While a healthy left ventricle pumps about 55-70 % of the blood which fills the heart, left ventricles of steroid users pump essentially less than it is required

Prolonged administration of anabolic steroids may result in various heart disorders. It enhances risks related to heart failure. These statements have been made due to a study which has been presented in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids act like the hormone testosterone which 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 factor that anabolic steroids are illegal, they are connected with negative effects for health. He notes that it is the first time, when negative influence of long-term application of steroids on heart is clearly recognized.
The study manifested that the left ventricle in users of steroids was essentially weaker during contraction than in those who didn’t administer steroids.
A left ventricle that works properly pumps out 55-70 % of the blood that fills the heart.
 12 consumers of steroids were implicated in the study. It was manifested that the left ventricles of 83 % these steroid users acted incorrectly: they pumped out less than 55 % of the blood.   Among the examined non-users just one person experienced problems connected with the function of the left ventricle.
The study demonstrated that ventricle relaxation among steroid users was reduced by about half. It was 0, 93 among users of steroids; 1, 80 – among non-steroid users. The structure of the left ventricle was similar in both groups: consumers of steroids and non-users.
It was used the technique “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 12 weightlifters at the age of about 40 that said that they used about 675 mg of steroids per week for 9 years. Another group included weightlifters who didn’t apply steroids. Both groups had the same physical activity and the same risks connected with heart diseases. 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 evaluated, the results have manifested that there is a strong link between usage of steroids and heart impairment.
The experts decided to conduct further researches in order to support the findings.
Baggish and his co-investigators believe that people will realize that usage of steroids may cause heart problems and various unexplained heart dysfunctions in young people.