Stopping anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) can partially reverse heart damage, a new longitudinal study finds. Men who quit AAS showed meaningful improvements in heart structure and function, while those who merely reduced their dose saw no such benefit. Experts say abstinence is the goal, but harm reduction strategies matter for users who aren't ready to stop.
Quitting anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) can help undo some of the cardiac damage they cause — but simply cutting the dose won't do the trick. That's the key takeaway from a new longitudinal study published in the European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging, which followed male weightlifters over several years to track how AAS use affects heart health over time.
Men who continued using AAS — even after nearly halving their weekly dose — showed persistent left ventricular hypertrophy, reduced ejection fraction, and worsening diastolic function. In contrast, those who quit saw meaningful cardiac recovery, with their echocardiographic measurements approaching those of men who had never used steroids at all.
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Why it matters: AAS misuse isn't just an elite athlete problem — it's a growing public health concern among everyday men using steroids for aesthetics or gym performance. Experts emphasize that while total abstinence is the ultimate goal, engaging users in medical care and offering harm-reduction strategies — like blood pressure control and aerobic exercise — can meaningfully reduce cardiovascular risk for those not yet ready to quit.
