Steroid use has negative influence on functions of the left ventricle

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 research which has been written in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids work like the hormone testosterone that occurs naturally and that is responsible for development of male sex features.
The leader of the study Aaron L. Baggish states that in addition to the fact that anabolic steroids are illegal, they are linked with undesirable results for health. He notes that it is the first time, when negative influence of long-term administration of steroids on heart is clearly realized.
The study demonstrated that the left ventricle in steroid users was essentially weaker during contraction than in those who didn’t apply steroids.
A left ventricle that acts correctly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood that fills the heart.
 12 steroid users were enrolled in the study. It was shown that the left ventricles of 83 % these steroid users worked inappropriately: they pumped out less than 55 % of the blood.   Among the examined non-users only one person experienced disorders related to the function of the left ventricle.
The study displayed that ventricle relaxation among users of steroids was lowered by circa 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 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 twelve weightlifters at the age of about 40 that confirmed that they used 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 users of steroids had more muscular appearance.
However small number of steroid users has been included in the research, the results have displayed that there is a close connection between usage of steroids and heart impairment.
The scientists decided to conduct further studies in order to support the findings.
Baggish and his colleagues suppose that people will recognize that administration of steroids can results in heart problems and different unexplained heart dysfunctions in young people.