New research from the University of Birmingham and scientists in Germany has found a worrying link between anabolic steroid use and a serious heart condition called atrial fibrillation.
This is especially concerning for young men who use steroids to build muscle, often influenced by trends on social media like TikTok.
Anabolic steroids are man-made versions of testosterone, the male hormone. They are commonly used by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass. But this new study, led by Dr. Laura Sommerfeld from UKE Hamburg, shows that steroids might be harmful to the heart, especially for people who already have a family history of heart problems.
The study looked at a heart disease called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
This disease affects how cells in the heart stick together and how the heart muscle works. ARVC is more common in men, and the research found that steroids can make the disease worse, leading to atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat.
The scientists found that just six weeks of using anabolic steroids could mess up the heart’s electrical signals. These changes happen in the upper parts of the heart, called the atria, and they can cause serious rhythm problems.
This is especially dangerous for young men who might already have genes that make them more likely to get heart disease.
Professor Larissa Fabritz, one of the researchers, explained that high levels of testosterone can worsen heart muscle diseases like ARVC. These conditions can cause dangerous heart rhythms, and steroid use raises the risk even more.
This study is a warning for young men who might think steroids are a harmless way to look more muscular. The reality is that they could be putting their heart health at serious risk.
And it’s not just steroids. Other research has shown that even some herbal supplements, which many people assume are safe, might affect heart rhythm. On the flip side, foods like eggs and yogurt have been linked to better heart health and lower chances of dying from heart-related conditions.
This study, published in The Journal of Physiology, reminds us that lifestyle choices—including the use of muscle-building drugs—can have serious long-term effects. What seems like a simple choice to get in shape could lead to life-threatening heart problems.
To stay healthy, it’s important to know the risks and talk to a doctor before taking any supplements or medications that could affect your heart. Keeping up with trusted health information and making smart choices can help protect your heart in the long run.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about a new cause of heart rhythm disorders and eating just one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables daily can reduce heart disease risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about blood thinners that may not prevent stroke in people with heartbeat problems and this diabetes drug may protect heart health in older veterans.
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