Bodybuilders abuse synthetic Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to increase muscle mass and improve performance, despite it being prohibited by the International Olympic Committee and posing serious health risks such as bone and connective tissue problems, heart problems, water retention, and mood swings. HGH abuse can lead to disqualification from events, medal stripping, and future Olympic bans. The hormone can cause abnormal bone growth, irregular heartbeats, and water retention, among other complications. However, some bodybuilders are willing to risk these side effects to gain short-term benefits such as increased muscle mass and improved performance.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) occurs naturally in the pituitary gland and is also available as a synthetic substance with very limited legitimate uses. Athletes, including bodybuilders, abuse the synthetic form because it increases muscle mass, decreases body fat, and improves performance. The use of HGH for bodybuilding is prohibited by the International Olympic Committee and is not approved for sport in most jurisdictions. Abusers are at risk for bone and connective tissue problems, heart problems, water retention, and mood swings. Despite these risks, HGH use by bodybuilders continues because some athletes believe it helps their performance.
A main drawback of HGH for bodybuilding is its illegality as declared by the governing sports bodies. The International Olympic Committee, which considers HGH a banned substance, began testing athletes for growth hormone at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Olympic bodybuilders caught with HGH are disqualified from their events, have their medals stripped, and often face penalties including a ban from future Olympic competitions.
Taking HGH for bodybuilding also poses serious health risks. The hormone is intended to promote growth in children with genetic diseases; As such, bodybuilders who abuse the substance often experience abnormal bone growth over time. This process is known as acromegaly. Bone growth also causes overgrowth of connective tissue, leading to disfigurement. Some people describe the effect of acromegaly as creating a “man cave” because the process causes very prominent jaws and eyebrows.
Bodybuilders who abuse HGH are also at risk of serious cardiovascular problems. The hormone can cause irregular heartbeats and even an enlarged heart, which can be a permanent and deadly side effect. Enlarged hearts can lead to strokes or congestive heart failure.
Additionally, HGH for bodybuilding puts users at risk of other medical complications that may not be fatal, but are detrimental to physical and mental health. It can cause water retention, for example, which requires the bodybuilder’s kidneys to work overtime and leads to high blood pressure. High HGH levels have also been linked to inflammation and joint pain. Also, mood swings are common among HGH abusers, similar to the so-called “steroid” effect.
Some bodybuilders are willing to risk these HGH risks to gain benefits from the hormone. Used as a bodybuilding supplement, HGH can help athletes increase their muscle mass in a relatively short time. The hormone also helps decrease body mass, making the bodybuilder stronger overall in the short term. These combined effects help bodybuilders perform better and can help them win more competitions.
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