Close links between steroid users and grave heart dysfunctions

Prolonged intake of anabolic steroids may lead to different heart diseases. It increases dangers linked with heart failure. These affirmations have been noted in a study that has been presented in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids work like testosterone that occurs naturally and which is responsible for development of male sex characteristics.
The leader of the study Aaron L. Baggish states that in addition to the factor that anabolic steroids are illegal, they are connected with unwanted consequences for health. He notices that it is the first time, when negative influence of prolonged administration of steroids on heart is clearly realized.
The research displayed that the left ventricle in users of steroids was essentially weaker during contraction than in those who didn’t apply steroids.
A left ventricle which acts correctly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood which fills the heart.
 12 users of steroids were enrolled in the study. 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 just one person experienced troubles related to the function of the left ventricle.
The research demonstrated that ventricle relaxation among consumers of steroids was reduced by about half. It was 0, 93 among consumers of steroids; 1, 80 – among non-users. The structure of the left ventricle was similar in both groups: users of steroids and non-users.
It was applied the method “Doppler echocardiography” for evaluation 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 12 weightlifters at the age of about 40 that said that they used approximately 675 mg of steroids per week for 9 years. The other group included weightlifters that didn’t administer steroids. Both groups had the same physical activity and similar risks linked with heart troubles. 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 examined, the results have demonstrated that there is a close link between administration of steroids and heart impairment.
The specialists decided to conduct further studies in order to support the results of this research.
Baggish and his colleagues think that people will realize that usage of steroids may lead to heart problems and various unexplained heart dysfunctions in young people.