Although certain anabolic steroids may be legally prescribed by a physician, a number of people (e.g., some athletes) abuse them to build muscle mass. A number of problems have been reported from abusing anabolic steroids, which include infertility and liver cancer. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates between 1 and 6 percent of athletes have abused anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroid use has been associated with a wide range of medical conditions. It may cause the following problems related to the cardiovascular system:

All people are discouraged from using anabolic steroids unless prescribed by a physician as treatment for a medical condition. Anabolic steroids can be particularly dangerous for those who already have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other risk factors for a stroke or heart attack (e.g., carotid disease artery, coronary disease artery).