Scientists from the University of Birmingham and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE Hamburg) have found troubling evidence linking anabolic steroid use to a higher risk of heart rhythm problems, especially in young men.
Their research, published in The Journal of Physiology, focuses on a heart condition called atrial fibrillation and how it may be worsened by the misuse of steroids.
Anabolic steroids are lab-made drugs that mimic testosterone, the male sex hormone. They’re often used by bodybuilders to quickly build muscle. While these drugs might improve appearance or athletic performance in the short term, this study shows they can harm the heart in serious ways—particularly in people with certain genetic traits.
The researchers looked at a condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, or ARVC. This is a heart disease that weakens the muscle in the right side of the heart and makes it more likely to develop irregular rhythms.
ARVC is more common and more dangerous in men. What’s especially concerning is that anabolic steroids appear to make this condition even worse.
In the study, researchers gave anabolic steroids to animal models for six weeks and then examined the heart tissue. They found that steroid use damaged the connections between heart cells and lowered the function of sodium channels—tiny openings in cells that help send electrical signals.
When these signals slow down, the heart doesn’t beat as smoothly or as regularly. This sets the stage for atrial fibrillation, a condition where the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat in an irregular and often rapid way.
Professor Larissa Fabritz, one of the study’s senior researchers, emphasized that high testosterone levels can seriously impact the heart, especially for those with existing heart risks like ARVC. Atrial fibrillation may not always seem dangerous at first, but it can lead to blood clots, stroke, and even heart failure if left untreated.
What’s especially worrying is that anabolic steroid use is growing, driven in part by social media platforms like TikTok, where fitness influencers often promote fast muscle-building methods. Many young men may not be aware of the long-term risks to their heart.
This research acts as a strong warning. While steroids may offer short-term muscle gains, the hidden cost could be permanent damage to your heart. Young, healthy-looking individuals—especially those with genetic heart risks—may be setting themselves up for serious, even life-threatening conditions later in life.
If you’re interested in protecting your heart, it’s also worth learning about how some herbal supplements might affect heart rhythm and how everyday foods—like eggs, yogurt, and apple juice—could play a role in reducing heart disease risks.
To learn more, this study is available in The Journal of Physiology. It’s a timely reminder that good health goes beyond appearance—and that taking shortcuts can come at a high cost.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
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