Many people would say athletes are some of the healthiest people.

They work out all the time, can outlast most people at the dinner table, and win the majority of fights. But the reality is that just because a person is physically fit doesn’t mean they are healthy. Athletes put their bodies through some of the harshest tests throughout life. It’s like they are constantly pounding nails into their bodies. Those who play sports professionally may come away with back problems, a series of concussions, or even acquire life-threatening injuries while partaking in their sports. Comparatively, it almost seems irrelevant to mention that nutrition is more important to athletes than your everyday Joe. Athletes are pressured into being the best and sometimes that can take a toll on the person’s health.

The ongoing and seemingly growing cult of performance enhancing drug users is one of the most prominent signs that being an athlete can lead to unhealthy lifestyles. Combine this with the steady usage of painkillers and you have a prescription for danger. If you think this is about the hippie-era of the 1960s you are wrong. I’m talking about now, the 21st century. But you’ve almost hit the point straight on; the similarities in drug use are taking over athletes’ lives.

In the late 1950s, there was an investigation into “pep pills.” The most noted athlete involved in that round was runner Roger Bannister.

The addiction was confirmed when several of the top athletes admitted to looking for a boost from different pills. They would consult doctors and obtain the pills by whatever means necessary. During the middle of the 20th century, sales of the pills associated with the craze skyrocketed.

Now, the talk of the use of performance enhancing drugs is again at the forefront. The Mitchell Report has undeniably taken a toll on major league baseball. Some of the games top athletes have been called out in using steroids and other illegal drugs. It does not end in baseball as cycling has had a large problem as of late, and it has surely happened in other sports as well.

The athletes may gain notoriety for being the best in the game, but they will suffer in the future. Liver damage can occur. Heart rates are affected. A person’s kidneys may not work properly. The list can go on for some 10-plus pages. And likely all of the negative results have not even been noted as of this time.

Performance enhancing drugs are only the beginning of the long story of why athletes should not be considered among the healthiest people. Yes, some athletes are at the top of their health. But when a person thinks about it, athletes may be some of the unhealthier people. Health is not just about being at a healthy weight; it’s about all-around health. Drugs, being hit on a regular basis, the fast-paced lifestyle of many athletes, and the pressure to live up to expectations all take a large toll on an athlete’s health.