Steroid users should realize that prolonged usage of steroids may lead to severe heart disorders

Prolonged administration of anabolic steroids can lead to various heart problems. It increases dangers connected with heart failure. These affirmations have been noted in a study that has been written in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids act like testosterone that occurs naturally and which is responsible for development of male sex characteristics.
The leader of the research Aaron L. Baggish claims that in addition to the fact that anabolic steroids are illicit, they are associated with undesirable effects for health. He notes that it is the first time, when negative effect of long-term application of steroids on heart is clearly realized.
The research manifested that the left ventricle in steroid users was essentially weaker during contraction than in those that didn’t apply steroids.
A left ventricle that acts appropriately pumps out 55-70 % of the blood which fills the heart.
 12 steroid users were enrolled in the research. 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 only one person had disorders related to the function of the left ventricle.
The study demonstrated that ventricle relaxation among steroid users was lowered by circa half. It was 0, 93 among consumers of steroids; 1, 80 – among non-users. The structure of the left ventricle was the same in both groups: consumers 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 administered circa 675 mg of steroids a week for 9 years. The other group included weightlifters that didn’t use steroids. Both groups had the same physical activity and similar risks linked with heart diseases. But they had differences in body weight and muscle size. The steroid users had more muscular physiques.
However small number of steroid users has been included in the study, the results have manifested that there is a close link between administration of steroids and heart impairment.
The scientists decided to conduct further researches in order to support the findings.
Baggish and his colleagues hope that people will recognize that application of steroids can lead to heart troubles and various unexplained heart disorders in young persons.