I don’t feel I am trying or implying 
Not bodybuilding but, 75 is a lot.
1 Like
There is a difference between heart attack and arythmias. Many of these tragic deaths involving young people are caused by arythmias due to then unknown faults to the heart’s own electrical system since birth. Perhaps provoked by exhaustion and dehydration. The heart suddenly stops beating. “Sudden death” is the term. These cases may have no connection to anabolic steroids. I suppose you brought this to our attention, as an example of that.
Does anyone here have steroid-using IFBB or NPC bodybuilder friends or friends who know these people and thereby get the withheld lowdown on what these people suffer from, and that some of them know darn well what they’re doing is harmful to them?
I do not want to make myself out to be some “industry” insider but I do know of such concerns and maladies. Such people do not and are not going to come out publicly and say, “Bro, my doc said my kidney- and liver-related lab values are messed up. My doc said this is serious,” or “Bro, I’ve been agitated and nervous. I can’t sleep. My body hurts.”
People tend to say, “it wasn’t the roids; it was his high bodyweight.” Yeah, that’s uh… muscular bodyweight that can’t be achieved without drugs. And it’s not a matter of weight either. As I just mentioned, these drugs affect organs and how the body functions overall. People can use whatever pretzel logic they want to. There’s no healthy way to use drugs. There’s just less unhealthy ways compared others. Yes, I’ll tell that to a friend’s face, along with, “why not just stop?” After being told aforesaid concerns.
2 Likes
Much too broad a stroke for me. There people who are healthier on TRT levels, than taking nothing. If that is true, where do the curves cross where more testosterone becomes less safe?
I am a TRT patient of 20 years. I’m not talking about TRT. @RT_Nomad
Supraphysiological levels.
She’s a nurse. (I believe her name is ‘Karen.’)
1 Like
There’s a guy on youtube…
2 Likes
There are many possible causes of death in bodybuilders.
Reviewing the 28 Bodybuilders Who Passed Away article reveals “heart attack” as the most commonly listed cause, however that can mean anything from myocardial infarction, coronary ischemia-induced arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure and/or sudden cardiac death.
Kali Muscle’s recent cardiac event was apparently caused by a 100% obstruction of one of his coronary arteries from atherosclerosis. Years ago I took care of a world class powerlifter (he was inducted into the Powerlifting Hall of Fame) turned bodybuilder who at age 35, ended up in the hospital I worked in with severe chest pain caused by 3 vessel CAD from atherosclerosis, treated with immediate coronary bypass surgery. This was in the Dianabol pre-HGH era of the 1980’s although he also took T3, lasix, and multiple combinations anabolic steroids as bodybuilders often do, winning the Mr. Western America shortly before his cardiac event.
Over the ensuing years he continued to have bypass graft closures also caused by the atherosclerotic process with 3 myocardial infarctions between the ages of 45 and 58. This lead to damage to his myocardium with each infarct and loss of muscle function such that his ejection fraction was reduced to 30% by his late 50’s. He took no drugs during this 23 year period of time other than a few prescribed cardiac drugs. He died at age 63 from his 4th MI and cardiac arrest in 2013, failing to call the paramedics at the onset of chest pain symptoms according to his girlfriend (who he did call!).
Atherosclerosis and it’s sequelae are the 1st and 5th leading causes of death in the USA, hence gaining an understanding of the true causes of this disease is the key to preventing myocardial infarctions, coronary stents, CABG surgery and ischemic cerebrovascular accidents in all Americans including bodybuilders.
From my work in the Cardiac Rehabilitation field (50 years) and Hormone Replacement Anti-Aging arena (21 years), I have come to learn that testosterone replacement (TRT) does not cause atherosclerosis and in fact is anti-atherogenic and prevents heart attacks and strokes as well as being a very effective treatment for angina pectoris and congestive heart failure.
Chemically modified versions of testosterone aka anabolic steroids have the potential to do the opposite as shown in the many bodybuilders who have succumbed to this disease. Like everything in medicine, the poison is in the dose and time spent on and off anabolic steroids. The are pro-atherogenic in high doses with prolonged use. In addition high protein diets that ignore the importance of consuming essential nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, Vitamins C, D3, mixed tocopherols as well as other vitamins and trace minerals will increase the odds arterial plaque formation.
Additionally, there are a series of underlying metabolic issues, some hereditary and some related to dietary nutrient deficiencies that accelerate the developement of arterial plaque. These include Lipoprotein(a), Homocysteine, oxidized LDL, chronic inflammation, the Metabolic Syndrome of hypertension, abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides and elevated insulin levels (known as insulin resistance), elevations in certain clotting factors such as fibrinogen, and excessive oxidation due to lack of endogenously produced and/or lack of dietary antioxidants. Excessive use of insulin may be another contributing factor as insulin is pro-atherogenic when used in higher doses.
Elevated iron and ferritin levels that cause oxidation of various organs is another pro-atherogenic factor. It has been found that blood donations as little as twice/year reduce the relative risk of heart attacks by 50%. Excessive red blood cell production (polycythemia) caused by steroid and/or testosterone use may contribute to atherosclerosis which is why I advise all bodybuilders to donate blood or have therapeutic phlebotomies every 2 - 3 months. This also rids the body of excess iron stores.
Hypoascorbemia (low Vitamin C levels which are endemic in all humans) is a major risk factor for CAD. Unfortunately the majority of physicians and cardiologists are mired down in the failed Lipid Theory of Atherosclerosis and do nothing beyond measuring basic lipid levels and treating them with worthless and plaque progressing statin drugs. Hence there is littel in the way of atherosclerosis prevention as 99% of bodybuilders hever have these critical metabolic factors measured and hence have no idea
that one or more of these factors are driving premature atherosclerosis in their arteries. Many bodybuilders like the general public are doctor adverse and never have any blood chemistry panels performed.
We have a new potential source of deaths in bodybuilders since December 2020 who may have received one or more of the Covid19 injections (they are not “vaccines”). I suspect most realize these DNA editing chemical concoctions are unproven, risky and redundant since there are many cures for the so-called 99.4% survivable “viral illness”
Covid19 Plandemic.
However some/many are being forced to get the jabs in order to keep their jobs. Here’s what we can expect to see more of as deaths in athletes of all types after receiving this dangerous jab are being documented all over the world (see links below):
“28 y/o bodybuilder dies 4 days after getting the Moderna Jabs”
He left a grieving wife behind and worked as a Fed Ex delivery driver. He was coerced into the Clot Shot by his employer in order to keep his job.
https://realclimatescience.com/2021/11/just-one-of-those-tragedies/
2 Likes
I think this another thing -Blast and cruise seems to be taken as gospel now , current competitors even at the physique level seem to be “On” something, to some degree, year round.
80s&90s Guys like Kevin Levrone would do their PCT and then go off for 3 months at a time, maybe even take a layoff from the gym as well, just do a bit of cardio/sports etc
Considering the number of teenagers and adults who play soccer in North America, South America, and Europe (where those 75 are pulled from)… no, it’s not a lot. At all. Like grabbing a handful of sand at the beach and saying “This is a lot of sand.”
Nevermind that the list includes incredibly unconvincing stats like a 300-pound 16-year old and a 12-year old born with a heart defect.
As I pointed out in my earlier post, you guys are reaching hard to connect dots that simply aren’t there. There is no significant uptick in athlete deaths compared to previous years. More than 30 NFL players ages 26 to 65 died in 2019. That’s just one sport.
This is an “interesting” choice for your first post on the site after 6 years of lurking, but before taking another step down the anti-vax hallway, strongly consider taking that train of thought over to any of the current PWI threads or start a new thread over there all about vaccinated athletes. That can of worms does not belong in this thread.
5 Likes
A post was split to a new topic: COVID19 Vaccine Side Effects
That’s quite some time. How does one recover from a heart attack or failure?
After a heart attack aka myocardial infarction, the approach is to start a monitored combined aerobic and strength training program immediately after discharge from the hospital. That’s what Cardiac Rehabilitation programs (and myself) have been doing since he early 1970’s, although weight training was not included until the mid-1980’s (and many programs still do not include it). This usually lasts 4 - 8 weeks before discharge to home, gym or health club exercise facilities.
My approach is to pick up where cardiologists leave off, and that is to explore all possible risk factors including a blood draw to assess biochemical issues I discussed earlier and map out a nutritional supplement program to correct them. In addition I include a complete hormone panel in that assessment. I figure out a way to get virtually ALL my male post-MI, post-stent or post-bypass surgery patients on TRT. In my female patients estradiol, progesterone and in some cases testosterone replacement is indicated. Thyroid function is another critical issue to assess as low thyroid function is another contributing factor to CAD.
The combined exercise/nutritional supplements/hormone replacement program along with a few basic dietary changes generally brings complete recovery in just a few weeks. In congestive heart failure, the approach is the same, it just takes some additional supplements and a longer time frame…usually 3 - 12 months depending on how severe the CHF is.
1 Like
Very interesting.
So, are you in fact a cardiopulmonary therapist?
Cause full disclosure:
I’ve had a STEMI based in the circumflex, 5 angioplasty, 4 stents, and done 2 courses of cardiac rehab, and diagnosis of CHF.
Not much you said resembles anything I’ve experienced.
1 Like
Yes I am a Cardiopulmonary PT who is a bit “out of the box.” I rejected the cholesterol theory of heart disease around 1990 when after 19 years of lowering LDL levels in my patients…they kept having heart attacks or dying. The Internet becoming available in the mid-90’s allowed me to research more widely the atherosclerotic process and has completely changed my approach to treating this disease. It does put me at odds with many cardiologists who are still married to the false Lipid Hypothesis and who also believe testosterone causes heart attacks.
Put another way: You’re a crank.
3 Likes
I have another theory which includes but is not limited to this.
1 Like
He had me going for a second and then suddenly it all blew up.
3 Likes