PE - 1.2.1 - Drugs in sport

Drugs:

• are substances that affect the normal physiological and psychological functioning of the body.
• performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
• all have side effects - mental (being addicted) to physical insomnia and high blood pressure

Performance-enhancing drugs:

• improve a person's performance in training/competition
• some are socially acceptable (legal) or socially unacceptable (illegal)
• people take it to recover from injury quickly/train harder/gain advantage etc.

Anabolic steroids:

• drugs that mimc the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth.

Beta blockers:

• drugs that are used to control heart rate and that have a calming and relaxing effect

Diuretics:

• drugs that elevate the rate of bodily urine excretion

Narcotic analgesics:

• drugs that can be used to reduce the feeling of pain

Stimulants:

• drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system, such as increased mental and/or physical alertness

Human growth hormone (HGH):

• helps recover from injury quicker

Erythropoietin:

• a type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count

Recreational drugs:

• caffeine - tea and coffee
• nicotine - cigarettes
• ethanol - alcohol

Smoking and its effect on sports performance:

• damages cardiovascular system (carbon monoxide)
• high blood pressure
• negative effect on aerobic fitness
• nicotine is the effective drug

Alcohol and its effect on sports performance:

• calming effect - can improve performance
• safety risk in motor sports - slows down reactions and impairs judgements
• dehydrating - more urine produced
• causes long term liver damage

Different body types, optimum weight and weight related conditions

Somatotypes:

• Endomorph (fatness) - sumo wrestlers, discus
• Ectomorph (thin) - gymnasts
• Mesomorph (muscularity) - swimmers
• team sports require a different selection of somatotypes
• can be changed by changing diet

Endomorphs:

• power sports
• e.g. rugby forwards…