subject: Anabolic Steroids And Their Affects On Your Heart [print this page] The goal of professional bodybuilding is simple present the largest and most ripped physique on the stage, and win tens of thousands of dollars. They don't worry much about their health most just focus upon staying healthy enough' and making the most insane gains possible. Many top amateur bodybuilders reflect this attitude as well, in hopes of one day winning that elusive pro card and doing damage on the pro stage.
For the rest of us without alien genetics and the willingness to use insane amounts of GH and insulin, bodybuilding is about looking better, feeling better, and living longer. We lift weights because it improves the appearance of our physique, and the gains in strength definitely make us feel better. And, like many who exercise and eat healthy foods, we wish to live longer and healthier lives. As we proceed in our bodybuilding goals, we often justify the use of AAS one way or another, minimizing the side effects in relation to our bigger bodybuilding goals. However, new research is emerging showing the dangers of AAS use upon the heart.
It's long been disputed just how much the heart is affected by the use of anabolic steroids. Many researchers believe a litany of heart problems is caused by the use of steroids, and that has steered research for the past few decades. In other words, it's fairly easy to secure funding for research for how bad steroids are, but when it comes to securing research funds dispelling steroid myths, the money just isn't there. Whatever slant may or may not exists, there is still the fact that no absolutely conclusive findings have settled the argument once and for all.
We know that anabolic steroids increase red blood cell production. We know that AAS does cause a minor to moderate rise in blood pressure. The hearts of anabolic steroid users take more time to "relax" following each beat. This causes the heart to take longer to refill following each heartbeat. Combine a slower-filling heart with higher blood pressure over a period of years, and you open the door to a lot of potential problems.
At the same time, we also know that many bodybuilders have suffered from heart disease, likely related to their use of steroids. Several Masters' competitors have died from it, and some of the younger bodybuilders have suffered heart attacks or strokes, and survived. Were these events caused by long-term use of steroids? It's easy to assume it to be so, but other factors have to be looked at. Mike Matarazzo suffered a heart attack a few years back, and steroids were blamed. However, for a decade he bragged in magazines about his tendency to consume 5 pounds of beef each day to make muscle gains.
If you're a bodybuilder using AAS and worried about your heart, you should realize that you are likely affecting it in some way the degree to which you're affecting it is the only detail which can be debated. Use common sense and understand the trade-offs involved with using AAS.
