Enlarged heart

[totalpackaj]

I just had an EKG and my Dr said my heart has grown and he's concerned. What AAS do I avoid to prevent it from growing more? Is too much T the cause? He said it may just be atheletes heart and doesn't need to work as hard. I am waiting to hear from the specialist tomorrow. They know nothing about my AAS use. Thanks

 

[10001110101]

All AAS and even strength training alone cause the heart to enlarge.

 

[Tatyana]

What symptoms were you having that he ordered a ECG?

How old are you?

Depending on what you look like, I am sure the doctors may be aware of AAS use.

I do wonder why people feel the need to withhold information from doctors when they are having problems. The information is meant to be confidential.

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T

 

[Tatyana]

Found this


The changes to heart muscle caused by anabolic steroids are attributed to their anabolic properties in muscle tissue. Left ventricular hypertrophy is characterized by thickening of the left ventricular wall secondary to cardiac fiber enlargement. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is normally caused by a chronic increase in systemic blood pressure. It may also be seen with sudden or rapid weight gain. The thickening of the ventricular wall due to increased after-load from elevated vascular resistance can be viewed as adaptive protection up to a point. Beyond minor wall thickening, pathological LVH is a strong predictor of serious cardiovascular risk.

It is important for physicians to realize that LVH can occur in strength athletes and bodybuilders even in the absence of anabolic steroids use. It was previously believed that the intermittent increase in blood pressure that is caused by heavy lifting was not sufficient to elicit concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (CLVH). Any evidence of CLVH in strength athletes or bodybuilders was seen as a sign of anabolic steroid use.

During heavy lifting, systemic blood pressure is increased from what is called the valsalva maneuver. It is simply the act of forceful expiration with the mouth and nose closed producing a "bearing down" on the abdomen. Most people do this during heavy lifts such as squats or deadlifts. Pressure also increases due to blood vessels being occluded by contracting muscles. It should be noted that the LVH seen in bodybuilders and power lifters is called "concentric left ventricular hypertrophy", meaning that it is the result of contracting against acute increased systemic pressure, and is not considered pathological (i.e. unhealthy). "Eccentric" LVH is caused by constant increases of blood pressure, not as a result of the valsalva maneuver but instead due to clinical hypertension that forces the ventricle to expand against resistance.

AAS further exacerbate the effects of lifting on the heart. AASs cause anabolism in heart muscle, at times increasing left ventricular wall thickness to 16mm (11mm is considered normal).4 However, LVH caused by resistance training either alone or in conjunction with AAS has yet to result in diastolic dysfunction, or in other words, there is yet no evidence that this thickening of the ventricular wall is pathologic.

Treatment options

Upon cessation of high intensity resistance exercise and obviously AAS use, ventricular wall thickness returns to within normal ranges as long as hypertension unrelated to lifting is not present. There are no treatment suggestions for LVH caused by resistance training with or without the use of AAS.

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[bigtbone]

Found this


The changes to heart muscle caused by anabolic steroids are attributed to their anabolic properties in muscle tissue. Left ventricular hypertrophy is characterized by thickening of the left ventricular wall secondary to cardiac fiber enlargement. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is normally caused by a chronic increase in systemic blood pressure. It may also be seen with sudden or rapid weight gain. The thickening of the ventricular wall due to increased after-load from elevated vascular resistance can be viewed as adaptive protection up to a point. Beyond minor wall thickening, pathological LVH is a strong predictor of serious cardiovascular risk.

It is important for physicians to realize that LVH can occur in strength athletes and bodybuilders even in the absence of anabolic steroids use. It was previously believed that the intermittent increase in blood pressure that is caused by heavy lifting was not sufficient to elicit concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (CLVH). Any evidence of CLVH in strength athletes or bodybuilders was seen as a sign of anabolic steroid use.

During heavy lifting, systemic blood pressure is increased from what is called the valsalva maneuver. It is simply the act of forceful expiration with the mouth and nose closed producing a "bearing down" on the abdomen. Most people do this during heavy lifts such as squats or deadlifts. Pressure also increases due to blood vessels being occluded by contracting muscles. It should be noted that the LVH seen in bodybuilders and power lifters is called "concentric left ventricular hypertrophy", meaning that it is the result of contracting against acute increased systemic pressure, and is not considered pathological (i.e. unhealthy). "Eccentric" LVH is caused by constant increases of blood pressure, not as a result of the valsalva maneuver but instead due to clinical hypertension that forces the ventricle to expand against resistance.

anabolic androgenic steroids further exacerbate the effects of lifting on the heart. AASs cause anabolism in heart muscle, at times increasing left ventricular wall thickness to 16mm (11mm is considered normal).4 However, LVH caused by resistance training either alone or in conjunction with AAS has yet to result in diastolic dysfunction, or in other words, there is yet no evidence that this thickening of the ventricular wall is pathologic.

Treatment options

Upon cessation of high intensity resistance exercise and obviously AAS use, ventricular wall thickness returns to within normal ranges as long as hypertension unrelated to lifting is not present. There are no treatment suggestions for LVH caused by resistance training with or without the use of AAS.

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Where is the journal reference? It is controversial if AAS contribute to LVH. Initially, LVH was observed in AAS users and hence they received the blame. However, what they didn't realize at the time was that exercise and resistance training itself causes LVH. So do we know it wasn't just the training which caused it?

Consider the study done by Dickerman, R.D., et al. Cardiology 90(2):145-148, 1998. The study was conducted on elite power lifters and found LV wall thickening with or without anabolic steroid use.

Another study done by Sader, M.S., et all. J Am Coll Cardiol 37(1):224-230, 2001. It examined arterial and cardiac structure and function in ten bodybuilders using anabolics compared to ten bodybuilders who were not using anabolics. The authors concluded that "although high-level bodybuilding is associated with impaired vascular reactivity and increased thickening of the arteries, the use of anabolics per se IS NOT associated with significant abnormalities of arterial or cardiac structure or function."

Another published paper which describes two more studies on the matter concluded the same thing: http://www.anabolicfitness.net/libr...ucture and function in strength athletes..pdf

Bottom line, studies comparing AAS-using and non-AAS-using athletes show no difference in the amount of change in cardiac structure, including LVH. It is the exercise itself that is the cause.

 

[Arabian]

I am 39 and I was diagnosed with an enlarged heart 2 years ago. I have always run and lifted weights. I have done 5 light cycles however im not sure thats what caused mine.. My doctor does not seem to concerned and even stated that people that were very active usually had this condition at some time in there life.. I hope this helps....

 

[Nemisis RR]

I was 23 and had one side enlarged from lifting, wrestling, and running since 13. As long as your blood pressure and lipids are ok then I would not worry about it as it is a natural response to training.