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09/28/09
Bodybuilders are very aware of the dangers of using anabolic steroids. There are legal implications. Being caught buying or possessing steroids can result in arrest, fines and jail time. There are societal risks. Your family, co-workers and training buddies might see you as a cheater. And there are health risks. Everybody knows baldness, acne, testicular shrinkage, and cancer are risks. However, there is one additional danger which is a precursor to heart disease, which will one day claim 50% of people reading this: Hypertension.
The Risk
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects many Americans. It can lead to heart disease or stroke. Bodybuilders using anabolic steroids run a greater risk of developing hypertension, as their red blood cell count skyrockets, they retain a lot of water, and they gain a great amount of weight quickly when using AAS. The body cannot tell is the 258 pounds it is carrying is fat or muscle. It is the same workload for the heart. When you see very strong powerlifters with an ever-present odd red glow to your face, you are looking into the eyes of hypertension. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or the aforementioned heart disease or stroke. This isn’t something cosmetic such as acne. This is life or death stuff here!
Family History
If you have a history of hypertension, or many people in your family have perished from heart attacks at young ages, then you may want to realize AAS is going to be a major risk for you – even if you are young. Keep a close eye on your blood pressure numbers, and what the scale reads as well.
Adding The Fat-Burners
If you use non-anabolic fat-burners, such as ECA, Cytomel, or Clenbuterol (non-anabolic to a degree), in addition to AAS, you are running an even greater risk of elevated blood pressure. Try to lose the weight without the use of these, or attempt to find success with half-doses. ECA in particular can cause heart palpitations and other issues which, in conjunction with high blood pressure, could be deadly. It’s just not worth the risk to lose a couple of pounds faster, when you can achieve the same result with just a few more weeks of dieting.
Get Checked
You should have a doctor examine your blood pressure along with other health markers with a standard blood panel. If you refuse to do this, you can always opt for self-check at the free blood pressure machine at your pharmacist or nearest War-Mart. Write down your blood pressure reading, and then check it weekly during your cycle. If the numbers become too high, drop the fat burners. If they stay elevated, realize you are putting your health at risk and consider dropping the AAS entirely.
One warning should be noted. Some bodybuilders will become aware of the danger of high blood pressure to their body, so they will run blood pressure management medicine along with their steroids. The problem can arise because in many cases, the side effects associated with the blood pressure medicine are actually worse than those of the steroids. Together, you may be facing a storm of side effects.
