The use of steroids in sports is not a secret now. The BALCO scandal is eye opener for baseball buffs. The Game of Shadows, a book written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle, reveals the facts about use of performance-enhancing drugs, including several different types of steroids and growth hormones by several baseball stars. BALCO also did reveal the use steroids in football of America. The policy on steroids in football and the National Football League NFL started in 1987. Lyle Alzado is one of the most notable instances of the use of steroids in football. After having a triumphant career of seven years in the NFL, in 1992, Alzado passed away from brain malignant neoplastic disease. Alzado was 43 at that time, but in the years preceding it, he became a habitually used icon of the risks of steroid mistreatment. There is completely no medicinal relation betweensteroids and brain cancer, and there is absolutely no explanation for Alzado to judge his situation was linked to steroid use. The story of Bill Romanowski is also highly revealing on steroids in football. Even though Romanowski wasn’t accused in the BALCO scandal, he afterward composed a book, in which he accepts that Victor Conte acquainted him to various performance enhancing compounds, notably anabolic steroids. The use of steroids in football is believed to have started in the early half of 20th century. The anabolic steroids came into sports arena in the 1940’s and 1950’s. FIFA banned the use of steroids in football in 1966, and the body has very strict policies on steroids. There hasn’t been any high profile case about the use of steroids in football, but steroids in football are reportedly being used at school, college, and university level football. High use of steroids in football has been reported among young footballers. The lower agencies will have to little more vigilant to curb the use of steroids in football.
Archive for ◊ February, 2010 ◊
“Players that are guilty of taking steroids are not only cheaters, you are cowards. …Show our kids that you’re man enough to face authority, tell the truth and face the consequences.” — Donald Hooton of Plano, Texas, who testified before Congress that his son, Taylor, a high school baseball player, committed suicide in 2003 after steroid use. Does your child use steroids? Of course not. That’s what concerned parents want to believe. Yet scores of young people are consuming a toxic stew, drugs they believe will enhance physical strength, performance and stamina, and build confidence. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows steroid use among male high school students rose 65 percent from 3.7 to 6.1 percent between 1999 and 2003; among female students it jumped from 2.2 to 5.3 percent, or a whopping 140 percent. Many of these young people have as their unfortunate role models certain high-profile athletes who have been implicated in steroid use. So, parents, be wary. Steroids are stealthy predators. Watch for warning signs: rapidly bulked-up muscles, preoccupation with “getting big,” unusual acne, major mood swings, muscle magazines, pills or powders promising muscle development, and vials and syringes. If you suspect a problem, get between the drugs and your child, impressing upon him or her the fact that what they’re doing is illegal and very dangerous. You may be what saves your child from devastating health problems or from death. What Are They: So-called anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. “Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and “androgenic” refers to increased masculine characteristics, as defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Steroids” refers to the class of drugs, often legally prescribed for people with wasting diseases such as AIDS. But illegal use, which can add body size, is just as likely to destroy or impair the liver, heart and kidneys, emotional stability and normal sexual development of kids. I know all this because I abused steroids for three and a half years in the mid – 80’s — and they almost killed me. They also ruined relationships and hurt my parents, parents who had raised me lovingly. As a user, I learned to lie to my father and steal from my mother’s purse. I had no conscience. I had good reasons for steroid use — or so I thought. Steroids primarily appeal to young people who are looking for an athletic edge or those who want a quick fix to a better body. All want to “supersize” themselves, to create a new and improved version. I had suffered in school due to my short stature and a stutter, both of which attracted bullies and teasing. Steroids looked like the perfect remedy. My heroes, after all, included The Incredible Hulk and a giant of a man named Arnold Schwarzenegger — who eventually admitted to using steroids. Finally Broken: Eventually steroid use broke me, literally. My body and mind were in shambles. A long, long road back included physical and mental evaluations, addiction support group meetings, and exercise — workouts not meant to “bulk up” but to help my battered body and mind reacquaint themselves. I am now the father of two boys. My life has been resurrected from the disaster known as steroids. That is why I am here to caution other parents: It doesn’t just happen to someone else’s kids. When young people look at the hard, muscles bodies presented by smiling, oversized human beings, they see a tempting portrait. Potential users are seduced by this fake picture of health and vitality and virility. The picture doesn’t show the strain on the arteries, the wear and tear on the heart and the psyche. It doesn’t show the caskets.
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Athletes, fitness buffs, and ordinary people want to lower their chances of incurring injuries. Injuries may lower one’s fitness, hamper athletic performance, and may develop into arthritis if not given proper medical attention. There are many issues that may contribute to the development of injuries. Knowing the causes of common injuries and doing adjustments to one’s exercise routine may lead to the prevention of common injuries. In addition to these factors, maintaining a regular diet may play a key role in injury prevention. The amount of training one undergoes plays a major role in the development of injury. Training properly may reduce the development of injuries. Medical studies show that the best injury predictor could be the amount of training regimen, because intense training may lead to wear and tear of the muscles. These muscles may do a poor job in protecting the connective tissues and increase the damage to the bones, cartilages, tendons, and ligaments. Individuals who regularly engage in sports activities and regular exercise should remember to do them properly and moderately to reduce the development of injuries and other health ailments. Other physical effects of over-training may include the following: · pain in the muscles · increased resting blood pressure · decreased athletic performance · decreased maximal blood lactate concentrate · weight loss Many injuries are caused by weak muscles which are not ready to handle the demands of certain sports. Some body parts might not be strong enough to cope up with the demands of intense training or sport. For this reason, health specialist advise individuals who partake in sports activities to incorporate resistance training with their regular training. Resistance may improve muscle strength, power, and endurance. Some of the things that can be used in resistance training are free weights, gym equipments, and one’s own body weight. Resistance using one’s body weight be done by performing push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, and many more. Warm-ups coupled with stretching is critical in preventing injuries. Warm-ups that last 15 to 30 minutes which includes slow, gradual stretching may help lengthen muscles, increase blood flow and muscle temperature. Because of these factors, the muscles will be prepared for the intensity of training and are less likely to get hurt. A little light jog coupled with stretching before training may reduce the chances of developing injuries. Other injury prevention tips include: · avoid training when tired · increase consumption of carbohydrates during heavy training · match increase in training with increase in resting · give importance to hydration and nutrition · engage in new training activities gradually · use appropriate gears, especially footwear · monitor daily signs of fatigue · seek immediate treatment when symptoms of injury is experienced Nothing can derail a fitness routine like an injury. Medical studies show that minor injuries can be treated with rest and physical therapy. However, it is always important to know the causes of injuries and know the things that can be done to prevent them from developing. Individuals who want to engage in sports activities should seek the approval of doctors, physical therapists, and other health specialists. This step is essential in understanding the proper training and food consumption. These factors are essential in developing a healthy body and improved overall health.
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Obagi Sunfader is a tested, proven skin lightener with a sun screen which is designed to be used to clear dark skin areas, with the sun screen to prevent problems from coming back, it reduces and can even completely get rid of the occurrence of liver spots and dark circles on your facial skin. Obagi Sunfader contains a unique substance known as Padimate-O, which does a great job of blocking out the UVA and UVB types of ultra violet rays. Obagi Sunfader provides a gradual bleaching of hyper pigmented skin conditions such as freckles, seniie lentigines, chlosma, melasma, and other forms of melanin hyper pigmentation. For the best results for Obagi Sunfader to do away with mild pigmentation of the facial skin, Obagi Exfoderm ideally should be used on the skin before the application of the Obagi Sunfader, this will help the Sunfader clear up any dry skin and enhance the blood circulation. This product is made up of all natural ingredients which will work gently on your facial skin and Obagi Nu Derm Sunfader does a great job in the fight against the suns harmful ultra violet rays, there-by protect the skins look and feel even when it is exposed to the suns harmful rays. You can easily find and purchase Obagi Sunfader and other great Obagi products from many of the online Beauty stores and skin care outlets available on the Internet. It is advisable for you to consult your physician or skin care specialist before starting any application of skin care products. Individual Obagi Products can be bought but the Obagi products are most effective when they are used together as a complete skin care system. Each gram of Obagi Sunfader contains Oxybenzone 5.5% and Hydro quinone USP 40mg/gm Octinoxate 7.5% in a base of purified water, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, stearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, tocopheryl acetate, ascorbic acid, sodium metabisfulfite, methylparaben, disodium EDTA, saponins, propylparben, butylparaben and BHT . A thin application should be applied to the affected area twice daily or as directed by your physician or skin care professional.
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We live in a stressful world. No matter how hard we try to circumvent stress and anxiety, our rendezvous with them is as sure as death and taxes. Encountering distress is an undeniable reality. Understanding that stress and anxiety are always present in one’s life should be accepted…but that does not necessarily make it easier. For example, have you ever been picked on by a boss? Who can ever forget that ill-fated day that you became the “official office target” of the boss? Have you ever been accused with a blunder that you never committed. Not contented with what he did, the boss startled you with words that you have never even heard of before. To top it all, he did it in front of the whole work unit. Left with no choice but to keep your mouth shut, you just allowed your boss to unreasonably splatter his saliva all over your face. Still, you manage to fake a “cherry grin.” These kinds of situations is just a normal office scenario but tends induce stress and anxiety. Stress first was attributed to external pressures like workloads, competition and other stimuli that could induce a distress one’s body. Recently, however, stress was described not only as external stimuli but it may very well be the reaction of a person to another individual’s negative perception, capacities and understanding. Meanwhile anxiety is described as an overwhelming fear, worry, or apprehension. These intensified feelings are always accompanied by bodily manifestations like chronic sweating, uneasiness, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breathing, and headaches. Work-related stress and anxiety, and chronic cares of same sorts can affect one’s work performance. Anxiety induced by a past negative encounter with an officemate, worrying on multitudes of paper works labeled “urgent,” and apprehensions to confront a boss can affect indeed office performance. The apparent effect of it to a professional is not only depressing but could also be a one- way ticket to unemployment. No one wants to be fired right away right? And companies don’t give into excuses like, “Sorry sir, I’m just stressed.” So wise up see the practical anxiety treatments. Start with a proper diet. Others might raise their eyebrows with this practical self-help tip but actually it has scientific explanation. Anxiety conditions are the avenues for the usual response of “fight or flight.” This is a condition where people who are confronted with anxiety challenge or flee from anxiety. With a healthier diet, the body becomes more stable, and eventually, event the anxiety reactions are lessened. Have a proper attitude. Don’t put unnecessary stresses to your life by going through unnecessary notions. Yes, your boss may have shouted a couple of times but harboring resentment would do no good either. Focus your strength and energy where you really need it most – on the work. Anxiety would be gradually obliterated by taming one’s mind. Instead of using your energy to backstab a tyrant boss or get even with a co-worker with hideous attitude, learn to channel those energies to a more worthy cause. Proper attitude is an excellent anxiety treatment. Life’s full of stress and we can’t afford to add insult to the injury. Greater stress would entail greater risk for anxiety.
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There are as many types of hair as there are people on the planet. For those of us with curly hair, however, caring for our hair can sometimes be quite challenging. There are a million hair products that promise the moon to those of us who are blessed – or cursed – with curly hair, but all too often they don’t deliver. Here, then, are five tips to turn troubled tresses into comely coifs. 1. Moisturize: The key to keeping curly hair healthy and manageable is moisture – and lots of it. When shampooing, make sure that you use a moisturizing shampoo. It will add much-needed hydration to naturally curly hair, Afro-American hair, or curly kids hair. Next, use a deep conditioner that will reconstruct damaged hair, and follow with a leave in conditioner and styling cream. The right combination of moisturizing products tames frizzy hair and kinky hair, and makes hair soft to the touch. 2. Shampooing: One of the biggest mistakes people with curly hair make is shampooing too often. This is particularly true for white moms who aren’t familiar with caring for Afro-American or biracial hair. Ethnic hair care is as much an art as a science, but the rule of thumb is to shampoo about once a week. To keep hair fresh between shampoos, rinse it with warm water and apply a leave-in conditioner. 3. Styling Products: If you have frizzy hair or kinky hair, chances are that you’re using styling products that are dehydrating. Most mousses, hair sprays, and gels strip away moisture, which is essential to maintaining manageable tresses and keeping hair healthy. If your curly hair is too wild, tame it with moisturizers and styling products that contain high quality ingredients and natural oils. 4. Hair Dryers: Stay away from blow dryers unless you want your naturally curly hair to turn into frizzy hair or kinky hair. Blow dryers can damage your hair and strip it of its natural oils and the oils you apply through the conditioning process. To keep your natural curls beautiful, always allow your hair to air dry. 5. Combing and Brushing: Tangles and curls seem to go hand in hand. To bring out the best in your curls, a wide tooth comb or pick is a must-have. If you’re working with curly kids hair, separate it into sections. One section at a time, start at the bottom of the hair shaft and work your way up. Once you’ve completed a section, secure it a covered elastic hair band (not a rubber band!), and then move on to the next section. Remember that curly hair – particularly Afro-American hair – is very fragile, so take extra care when combing it. Avoid brushes, unless you use special detangling comb-brushes. Naturally curly hair is gorgeous, and the trend in hairstyles is to let your natural curls shine through. Simply keep in mind that curly hair is as individual as its owner, and that the hair products you use can mean the difference between luxurious curls and kinky hair or frizzy hair. Once you find the hair products that are right for you, love and embrace your natural tresses.