Recent studies have shown that prolonged steroid use can result in heart dysfunctions

Prolonged intake of anabolic steroids can result in various heart dysfunctions. It enhances risks linked with 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 the hormone testosterone which occurs naturally and that is responsible for development of male sex characteristics.
The leader of the research Aaron L. Baggish claims that in addition to the factor that anabolic steroids are illicit, they are associated with negative consequences for health. He notices that it is the first time, when negative influence of prolonged intake of steroids on heart is clearly recognized.
The research demonstrated that the left ventricle in consumers of steroids was substantially weaker during contraction than in those who didn’t use steroids.
A left ventricle that works properly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood that fills the heart.
 12 users of steroids were enrolled in the study. It was demonstrated 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 only one person experienced troubles linked with the function of the left ventricle.
The research displayed that ventricle relaxation among steroid users was reduced 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: steroid users 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 said that they used circa 675 mg of steroids per week for 9 years. The other group included weightlifters who didn’t apply steroids. Both groups had similar physical activity and similar risks related to heart troubles. But they had differences in body mass and muscle size. The steroid users had more muscular physiques.
Although small number of steroid users has been included in the study, the results have shown that there is a close link between usage of steroids and heart impairment.
The scientists decided to conduct further researches in order to support the results of this study.
Baggish and his co-investigators think that people will comprehend that application of steroids can cause heart troubles and different unexplained heart disorders in young people.