[Substance abuse in recreational exercise]

Abstract

Substance abuse has become increasingly widespread among athletes at sub competitive and recreational level, due in part to the lack of controls in form of doping tests. Hypertension and the many other side effects related to the illicit use of prescription drugs pose a substantial but often underestimated threat to public health. The symptoms are recognized late and are then mostly repressed or misjudged. Since the abuse is concealed to the doctor when help is finally sought, it results in extensive and expensive tests that can seldom lead to an effective treatment. Two case reports are presented to elaborate on this issue.