- Title
- Cardiovascular risk and androgenic anabolic steroids
- Creator
- Sculthorpe, Nicholas; Grace, Fergal; Angell, Peter; Baker, Julien; George, Keith
- Date
- 2013
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/158078
- Identifier
- vital:11736
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.12968/bjca.2012.7.6.266
- Identifier
- ISSN:1749-6403
- Abstract
- Although several drugs are purported to improve exercise performance, androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are the most widespread. Furthermore, unlike other drugs, their use has expanded beyond competition, to non-competitive and recreational athletes. Correspondingly health professionals are more likely to come into contact with users of AAS than with users of other performance-enhancing drugs. While there are numerous reports outlining serious cardiovascular consequences to high-dose AAS abuse, this evidence is often limited by difficulties in gaining access to users due to the legal status of AAS. Additionally the co-abuse of other substances (as additional muscle mass enhancers, or to mitigate possible side effects) is a further confounding factor. This review examines the evidence for AAS having a negative effect on the cardiac and vascular tissue and the corresponding risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Possible mechanisms of action by which AAS bring about these changes are also discussed.
- Relation
- British Journal of Cardiac Nursing Vol. 7, no. 6 (2013), p. 266-275
- Rights
- © 2013 MA Healthcare Limited
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology; 1110 Nursing; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; Performance-enhancing drugs; Cardiovascular risk; Lipid profile; Sudden cardiac death
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