Prolonged use of steroids, supplements to build muscles could weaken heart: Doctors

New Delhi: Sweating it out at the gym to gain large muscles has become a fad among men over the past few years. Even women desire to gain a lean physique and flaunt picture perfect cuts.

To achieve this goal, many 'gym bunnies' take synthetic products, such as steroids and protein supplements.

However, the prolonged use of these supplements can wreak havoc on a person's heart, even causing sudden cardiac arrest.

"Large amounts of steroids, taken for prolonged time periods, can weaken the heart. There is a sizeable subsection of athletes, bodybuilders in particular, that have been using staggering amounts of steroids and proteins for a long time and it is time that they get educated about their health effects," said Dr Vanita Arora, a consultant at a private hospital.

She added that a certain demographic is becoming more common in emergency departments – young, well-built gym-frequenting man, who want to look good and are typically in their mid-20s.

Many of these youth have even suffered injuries, such as ruptured tendons.

These are not competitive body builders or elite athletes; just 'gym bunnies' who want to look good.

"Steroids are essentially synthetic versions of testosterone. They help in the growth of muscles artificially and the heart, being a kind of muscle, too can get spurred to grow when introduced to steroids," an medical expert said.

He added that steroid users have significantly weaker hearts than those who never use steroids.

Speaking on the same lines, Dr Sanjay Mittal from Ghaziabad said, "A weakened heart cannot pump enough blood around the body and the condition is linked to an increased risk of heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The longer men continue taking steroids, the worse their arteries become."

"Plaque build-up is a leading causative agent of heart disease, and the number one killer of men and women across the globe," the doctor said. He added that taking steroids, even for a short period of time, may cause permanent damage to the heart.

The more steroids a person takes over time, the worse the heart damage will be.