The use of anabolic steroids have been dated way back 1940’s. It was not until the 1950’s that they took off and during the 60’s and 70’s, demand became higher and higher. It was believed that injectable steroids cause less damage to the liver than oral ones because it goes directly to the bloodstream and do not pass through the liver.

There are, however, harmful effects of long term steroids use, not only to the liver but also to the heart, may it be taken orally or in injectable form.

First, it is found to cause enlargement of the heart due to hypertrophy of cardiac muscles. AAS will cause a rapid growth of heart muscles but will leave the heart vessels at its normal size. This could lead to heart tissue death because the blood supply would be lesser and poorer.

Second, it causes blood pressure to rise due to increased water retention in the body. Sometimes, it may also cause fatty deposits to build inside the vessels which could eventually cause arterial blockage.

Anabolic steroids also delay the relaxation of the heart after a pump. This would take longer time for the heart to refill and diastolic pressure increases. A combination of hypertension and longer time for relaxation could lead to numerous potential problems such as a fatal heart attack.

From Knol:

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.

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