Steroids are responsible for heart problems

Prolonged usage of anabolic steroids can lead to different heart troubles. It enhances risks connected with heart failure. These statements have been made due to a research which has been presented in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids work like testosterone that occurs naturally and that is responsible for development of male sex characteristics.
The leader of the research Aaron L. Baggish confirms that in addition to the fact that anabolic steroids are illicit, they are associated with negative consequences for health. He notices that it is the first time, when negative influence of prolonged application of steroids on heart is clearly recognized.
The research manifested that the left ventricle in consumers of steroids was significantly weaker during contraction than in those who didn’t administer steroids.
A left ventricle that works properly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood that fills the heart.
 12 steroid users were implicated in the research. It was manifested that the left ventricles of 83 % these steroid users worked improperly: they pumped out less than 55 % of the blood.   Among the examined non-users only one person had troubles linked with the function of the left ventricle.
The research manifested that ventricle relaxation among consumers of steroids was reduced by circa half. It was 0, 93 among users of steroids; 1, 80 – among non-steroid users. The structure of the left ventricle was similar in both groups: users of steroids and non-users.
It was used the test “Doppler echocardiography” for evaluation of function and structure of the left ventricle. This test uses ultrasound for creation of moving pictures of the heart and its blood flow.
 The group of steroid users included 12 weightlifters at the age of about 40 that claimed that they applied about 675 mg of steroids per week for 9 years. Another group included weightlifters who didn’t use steroids. Both groups had the same physical activity and similar risks connected with heart problems. But they had differences in body mass and muscle size. The consumers of steroids had more muscular physiques.
However small number of steroid users has been evaluated, the results have displayed that there is a strong link between intake of steroids and heart impairment.
The specialists decided to conduct further researches in order to support the findings.
Baggish and his colleagues hope that people will comprehend that application of steroids can results in heart problems and different unexplained heart disorders in young people.