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Dr. Kim Mulvihill reporting If you want to boost your strength, anabolic steroids work. But the results can come at a tremendous cost to your health.
A case in point is the life story of Eason Ramsom. He's a former 49er who lost everything after using steroids.
Eason Ramsom/ Former 49er: "As a young adolenscent, I used to dream, eat, sleep, dream football."
And Eason Ramson was good at it. So good, Ramson played five seasons as a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers. The team had just won their first Super Bowl championship. Around this time, Ramsom got his first taste of steroids.
Eason Ramsom: "I was going to get faster, I was going to play stronger. And that meant I could play better football." "And nobody warned you?" "No one warned me, no."
No one warned him steroids would pump up a lot more than his muscles.
Eason Ramsom: "None of them said, 'Well, you know you might have these bouts of anger. You might have this thing called 'roid rage,' which showed up really big time in my life."
Ramsom already had problems with cocaine and alcohol. The steroids just intensified everything.
Eason Ramsom: "I would put my fist through walls. I would kick walls, and other things I'm not proud of, put my hands on people. Ultimately is made me borderline suicidal. It made me a madman at some points."
And the 'roid rage Eason Ramsom felt is just one problem. Steroid abuse can also include: strokes, blood clots, severe acne. High blood pressure, heart disease. Liver damage, urinary and bowel problems. Aching joints, tendon injuries. Mood swings, nausea and aggressive behavior.
Men can suffer from headaches and baldness, develop breasts, impotence and testicle shrinkage. Women will grow more body hair, deeper voices and smaller breasts.
Those 'roid rages caused Ramsom to lose everything. The former 49er ended up homeless, committing strong arm robberies, and getting arrested.
Today he is clean and sober, and counsels kids not to use the juice or any other illicit substance.
