Vascular Reactivity

**Slacker78** · 06-04-2016, 06:13 AM

Hello folks, this is taken from www.anabolic.org/steroids-side-effects :

Vascular Reactivity

"The endothelium is a layer of cells that line the entire circulatory system. These cells are found on the inside of all blood vessels, and help increase or decrease blood flow and pressure by relaxing or constricting the vessels (referred to as vasodilation and vasoconstriction, respectively). These cells also help regulate the passage of materials in and out of blood vessels, and are involved in a number of important vascular processes including blood clotting and new blood vessel formation. Having a more flexible (reactive) endothelium is generally considered desirable for health, and, likewise, the endothelium is often compromised in individuals with cardiovascular disease. Patients with endothelial dysfunction tend to notice greater vasoconstriction, restricted blood flow, higher blood pressure, local inflammation, and reduced circulatory capacity.142 This may place them at greater risk for heart attack, stroke, or thrombosis (blood clot). Endothelial cells are androgen responsive, which may partly account for men exhibiting less vascular reactivity than women.143 Similarly, anabolic /androgenic steroid use has been shown to impair endothelial activity and vascular reactivity. Studies at the University of Innsbruck in Austria compared the level of endothelial dilation in 20 steroid users to a group of control athletes.144 Those individuals using anabolic steroids noticed slight but measurably impaired vascular dilation and endothelial function. Additional studies at the University of Wales in Cardiff comparing vascular dilation in active, previous, and non-steroid users, also demonstrated anabolic steroids to cause a decline in endothelial-independent vasodilation.145 These effects leave the steroid user with more relative “stiffness” in the vascular system, which could increase the chance of an adverse cardiovascular event. In both studies, vascular reactivity improved after the discontinuance of anabolic/androgenic steroids".

What about it ? Any opinions ? Are you aware about this risk ?

**Mr.BB** · 06-04-2016, 06:51 AM

Can you post the actual studies?

**Bonaparte** · 06-04-2016, 07:24 AM

So steroids increase blood pressure? This is really groundbreaking info here...

**Slacker78** · 06-04-2016, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

So steroids increase blood pressure? This is really groundbreaking info here...

Blood pressure increases not only due impaired vascular reactivity; AAS, block TBG (Thyroxine-binding globulin) leaving higher amounts of FT3-FT4 thyroid hormones which in turn, hook more B-Adrenergic receptors... so, similar to hyperthyroidism, blood pressure increase. Being AAS, reduce vascular reactivity, this is an additional factor which is summed to cardiovascular higher risks. In time, arterial endothelium will damage earlier than non-steroids users and/or normal people who suffer high blood pressure for other reasons. This is one the matters, AAS will getting older earlier than non-steroids users. It's not unusual finding 40 years old steroids users(abusers), having a vascular system impaired as a 60 ( or more ) years old one.