What a damn shame! Some bodybuilders have died at such a young age, like the recent tragic death of Matt Porter and of course, Dallas McCarver’s passing two years ago. Recent research has shown that anabolic steroids are linked to premature death. Anabolic steroid abuse has been associated in the scientific literature with the occurrence of serious cardiovascular accidents in athletes.
Cardiovascular side effects include:
1. Cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart)
2. Enlarged left ventricular mass (hypertrophy)
3. Arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, tachycardia)
4. Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
5. Heart failure
6. Hypertension (increased blood pressure)
7. Thrombosis
Androgenic-anabolic steroid (AAS) abuse can also cause:
1. Lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3. Elevated lipoprotein(a) (an independent risk factor for heart disease)
4. Increased triglycerides
5. Elevated homocysteine
6. Increased C-reactive protein and inflammation
7. Increased erythropoietin by the kidney (EPO)
8. Increased platelet aggregation (blood clot and the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and cerebral vascular hemorrhage)
According to a study in the Journal of Internal Medicine on November 20, 2018, men who use anabolic steroids may be linked to a higher rate of premature death. We already know that abuse of anabolic steroids can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. And we already know that anabolic steroids are abused by bodybuilders to achieve their goals of packing on extreme muscle and lean body mass. So, it doesn’t surprise me when a report like this comes out!
In the aforementioned study, 545 male subjects tested positive for AAS in Danish fitness centers between January 3, 2006 and March 1, 2018. Subjects were matched with 5450 male controls. In addition, 644 men who were sanctioned because they refused to submit to a doping test and 6,440 controls were included as a replication cohort.
The researchers determined, “Mortality was three times higher amongst users of AAS than amongst nonuser controls (hazard ratio 3.0, 95% CI 1.3–7.0). The median annual number of hospital contacts was 0.81 in the cohort of AAS users and 0.36 in the control cohort (P < 0.0001). Acne, gynaecomastia and erectile dysfunction affected more than 10% of the androgenic anabolic steroid users, and the prevalence of these disorders was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.0001). The results could be replicated in a similar cohort.”
In conclusion, the researchers said, “Androgenic anabolic steroid users have an increased risk of dying and significantly more hospital admissions than their nonuser peers. Side effects of AAS and their metabolites were highly prevalent. Given the high rate of androgenic anabolic steroid abuse, these side effects are of public health concern.”
Now that we have further confirmation from another study on the central harm of anabolic steroid abuse in sports and bodybuilding, it’s important that anyone using or abusing anabolic steroids, who also has high risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension (blood pressure), high LDL cholesterol and low HDL, and most importantly, family history of cardiovascular disease (mother, father or sibling) needs to take charge of their health. My recommendation is to see their cardiologist and get a complete blood work and lipid profile (which includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and particle size, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a) and c-reactive protein). They should also have a CT scan with contrast. This test will measure your calcium score, and use of contrast, to measure atrial wall plaque. The cardiac scans today at major university hospitals give off less radiation than previous years. I’m told that one cardiac CT scan with advanced technology exposes as little radiation that is equivalent to a flight from New York to Los Angeles— whereas in the past, it was equivalent to many chest X-rays! This is a very non-evasive X-ray of the heart and coronary blood vessels. This simple test can determine the amount of plaque in the vascular walls.
Also, a simple non-evasive echocardiogram, CT scan with contrast and MRI are amazing cardiac diagnostic tests for measuring the size and health of the heart and its valves, such as the left ventricle of the heart and the aortic valve. Recent research has shown that anabolic steroids and high blood pressure can cause left ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement and thickening of the left ventricle wall). Anabolic steroids have also been shown to increase hypertension, and as a result can enhance the enlargement of the aorta. Also, the research has shown that strength-training athletes that lift heavy weight have increased aortic enlargement as well increased risk of aortic aneurysms. Recent research has shown that the diabetic drug metformin may be effective in lowering calcium scores in individuals with high vascular calcium levels (Journal of Diabetes Research, May 5, 2019). Metformin may also lower the growth progression of the left ventricle and prevent the progression of aortic enlargement. Metformin may also be used to prevent the growth and treatment of aortic aneurysms. A recent large study found that metformin reduced aneurysm growth by 23 percent (Journal of Vascular Surgery, March 2019; BMJ Heart, March 2019).
Damn it, take charge of your health now! With all the performance-enhancing drugs that bodybuilders take today, including anabolic steroids, growth hormone and insulin, it’s important that you take charge now. Please see your cardiologist and get the proper annual blood work and necessary medical testing. These premature deaths at a young age do not need to happen! They can be prevented or delayed with proper medical testing and diagnosis!
References:
1. Horwitz H, Andersen JT, Dalhoff KP. Health consequences of androgenic anabolic steroid use. Journal of Internal Medicine 2018; DOI: 10.1111/joim.12850
2. Baggish A et al. Cardiovascular Toxicity of Illicit Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use, Clinical Perspective. Circulation 2017. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.026945
3. Anabolic androgenic steroids may be associated with early coronary artery disease. 04 Nov 2017. Brazilian Congress of Cardiology (SBC 2017). European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
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