EliteCycle
New member
Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are widely used, particularly among athletes and bodybuilders. While their benefits for muscle mass and performance are well known, the long-term cardiovascular effects of AAS use are less understood. Recent research highlights concerning impacts on heart function, particularly in relation to the left ventricle (LV) of the heart, which plays a critical role in pumping oxygenated blood to the body. This study aimed to explore the effects of long-term AAS use on cardiac performance in weightlifters.
Study Overview
This study compared the heart health of weightlifters who had been using AAS long-term with those who had never used them. The key parameters measured included:
Left Ventricular (LV) Ejection Fraction: A measure of how well the heart pumps blood.
Systolic Strain: The contraction of the heart muscle.
Diastolic Function: How well the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
The participants were 12 long-term AAS users and 7 non-users, all with similar weightlifting experience and training intensity. The study used advanced imaging techniques, such as 2D tissue-Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography, to assess these parameters.
Key Findings
Left Ventricular Dysfunction
LV Ejection Fraction: AAS users showed a significant reduction in LV ejection fraction (50.6%) compared to non-users (59.1%). This suggests that AAS users’ hearts were pumping less efficiently.
Systolic and Radial Strain: Both longitudinal and radial strains were also lower in AAS users, indicating reduced heart muscle function during contraction.
Diastolic Dysfunction: AAS users had impaired diastolic function, meaning their hearts were not relaxing and filling with blood as efficiently. This was shown by lower early peak tissue velocity and a reduced early-to-late diastolic filling ratio.
Implications for Heart Health
A significant number of AAS users (10 out of 12) had ejection fractions below the normal limit of 55%, which suggests that the structural and functional changes in the heart could increase the risk of heart failure.
Conclusions
The research shows that long-term AAS use is associated with significant cardiac dysfunction, particularly in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic function. These effects may increase the risk of heart failure in AAS users, raising concerns about the long-term health consequences of steroid use. While the muscle-building benefits of AAS are well-known, these findings highlight the need for caution, particularly regarding cardiovascular health.
Study Overview
This study compared the heart health of weightlifters who had been using AAS long-term with those who had never used them. The key parameters measured included:
Left Ventricular (LV) Ejection Fraction: A measure of how well the heart pumps blood.
Systolic Strain: The contraction of the heart muscle.
Diastolic Function: How well the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
The participants were 12 long-term AAS users and 7 non-users, all with similar weightlifting experience and training intensity. The study used advanced imaging techniques, such as 2D tissue-Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography, to assess these parameters.
Key Findings
Left Ventricular Dysfunction
LV Ejection Fraction: AAS users showed a significant reduction in LV ejection fraction (50.6%) compared to non-users (59.1%). This suggests that AAS users’ hearts were pumping less efficiently.
Systolic and Radial Strain: Both longitudinal and radial strains were also lower in AAS users, indicating reduced heart muscle function during contraction.
Diastolic Dysfunction: AAS users had impaired diastolic function, meaning their hearts were not relaxing and filling with blood as efficiently. This was shown by lower early peak tissue velocity and a reduced early-to-late diastolic filling ratio.
Implications for Heart Health
A significant number of AAS users (10 out of 12) had ejection fractions below the normal limit of 55%, which suggests that the structural and functional changes in the heart could increase the risk of heart failure.
Conclusions
The research shows that long-term AAS use is associated with significant cardiac dysfunction, particularly in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic function. These effects may increase the risk of heart failure in AAS users, raising concerns about the long-term health consequences of steroid use. While the muscle-building benefits of AAS are well-known, these findings highlight the need for caution, particularly regarding cardiovascular health.