Side Effects Of Muscle Building

A useful guide on "Side Effects Of Muscle Building".

Everyone knows that working out builds muscles and the longer and harder you work, the bigger and stronger those muscles will get. However, muscle building also carries some intrinsic potential for side effects that might not be immediately obvious. The side effects of muscle building can either be a natural biological result of working out or they can come as a result of taking supplements to enhance performance. In either case, the side effects of muscle building can run anywhere from mild to severe.

Lactic Acid

One of the most common side effects of muscle building comes in the form of lactic acid. A very simplistic explanation is that as the muscles are being worked a complex chain of biological processes kicks in. At the end of that chain, lactic acid is released to areas surrounding the muscle tissue that was just exercised. It is this buildup of lactic acid that is responsible for fatigue and a good deal of soreness. The amount of lactic acid that is released is dependent on the body’s ability to buffer it as it is released so that the tissue stays in a healthy pH range. This is referred to as the anaerobic threshold. Individuals have varying thresholds so the lactic acid side effects of muscle building differ from person to person.

Increase in Testosterone

Another one of the side effects of muscle building is an increase in testosterone. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in certain areas, there are times when that testosterone can interfere with other biological functions. There is also a difference in how the body handles testosterone when muscle building as opposed to more aerobic exercises such as running or cycling. During aerobic exercise the amount of available testosterone in the bloodstream is counteracted to some degree. However, in muscle building the aerobic activity doesn’t reach a point to counter free testosterone in the body. This might not sound altogether bad, but consider the fact that testosterone is a precursor to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that is the leading catalyst to the onset of Androgenetic Alopecia. In other words, an excess of DHT in the system triggers male pattern baldness. Is hair loss, then, one of the side effects of muscle building? Some experts believe this to be the case.

Common Side Effects of Muscle Building Supplements

There are a number of body building supplements on the market and most of them are some form of amino acid complex. Not all amino acids produce side effects but common side effects of muscle building supplements can include weight gain (usually water weight), nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, muscles spasms, and here again, an increase in testosterone. Sometimes supplementation is called for, but if the athlete experiences undesirable side effects then eating more foods that promote muscle gain is preferable to taking supplements. Some people are just caught unawares when they experience for the first time the side effects of muscle building. Although most of the side effects are not severe, they can be rather disconcerting if not just a little painful. Some of those side effects can be avoided while others, such as an increase in testosterone, are more difficult to counteract. Being prepared for the potential for side effects of muscle building is half the battle. Finding a way to prevent them is the trick.