Attitudes toward stimulant use and neurological and cardiovascular risks in elite athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/yt9aac08Keywords:
Attitudes, doping, stimulants, athletes, cardiovascular risks, neurobiological risks.Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes toward stimulant by high-performance athletes at the Technical University of Machala regarding the neurological and cardiovascular risks associated with stimulant use. A quantitative, mixed-method, cross-sectional research design was employed. The study population consisted of fifty athletes from the Technical University of Machala (UTM), and three research instruments were used: the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). The results demonstrated that both men and women predominantly reject doping and the use of stimulant substances, despite operating in an environment characterized by high physical and competitive demands—particularly in strength sports that require heightened concentration. Furthermore, the findings revealed a close link between emotional anxiety and physical symptoms among the evaluated athletes—specifically autonomic hyperarousal, frequent vascular irregularities, or muscle tension—driven by factors such as high competition-related stress or stimulant use during daily training routines. Based on these results, it is concluded that it is essential to promote and implement comprehensive sports nursing programs focused on education, doping prevention, vascular monitoring, and specialist support (such as psychologists) to enhance the athletes' health and performance.
Downloads
References
1. Palatini P, Grassi G. Effects of stimulants on blood pressure and cardiovascular health. J Hypertens. 2023;41(5):901–909. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003417 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003417
2. Tokar T, Baranowski J, Sawicka K. Cardiovascular effects of energy drinks and stimulants in athletes. Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3981. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193981 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14193981
3. Maughan RJ, Burke LM, Dvorak J. Energy drinks and their impact on sport performance and cardiovascular health. Br J Sports Med. 2021;55(17):963–970. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102978
4. Cabrera CE, Salazar A, Ruiz M. Uso de suplementos y estimulantes entre deportistas latinoamericanos: implicaciones para la salud cardiovascular. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2021;45:e99. Disponible en: https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2021.99 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2021.99
5. Gauer RL, Wolff TJ. Sudden cardiac death and stimulant use in athletes: a review. Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(8):489–496. Disponible en: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0415/p489.html
6. World Anti-Doping Agency. (2024). The 2024 Prohibited List.
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
7. Smith, L., et al. (2023). Neurological consequences of chronic stimulant exposure. Frontiers in Neurology, 14, 1182345.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1182345
8. Whelton PK et al. 2017 ACC/AHA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2018;71(19): e127–e248.
9. Ministerio del Deporte del Ecuador, Unidad Nacional Antidopaje. Lista de atletas sancionados por la Unidad Nacional Antidopaje del Ecuador 2024 [Internet]. Quito: Ministerio del Deporte; 2024. Disponible en: https://www.deporte.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lista-de-Atletas-Sancionados-por-la-Unidad-Nacional-Antidopaje-del-Ecuador-2024.pdf
10. Hernández R, Fernández C, Baptista P. Metodología de la investigación. 7.ª ed. México: McGraw-Hill; 2022.
11. Petróczi, A. y Aidman, E. (2009). Measuring explicit attitude toward doping: Review of the psychometric properties of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(3), 390–396. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1469029208001222 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.11.001
12. Hamilton M. The assessment of anxiety states by rating. Br J Med Psychol. 1959;32(1):50–55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1959.tb00467.x
13. D’Agostino RB et al. General cardiovascular risk profile for use in primary care: The Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2008;117(6):743–753. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.699579
14. World Medical Association. Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects [Internet]. Ferney-Voltaire: World Medical Association; 2013. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki
15. Suárez, S., Cañizares, M. y Carvajal, W. (2022). Actitudes y creencias de deportistas cubanos de alto rendimiento sobre el dopaje. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 22(2), 136-155. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/2270/227074833009/html/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/cpd.485361
16. Purchades, M. y Molina, P. (2020). Actitudes hacia el dopaje en estudiantes de ciencias del deporte. Apunts Educación Física y Deportes, 36(140), 1-7. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/5516/551662868001/html/
17. Bernate, J., Morales, L., Sanabria, M. y Medina, L. (2024). Revisión del dopaje en el ámbito deportivo olímpico en mujeres y hombres de 15 a 25 años. Ciencia y Deporte, 9(3), 1-29. https://cienciaydeporte.reduc.edu.cu/index.php/cienciaydeporte/es/article/view/259/635
18. Vanegas, M., Rodenas, L., Contreras, M. y Medina, S. (2023). Estrés en deportistas universitarios: revisión de la EEAD en jóvenes mexicanos. Psicumex, 13(481), 1-52. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/6678/667878768022/html/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.36793/psicumex.v13i1.481
19. Guzmán, J., Luna, J. y Sanchez, J. (2024). Depresión, ansiedad y calidad de sueño en deportistas. Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte 16(3-4), 57-61. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380000957_Depresion_ansiedad_y_calidad_de_sueno_en_deportistas_ante_la_contingencia_sanitaria_COVID-19_Estudio_exploratorio DOI: https://doi.org/10.33155/ramd.v16i3-4.1006
20. Hernández, D. y Hernández, L. (2023). Motivación, ansiedad, depresión y estrés en deportistas universitarios. RIAF. Revista Internacional de Actividad Física, 2(1), 1-28. https://revistas.ug.edu.ec/index.php/riaf DOI: https://doi.org/10.53591/riaf.v2i1.184
21. Ardura, G. y Villa, M. (2025). Ansiedad precompetitiva y rendimiento deportivo en futbolistas profesionales: relación con categoría y supervisión psicológica. Revista de Psicología Aplicada al Deporte y al Ejercicio Físico, 10(e3), 1-16. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/6138/613882437003/613882437003.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.5093/rpadef2025a3
22. Duran, J., AbdulJabbar, M. y Arbinaga, F. (2025). Síntomas psicopatológicos en árbitros de fútbol: un estudio piloto. Revista de Psicología Aplicada al Deporte y al Ejercicio Físico, 10(e5), 1-10. https://www.redalyc.org/journal/6138/613882437005/613882437005.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.5093/rpadef2025a5
23. Astudillo, M. (2023). Valoración Cardiovascular en Atletas de Alto Rendimiento. Reto y Cardiología, 1(1), 1-59. https://retocardiologia.com /valoracion-cardiovascular-atletas-alto-rendimiento
24. Diaz, L., Guía, F., Carro, A., Sanz, M., Madaria, Z., Serratosa, L., Masia, M. y Boraita, A. (2024). Cribado cardiológico pre participativo en deportistas recreativos, competitivos y de alto nivel en diferentes grupos de edad. Cardioclinics, 59(3), 153-160. https://www.reccardioclinics.org/en-cribado-cardiologico-preparticipativo-deportistas-recreativos-articulo-S2605153224000372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccl.2024.03.003
25. Smith, L., et al. (2023). Neurological consequences of chronic stimulant exposure. Frontiers in Neurology, 14, 1182345.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1182345
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julexci Dayanna Matamoros Izquierdo, Karla Nicole Fernández Rendón, Diana Elizabeth Calderón González, Nathaly Tatiana Delgado Zambrano (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
