested in appetite control, body weight and energy expenditure, as well as diabetes mellitus and neuroendocrinology.

Growth Hormone and the Heart endeavors to bring together knowledge that has been accumulated in the area of GH and the heart, from basic to clinical studies, by research groups working on this topic throughout the world. Lessons from different experimental models and from several human diseases (acromegaly, adult GH deficiency, heart failure) suggest to endocrinologists and cardiologists that GH may not only have a role in the physiology and pathophysiology of heart function, but that GH itself may have a place in the treatment of primary heart diseases (such as dilated cardiomyopathy) or of cardiac complications of hypopituitarism. Growth Hormone and the Heart will be a useful update of the research produced in the field of cardiovascular endocrinology. The Editors also hope that this book will serve as the primary step in the recognition of the wide physiological and clinical significance of GH and heart interactions.

This valuable new addition to the Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine series provides a comprehensive and logical look at the principles and mechanisms of endocrinology as related to sports and exercise. It looks at growth hormone factors involved in exercise and the endocrinology of sport competition. It considers various factors and stresses on the body that may alter sporting performance. It covers topics from the acute responses and chronic adaptations of the human endocrine system to the muscular activity involved in conditioning exercise, physical labor, and sport activities. This book is an essential reference for helping to plan better programs of physical fitness, to prepare for sports competitions, and to manage the medical care of athletes.