Sport and Exercise Pharmacology Review

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(More customer reviews)A long awaited and comprehensive reference, Dr. Reents' book covers a wide range of pharmacological agents (prescription and OTC drugs, nutritional supplements, and herbal products), from caffeine in coffee to injectable derivatives of testosterone and androstendione, and their effects on general health, exercise physiology, and atheletic performance. Written for health care professionals, consumers, professional atheletes, and personal trainers, this book will also be a valuable reference for high school and college atheletic coaches wanting accurate information to help young atheletes understand the potential benefits and/or harm these agents may produce as they mature into adulthood.
Of special interest are case studies that describe potential real-life situations, information on what substances are banned by various professional atheletic organizations (e.g., NCAA, USOC), and advice to physicians on counseling atheletes taking prescription medications for legitimate medical conditions. The book contains timely examples of products currently on the market and includes definitions for many "scientific" terms and concepts.
While there is no index (which made finding information on a specific drug or nutritional supplement difficult), the table of contents contians significant detail so as to make locating general topics easy, e.g., the effects of creatine supplements. Nevertheless, Dr. Reents' efforts are to be applauded. This book should be on every atheletic coach's list of "must read" references.

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While drug and supplement use has increased substantially in recent years, there is a lack of firm understanding about how these substances can affect health and exercise. With Sport and Exercise Pharmacology, physicians and sports medicine specialists will learn how various commonly used drugs and supplements can affect exercise performance in their patients and athletes. Practical guidelines are offered so that professionals can closely monitor and circumvent adverse reactions to drug therapies.

But what are the effects of exercise on the drug itself? This issue is also explored in this valuable reference that covers a wide range of substances including supplements and over-the-counter, prescription, and social drugs, and highlights both sports medicine and clinical medicine issues. The role of exercise in actually preventing the need for drugs is a key message of the reference and a central reason that author Stan Reents, PharmD, has created the book.

With this essential resource, you will learn how drugs affect physical activities and how exercise can change the effects of drugs. Among the issues explored in Sport and Exercise Pharmacology are the following:

- How can drug therapy treat and prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm?

- What is the impact of athletes' use of analgesics?

- Lovastatin is known to be associated with muscle injury—does this necessarily mean that a person taking this lipid-lowering drug should not lift weights?

- Physicians often prescribe aerobic exercise to help lower blood pressure, but they also may prescribe diuretics—should a person taking a diuretic always avoid playing tennis on a hot day?

- Under what circumstances may creatine, androstenedione, and DHEA supplementation actually help performance, and when is it a waste of money?

- For what kinds of exercise does caffeine appear to boost performance? Are there any sporting events for which alcohol appears not to have a deleterious effect?

- How can exercise reduce the need for drug therapy for many chronic medical conditions?

The book covers cardiopulmonary agents, hormonal agents (including growth hormone, anabolic steroids, and erythropoietin), metabolic agents (including creatine, NSAIDS, and nutritional supplements), and socially used drugs. The text concludes with an examination of how exercise can be used as a preventive measure in reducing a patient's need for drug therapy.

Case studies at the beginning of each chapter provide real-world examples of the interactions between drugs and exercise. A closing bibliography summarizes dozens of resources on drugs and exercise.

This practical reference is your best resource to better understanding the varied and dynamic interactions between exercise and pharmacology, including the pivotal role that regular exercise plays in reducing the need for some drug therapies. This book will prove invaluable to any health professional whose clients exercise or engage in sports, and to any trainer, therapist, or fitness expert whose clients use supplements, banned substances, or prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

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