Anabolic Steroids, Exercise and the Heart…

As a drug-free-for-life professional bodybuilder I made the decision very early on to pursue my physique goals without the aid of anabolic steroids. I began weight training at age sixteen, and competed in and won my first competition just a few months shy of my 20^th birthday. It was right after winning this title, The Natural Mr. Eastern USA, that I became even more serious about my bodybuilding pursuits. I started to talk with every high-level bodybuilder at my gym (and there were many), about what I needed to do to take things to the next level. One particular subject was brought up again and again, and seemed to form the theme of every conversation – anabolic steroids. So I began doing my research, and read dozens of texts and studies all about the different types of steroids, how to use them, how they work, and exactly what effects they have in/on the body.

To my dismay I discovered just how many negative side effects are associated with steroids, at least with the amounts generally utilized by competitive bodybuilders (there is a difference between use and abuse). And while many of these side effects have been shown to only be temporary (dissipating with cessation of the use of steroids), there are a few that could at the very least compromise one’s health, and at ,worst prematurely end one’s life. One of the most alarming, in my mind anyway, is the effects these drugs can have on the heart and cardiovascular system. Anabolic steroids, especially in the oral form, can adversely affect cholesterol levels by causing a decrease in HDL (the good form) while at the same time increasing levels of LDL’s (the bad kind). If many steroid cycles are used throughout the year, which is normal practice amongst the majority of competitive bodybuilders, these negative changes in cholesterol ratios can begin to cause permanent damage to the heart. In addition, steroids are notorious for increasing one’s blood pressure, which only exacerbates the problem, and puts the individual at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, aneurism and stroke.

Interestingly, for those who engage in intense forms of exercise, steroids pose a more immediate risk in the form of greater possibility of sudden death! A recent study from scientists at the University of Bedfordshire in Great Britain showed an increased incidence of instability in the electrocardiogram after exercise in athletes who used anabolic steroids. They concluded that post-exercise instability in the heart could enhance the possibility of heart-related sudden death in these athletes.

In another study reported in Current Pharmaceutical Technology, Italian scientists, in a study on rats, found that high doses of the anabolic steroid, Deca Durabolin (which is widely used amongst athletes and bodybuilders) caused inflammation in the heart. And the effects were most pronounced in the rats that were made to exercise intensely. Thus, it was concluded that the combination of vigorous training and high-dose anabolic steroids can possibly cause serious injury to the heart muscle, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and sudden death.

As a professional bodybuilder who competes at the highest levels of drug-tested competition, I fully understand the tremendous passion for victory, and the inner desire to be the best at what you do…but not at the possible expense of one’s health and longevity. And while the mainstream media often sensationalizes the dangers of anabolic steroids, studies like those above clearly show that long-term abuse of these drugs can compromise one’s health, and even shorten one’s life.

I am a body-BUILDER, which means to me not only means looking strong on the outside, but also continually taking care of what is on the inside, especially when it comes to heart-health.

My advice is to build your body with intense exercise, proper nutrition, natural and safe sports supplements, and faith that you WILL reach your goals. Remember, if your heart is not beating strong, that great-looking body won’t be around very long!

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