Effects of steroids and ephedrine on heart

We know that overeating some foods can do some pretty bad damage to our hearts and other internal organs so imagine what overdoing synthetic supplements can do! In this article we feature Steroids and Ephedrine and their effects on the heart. These supplements are sometimes used to enhance training performance in our beloved sport of bodybuilding so probably timely to discuss them in our Heart issue.

Anabolic steroid use has been associated with a wide range of adverse side effects ranging from some that are physically unattractive, such as acne and breast development in men, to others that are life threatening, such as heart attacks and liver cancer.  There's also myriad of other hormonal, skin and muscular problems that come with steroid use but we'll just focus on cardiovascular.

Steroid use has been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart attacks and strokes, even in athletes younger than 30. Steroids contribute to the development of CVD, partly by changing the levels of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in the blood. Steroids, particularly the oral types, increase the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and decrease the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). High LDL and low HDL levels increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty substances are deposited inside arteries and disrupt blood flow. If blood is prevented from reaching the heart, the result can be a heart attack. If blood is prevented from reaching the brain, the result can be a stroke.

Steroids also increase the risk that blood clots will form in blood vessels, potentially disrupting blood flow and damaging the heart muscle so that it does not pump blood effectively.

Ephedra (also known as Ma Huang) is a natural substance found in plants, which has been used as an herbal supplement by the Chinese for thousands of years. But in recent times Ephedra has been used in dietary supplements such as Xenadrine and Hydroxycut (which now doesn't contain ephedra due to change in U.S law) to help weight loss, bodybuilding, and increased energy. Ephedra effects are similar to amphetamines; a compound with potentially powerful stimulant effects on the nervous system and heart.

Ephedrine is classed as an ergogenic drug that clearly enhances endurance, energy and strength - Firstly for athletes interested in muscle gain, ephedrine enhances the metabolic rate - the measure of fat, protein and carbohydrate conversion by the body. And an enhanced metabolic rate could clearly increase the speed of depositing new muscle mass. Secondly the stimulant effect of the drug also increases the force of skeletal muscle contractions. The adrenaline rush provided allows the user to push harder through their training and can indirectly lead to further muscle and strength gains. Finally it is important to note that the powerful mental edge the drug can provide, typically making the user feel far more energetic and much better able to concentrate on the tasks at hand. The action of the drug, used correctly, can dramatically increase fat loss and spare lean muscle tissue.

Originally the drug was released as an asthma treatment, as one of it's actions is as a bronchiol dilator (opening of the air ways), however, newer and better drugs are now being used for this application. Forms of ephedrine, however, can still now be found in common cold and flu medicines in chemists. Besides increasing heart and respiratory rate this drug also stimulates the thyroid gland to transform the weaker LT-4 (L-thyroxine) into the stronger LT-3 (Liothyronine), which accelerates metabolism.

While Ephedra and ephidrine can melt the fat super fast, it does has some pretty bad effects and the U.S Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra (ephedrine alkaloids) due to concerns over their cardiovascular effects in 2004.  Although you can probably get your hands on ephedra if you know people, hence why we're talking about it. Ephedra raises blood pressure and constricts blood vessels. This produces a serious list of ephedra side effects. Symptoms that have been linked to ephedra include:

Possible Side Effects of Ephedra
nausea, headache; dizziness, irritation of the stomach; diarrhea.
anxiety; psychosis
kidney stones
tremors
dry mouth
irregular or rapid heart rhythms; heart damage
high blood pressure
restlessness; nervousness; sleeping problems
decreased appetite
flushing; sweating
increased urination