Question

Ergogenic Aids: Breakthroughs, Gimmicks, or Dangers? What are your thoughts?

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• Make sure you address all parts of the discussion questions. Points will be deducted if you do not adequately answer all questions.
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Answer 1

Ergogenic aid is all three; Breakthrough, Gimmicks and Dangers.

• They are breakthrough because, athletes frequently use ergogenic aids to improve their performance and increase their chances of winning in competition.
• They are gimmicks and dangerous because ergogenic supplements do not undergo rigorous testing and screening for efficacy and safety.

Ergogenics aids are substance or devices that enhance energy production, use or recovery and provide athletes with a competitive advantage.

Commonly used ergogenic aids include dried adrenal glands, amino acids, bee pollen, caffeine, carnitine, creatine , chromium, ginseng , glucosamine and protein powders.

Types of Ergogenic aids:

Ergogenic aids are generally classified into 5 categories.

1. Mechanical
2. Psychological
3. Physiological
4. Pharmacological
5. Nutritional

1. Mechanical - devices including heart rate monitors, weights, sports clothing and footwear, and equipment.

2. Psychological - methods including imagery, meditation , music, relaxation.

3. Physiological - practices and use of naturally occurring products including blood doping, EPO, human growth hormone.

4. Pharmacological - synthetically producing drugs including anabolic steroids , beta blockers and amphetamine.

5. Nutritions - food sources including caffeine , creatine and sports drinks.

• Ergogenic aids are not always illegal but there are many legal drugs that have been made illegal in sports.

Illegal Ergogenic aids:

• Stimulants - example :amphetamine, cocaine, ephedrine
• Anabolic steroids
• Human growth hormone
• Blood doping

Reason for illegal performance enhancement :

Mainly 2 reason for illegal performance enhancement. They are;

1. Personal reasons

2. Environmental reasons

Personal reasons:

• Psychological dependence
• Lack of progress
• A win-at-all cost mentality
• A belief they can get away with it.
• Ongoing dissatisfaction with their own performance.

Environmental reasons :

• Pressure from a coach or country to win.
• Financial rewards for winning
• Fame
• Friends or peers using and achieving results.

Legal Ergonomic aid :

• pain relieving drugs
• Mental rehearsal
• Alcohol intake
• Attitude training
• Carbohydrate loading
• Relaxation and Hypnotherapy

Side effects of Ergonomic aid:

• Longterm side effects include muscle cramping, dehydration , gastrointestinal distress, nausea and seizures.
• Prostate cancer
• Increased nervous tension
• Elevated blood pressure
• Edema
• Elevated blood glucose
• Psychosis, etc..

Athletes illegally use ergogenic aid .The reason for this is the fear of losing sports. But the repercussions of using it are enormous.

If we are confident in our abilities we will not have to use any ergogenic aid.So believe in ourselves.

In my openion illegal ergogenic aid does more harm than good. Whatever we use for temporary success is bad for us later. so give up the easy way out.