Negative effects of steroids on heart

Prolonged intake of anabolic steroids may cause different heart diseases. It increases dangers related to heart failure. These affirmations have been noted in a research which has been presented in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids work like testosterone which occurs naturally and which is responsible for development of male sex features.
The leader of the study Aaron L. Baggish claims that in addition to the factor that anabolic steroids are illegal, they are linked with negative consequences for health. He notes that it is the first time, when negative effect of prolonged intake of steroids on heart is clearly realized.
The research displayed that the left ventricle in consumers of steroids was essentially weaker during contraction than in those that didn’t apply steroids.
A left ventricle that works properly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood that fills the heart.
 12 consumers of steroids were enrolled in the study. It was displayed that the left ventricles of 83 % these steroid users acted inappropriately: they pumped out less than 55 % of the blood.   Among the examined non-users just one person had troubles related to the function of the left ventricle.
The study displayed that ventricle relaxation among users of steroids was lowered by about half. It was 0, 93 among steroids users; 1, 80 – among non-users. The structure of the left ventricle was similar in both groups: consumers of steroids and non-users.
It was used the technique “Doppler echocardiography” for examination of function and structure of the left ventricle. This technique uses ultrasound for creation of moving pictures of the heart and its blood flow.
 The group of steroid users included twelve weightlifters at the age of about 40 that claimed that they administered about 675 mg of steroids per week for 9 years. Another group included weightlifters who didn’t apply steroids. Both groups had similar physical activity and the same risks connected with heart diseases. But they had differences in body mass and muscle size. The steroid users had more muscular appearance.
Although small number of steroid users has been included in the study, the results have demonstrated that there is a strong connection between application of steroids and heart impairment.
The specialists decided to conduct further studies in order to support the results of this research.
Baggish and his co-investigators suppose that people will comprehend that intake of steroids may results in heart diseases and various unexplained heart disorders in young people.