Anabolic steroids mimic naturally occurring testosterone, a muscle building hormone.
Researchers compared a group of steroid using male weight lifters to other weight lifters who did not use the drugs. The results in the journal Circulation show that the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber was much weaker in those who had taken steroids.
Until now the precise effects of steroids on the heart has been unclear mostly because steroid users are just now reaching the age when heart problems surface.
