SEMI OT - Athletes dying prematurely

[smg93]

It concerns me that so many of our athletes are dying so young. Now I don't know if someone like Kirby Puckett was in anyway involved with performance enhancing drugs, but I have a sneaky feeling that far too many of our athletes are dying in their 40's and 50's due to overworking their bodies. Interestingly, many of these athletes who are passing away earlier than the average American life expectancy rate played in the 80's and 90's when steroids and designer drugs were really becoming a big issue.

I don't know about you, but to me there seems to be a correlation between bulked up athletes and short lives. Perhaps this could be a reflection of taxing the heart too much just from working out the body too much whether or not there was steroids involved. It is just hard for me to separate the fact that a good portion of our athletes who are dying young are very very muscular and so many of them are dying from strokes or heart related ailments. Could this finally give us a sign as to the real dangers of Steroids? We don't want to see people die but if a link is clearly established that steroids increase the likelihood of dying from strokes and heart attacks, maybe we'll be able to shift the focus of athletes from not taking steroids because you might get caught, to not taking steroids because you could die too young.

 

[mikey]

Many QBs have children with medical problem: Marino, Kelly, Esiaison, Flutie, Dilfer, ...

 

[stinkypete]

Obesity has a great deal to do with the premature death. Look at the recent string of current and former offensive linemen who have died by the age of 50. Puckett had put on severe weight after retiring.

 

[smg93]

Interesting, I didn't know that all of those athletes have had kids with for challenges. Maybe it's a coincidence, I do not know.

About Obesity, that's a good reason too. But then again there are a lot of obese people in the United States and many of them live past their 50's. I agree however that it definitely contributes to health problems. I wonder if obesity is a function of being so muscular and then stopping the regular workouts when retired. If I remember correctly, muscle does turn into fat when one stops working out.

Still, I have this lingering feeling that the increased use of steroids amongst athletes increases the likelihood that many of the medically noted dangers of these drugs are finally showing up on some of them.

 

[Mike the Brit]

'What I would say to [Gene] Upshaw is, "Have you seen these lions now in football?" Have you seen this? They're averaging 285 [lbs] and they have superhuman strength. I don't think they got that way simply by eating ma's porridge.'

**** Pound (IOC), Head, World Anti-Doping Agency

 

[smg93]

that's a great quote. I know every generation gets bigger, faster, and stronger usually because of better nutrition and more efficient training regimens, but just look at the incredible combine statistics. That just doesn't seem "all natural" to me.

 

[IcyPatriot]

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see that K.P's stroke was a result of too much Viagra. I say that in all seriousness...I know of more than a handfull of men who have died in similar fashion. It''s especially common among older musicians who can generally get all the action that they wish and find high blood pressure medicine to be a great roadblock to it all.

Most of these men are on high blood pressure medicine which causes problems with sex. For some reason, the normal dose of Viagra is not enough so they take more. Men who have strokes in this fashion usually die because the strokes are massive...not your normal paralysis stroke.

Just a guess on my part...but men that young generally will survive a stroke...especially if they take care of themselves.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see that K.P's stroke was a result of too much Viagra. I say that in all seriousness...I know of more than a handfull of men who have died in similar fashion. It''s especially common among older musicians who can generally get all the action that they wish and find high blood pressure medicine to be a great roadblock to it all.

Most of these men are on high blood pressure medicine which causes problems with sex. For some reason, the normal dose of Viagra is not enough so they take more. Men who have strokes in this fashion usually die because the strokes are massive...not your normal paralysis stroke.

Just a guess on my part...but men that young generally will survive a stroke...especially if they take care of themselves.

Steroids are just one of the many factors that lead to a premature passing on.

Basically all athletes pass on before regular joes because of their burning of oxygen. When you have regular strenuous excercise, you kill off your oxygen to the body. Cancer does the same thing. As does carbon monoxide poisoning. Kills off your oxygen.

Here is an analogy: If your furnace burns at a higher rate, your furnace tends to run out at a faster rate. Makes sense to me.

Why they are passing on in the 40's is still a bit premature though.

Here are the side effects for Viagra:

Blindness...
Vomiting...
Upset stomach...
Bluish or blurred vision...
Photosensitivity...
Dizziness...
Dyspepsia...
Long-term loss of potency...
Cramps...
Increased danger of blood pressure...
Back pain...
Diarrhea...
Rash...
Arthritis...
Painful erections that can last over 4 hours (don’t laugh)...
Arthralgia...
Flu syndromes...
Palpitation...
Abnormal ejaculation...
Cardiomyopathy...
Neuropathy...
Gingivitis...
Gout...
Angina pectoris...
Vertigo...
Chest pain...
Insomnia...
Urinary incontinence...
Respiratory tract infection...
Increased risk of heart attack...


Are these side effects that you would put up with in order to “get it up�

 

[smg93]

If all athletes pass on earlier than all of us does that mean we all have to stop exercising so we can live longer? I don't really buy that argument because most medical literature seems to go against that. In fact much research suggest that exercising increases your oxygen uptake and allows your body to utilize the oxygen one breaths in more efficiently. I don't think that exercise would necessarily be the cause for these deaths and strokes.

I'm not so sure about Viagra either. You'd be battling Pfizer on that one.

 

[PromisedLand]

It seems to me we are arguing about something which is an unproven assumption. "Athletes die young." No evidence has been presented to support that statement. We hear about many athletes who die young because they are famous. We don't hear about the ordinary people.

Christopher Reeve's widow died today. She was 45 and, although a nonsmoker, died of lung cancer. I guess actresses die young too?

If someone has some scientific data comparing the mortality rates of professional athletes to the general population please post it. Otherwise we are just jumping to conclusions based on anecdotal evidence.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

If all athletes pass on earlier than all of us does that mean we all have to stop exercising so we can live longer? I don't really buy that argument because most medical literature seems to go against that. In fact much research suggest that exercising increases your oxygen uptake and allows your body to utilize the oxygen one breaths in more efficiently. I don't think that exercise would necessarily be the cause for these deaths and strokes.

I'm not so sure about Viagra either. You'd be battling Pfizer on that one.

The lack of oxygen is the one of the main culprits of any premature passing. Bottom line.

Cancer takes away your oxygen.

Cancer makes your body full of acid.

And yes...not just athletes.

 

[smg93]

But there is scientific evidence that proves that steroids are dangerous to your health. That is after all why they are banned. They aren't banned because they give one an unfair advantage. The premise behind the ban is that these drugs when taken, can be so hazardous to ones health as to cause death. While I don't have all the time in the world to dig up a scientific study, I find it strange that people who are acknowledged to be examples of physical fitness are dying or getting sick at such a young age.

I'm not assuming anything. I was asking whether there are people here who believe that perhaps there might be a link between banned performance enhancing drugs and early death. Reggie White, Lyle Alzado, several O linemen, all have died so early. Who's jumping to conclusions? I didn't say that steroids definitely equals early death. I'm just curious to find out whether or not there could be a link. No one's arguing here. This is just a discussion.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I find it strange that people who are acknowledged to be examples of physical fitness are dying or getting sick at such a young age.

^^^^...many different reasons.

Testosterone based steroids do have many side effects in the long term. Many athletes just look at the short term effect.

Reggie White, Lyle Alzado, among the many others...and more to come in the future have succumbed to this.

 

[Siddiqi]

Terry, I have no idea where you are getting some of your info, because it makes very little sense. As far as puckett goes, he was huge and I would not be surprised if he was suffering from diabetes, it would explain the galucoma problem and the stroke. A lot of these athletes dying so quickly has to do with their weight IMO, many of them are vastly overweight and they do not seem to do much exercise after retiring.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Steroids are just one of the many factors that lead to a premature passing on.

Basically all athletes pass on before regular joes because of their burning of oxygen. When you have regular strenuous excercise, you kill off your oxygen to the body. Cancer does the same thing. As does carbon monoxide poisoning. Kills off your oxygen.

Here is an analogy: If your furnace burns at a higher rate, your furnace tends to run out at a faster rate. Makes sense to me.

Why they are passing on in the 40's is still a bit premature though.

Here are the side effects for Viagra:

Blindness...
Vomiting...
Upset stomach...
Bluish or blurred vision...
Photosensitivity...
Dizziness...
Dyspepsia...
Long-term loss of potency...
Cramps...
Increased danger of blood pressure...
Back pain...
Diarrhea...
Rash...
Arthritis...
Painful erections that can last over 4 hours (don’t laugh)...
Arthralgia...
Flu syndromes...
Palpitation...
Abnormal ejaculation...
Cardiomyopathy...
Neuropathy...
Gingivitis...
Gout...
Angina pectoris...
Vertigo...
Chest pain...
Insomnia...
Urinary incontinence...
Respiratory tract infection...
Increased risk of heart attack...


Are these side effects that you would put up with in order to “get it up�

That is why my doctor recommends Cialis. The only thing I have to worry about is having a boner for more than 4 hours. I did go up to 3 hours and 48 mins during SB XXXIX.

 

[Mike the Brit]

It seems to me we are arguing about something which is an unproven assumption. "Athletes die young." No evidence has been presented to support that statement. We hear about many athletes who die young because they are famous. We don't hear about the ordinary people.

Christopher Reeve's widow died today. She was 45 and, although a nonsmoker, died of lung cancer. I guess actresses die young too?

If someone has some scientific data comparing the mortality rates of professional athletes to the general population please post it. Otherwise we are just jumping to conclusions based on anecdotal evidence.

There is a lot of evidence, unfortunately, although, as you will see from this story, there is a lot of reluctance to acknowledge it. It isn't "athletes die young" but "NFL athletes die young", by the way.


http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2006/02/02/Sports/scripps_football_study060202.html

 

[Bella*chick]

It seems to me we are arguing about something which is an unproven assumption. "Athletes die young." No evidence has been presented to support that statement. We hear about many athletes who die young because they are famous. We don't hear about the ordinary people.

Christopher Reeve's widow died today. She was 45 and, although a nonsmoker, died of lung cancer. I guess actresses die young too?

If someone has some scientific data comparing the mortality rates of professional athletes to the general population please post it. Otherwise we are just jumping to conclusions based on anecdotal evidence.

I have this suspicion that Reeve's widow Dana died young because of the caregiver thing...caregivers bodies are under so much stress they often develop strange illnesses and die, especially after the ones they were caring for are gone.

No real reason I feel this way, just a suspicion. So, so sad though.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think that, to put this topic into perspective, one needs to look at how many normal people die of strokes in their 40's. Then, compare that to the number of atheletes who dies of strokes in their 40's. Are the numbers comparable? If they are, then Puckett was just another statistic and the fact that he was an athelete only makes it worthy because of name recognition. If the numbers show that more atheletes die in their 40's from strokes than most normal people, then there is an issue to look into. If the numbers show that fewer atheletes die in their 40's than the number of normal people, then it would mean that more people whould excercise.

There are so many things to look at and compare that its not fair to say that it was one thing or another.

Could it have been diabetes? Sure could have. Could it have been obesity? Sure could have. Could it have been depression? Yep. Could it have been a combination of numerous things? Yep.

 

[smg93]

Ok, we've had responses from Viagra to Obesity to anything could have killed them (and thanks for all the replies). Yes, I understand anything can kill anyone. I'm not asking what's killing these 40 to 50 year old athletes. Perhaps I should have been clearer about the premise of the question.

What I'm after are your opinions on whether or not the increased use of performance enhancing drugs is having an effect on the overall life span of steroids using athletes.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Here are the side effects for Viagra:

Blindness...
Vomiting...
Upset stomach...
Bluish or blurred vision...
Photosensitivity...
Dizziness...
Dyspepsia...
Long-term loss of potency...
Cramps...
Increased danger of blood pressure...
Back pain...
Diarrhea...
Rash...
Arthritis...
Painful erections that can last over 4 hours (don’t laugh)...
Arthralgia...
Flu syndromes...
Palpitation...
Abnormal ejaculation...
Cardiomyopathy...
Neuropathy...
Gingivitis...
Gout...
Angina pectoris...
Vertigo...
Chest pain...
Insomnia...
Urinary incontinence...
Respiratory tract infection...
Increased risk of heart attack...


Are these side effects that you would put up with in order to “get it up�

3 men I personally knew very well were eating the Viagra like candy. Taking anywhere from 3-8 a day. They liked how it made them feel...??? It's so much more than getting a stiffy. 2 of these guys I know were not even getting any regular action beyond once or twice a week.

I don''t understand it at all. But all 3 I knew died from massive strokes, worse than the paralysis strokes that are common with the elderly.

I have never taken any so I don't understand what the feeling is...I just want to know how they take a piss while standing on their heads? Or do they just deal with yellow ceilings?:bricks: