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Dangers of Ephedrine and Athletes
| Ephedrine
use may have contributed to death of baseball
pitcher
Baltimore Orioles baseball pitching prospect,
Steve Bechler died of heatstroke on Monday,
February 17, 2003.
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HERE FOR THE FULL STORY ‹ |
Ephedra is part of an industry of uppers that continues
to be debated because of the known dangers of ephedrine, especially since the criminal
investigation of Metabolife International in August
2002 was announced. Ephedra-containing
products have mainly been used by dieters and have
not been regulated due to its classification as a natural
supplement that has made it very hard for the FDA to
even obtain reports of adverse
effects. Ephedra products, such as Metabolife, works
by stimulating the heart and central nervous system
to lose weight, increase metabolism, and burn fat. To
many, Metabolife and other ephedra
containing products have been seen as a miracle
supplement, but the number of serious side effects and
deaths that have resulted from the use of these products
indicate otherwise.
Despite the repeated warnings to athletes that the
use of ephedra was not safe, popularity remained high
and reports continued to be made of the serious
side effects and deaths that were occurring because
of it. The New England Journal of Medicine had linked
ephedra to 18 deaths in California in just three years
from 1999-2001. Ephedra is used by athletes to lose
weights and increase metabolism, but ephedra is also
found as a major ingredient in sports drinks claiming
the athlete using it would reach "a new level of
muscle blasting workout intensity", as well as
to build "lean muscle mass quicker and faster",
all while enhancing "mental acuity".
Ephedra has been used for 2,000 years, but only within
the last ten years has the use of the stimulant been
put in drinks and supplements and grown in popularity
in the U.S. Drinks like Ripped
Fuel claim to give athletes a quick jolt of energy
and have gained substantial popularity in not just athletes
but those wanting to get a better workout at the health
club. The NCAA has banned the use of ephedra-containing
products since 1997, and the Olympics have not allowed
ephedra for over ten years.
In May 2001, the NFL was the first professional sports
league to ban the use of ephedra, allowing any player
that fails a random testing for ephedra to be suspended
for four games. The NFL's decision to ban ephedra followed
reports from experts saying the supplement "can
cause seizures, strokes, and even death." Prior
to the NFL's decision, players had been endorsing ephedra-containing
sports drinks. In August 2001, Rashidi Wheeler, a Northwestern
University football player, brought national attention
to the dangers of ephedra-containing
products when he collapsed and died during a workout.
Wheeler had drunk the ephedra-based sports mix Ultimate
Punch and used Xenadrine with teammates prior to practice.
In addition to the dangers of ephedrine-containing
products because of the amphetamine-like effect
to immediately release hormones, ephedra supplements
are very dangerous for athletes because it depletes
the body of water as well as causing cardiovascular
effects because it is a stimulant. The military services
have documented adverse effects due to ephedra-use.
The Navy Surgeon General stated that "all three
military services have documented medical cases where
significant adverse events and deaths have occurred
among active duty service members taking certain dietary
supplements, specifically preparations containing ephedrine
alkaloids." This has resulted in the Navy banning
the sale of ephedra containing dietary supplements from
Pearl Harbor stores and the Marine base at Kaneohe Bay.
Due to the reports of soldier deaths due to ephedra
products, such as Metabolife, the Moncrief Army Community
Hospital issued a statement saying, "We recommend
that you don't take ephedra at all. The bottom line:
Ephedra is a very dangerous herb that can kill."
For
more information on ephedrine containing products contact
us and learn more about your legal rights.
Ephedra Products Claim Inaccurate Effects
According to experts, ephedra cannot keep weight off
and there are no studies showing evidence that it will.
Ephedra-containing product makers also advertise taking
the supplement will result in increased energy but there
are also no studies showing that ephedra is beneficial
to athletic performance.
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