Just so we have an idea about what obesity and steroid use causes:
Obesity accounts for more than 300k premature deaths a year.
“Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in the developed world,” emphasizes Dr. Zebrack, “and the second most preventable cause of death after smoking.” Health and wellness risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol
Coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure
Type 2 diabetes
Osteoarthritis
Gallstones
Low back pain
Heartburn
Gout
Obstructive sleep apnea and other respiratory problems
Some types of cancer, including endometrial, breast, prostate and colon
Complications of pregnancy
Poor female reproductive health such as menstrual irregularities, infertility
Bladder control problems (e.g., stress incontinence)
Psychological disorders including depression, eating disorders, distorted body image and low self esteem
Steroid Use:
Wadler says that while there is no definitive study to prove the effect of anabolic steroids on the heart (giving steroids to athletes for a clinical study would be unethical), he feels that many of his colleagues are ignoring the obvious.
"People say you can't really prove that because there's no tell-tale 100% sign that people can point to," Wadler says. "They say you're just scaring people when you bring it up."
Some of what Wadler points out about steroids and amphetamines use is indeed frightening:
Steroids can raise cholesterol levels, increase blood pressure and increase platelet abnormalities, which leads to a higher rates of blood clotting and raises the incidence of plaque formation in arteries.
Steroids can also increase the level of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the blood, which can increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
Amphetamines increase the heart rate and, subsequently, increase blood pressure. They have been associated with irregular heartbeats.
