Ventricle relaxation in steroid users is reduced by half

Prolonged usage of anabolic steroids may cause various heart diseases. It increases risks connected with heart failure. These affirmations have been made due to a study that has been written in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids act like the hormone testosterone that occurs naturally and that is responsible for development of male sex characteristics.
The leader of the research Aaron L. Baggish says 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 effect of long-term application of steroids on heart is clearly recognized.
The study manifested that the left ventricle in users of steroids was substantially weaker during contraction than in those that didn’t take steroids.
A left ventricle that works appropriately pumps out 55-70 % of the blood which fills the heart.
 12 users of steroids were enrolled in the research. It was manifested 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 just one person had disorders related to the function of the left ventricle.
The study 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-users. The structure of the left ventricle was similar in both groups: steroid users and non-users.
It was applied 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 noted that they administered approximately 675 mg of steroids a week for 9 years. Another group included weightlifters that didn’t administer steroids. Both groups had the same physical activity and the same risks linked with heart disorders. But they had differences in body weight and muscle size. The consumers of steroids had more muscular physiques.
Although small number of steroid users has been included in the research, the results have displayed that there is a close connection between application of steroids and heart impairment.
The experts decided to conduct further researches in order to support the findings.
Baggish and his co-investigators think that people will recognize that intake of steroids can results in heart problems and various unexplained heart disorders in young persons.