Causes of Mortality Among American Bodybuilders

Bodybuilding is a sport that demands a high level of physical conditioning and discipline. Unfortunately, this sport is also fraught with risks to the health and longevity of its practitioners. In this article, we will examine the possible causes of mortality among American bodybuilders in recent years.

In recent years, several well-known American bodybuilders have passed away. Common causes of their deaths include heart disease, strokes, aneurysms, and, less frequently, cancer. All of these issues can be attributed either to the general health of the athletes or to their professional activities.

List of Athletes and Their Official Causes of Death:

• Andreas Münzer (Austria, died at 31 years): Dehydration, blood thickened, and the heart could no longer cope.
• Dallas McCarver (USA, 26 years): Heart attack due to atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.
• Mike Mentzer (USA, 49 years): Heart attack due to the use of numerous banned substances.
• Mike Matarazzo (48 years): Obstruction of a coronary artery.
• Greg Kovacs (44 years): Heart attack.
• Nasser El Sonbati (47 years): Acute renal failure.

These athletes were at a level where they consciously took enormous risks with their health, using massive doses of anabolic steroids, diuretics, drugs, and other substances to achieve their goals. An average athlete should not come anywhere near such extremes. Nevertheless, I have decided to address this topic to draw attention to your health and the quality of the products you use.

So, what could be the current causes of mortality among American bodybuilders? Let’s explore this together:

1. Use of AAS of Very Doubtful Quality, Produced in a Makeshift Manner Without Proper Aseptic Conditions

   One of the main causes that increases the risk of illness and negative health consequences is the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) of poor quality. This may occur due to production in unacceptable conditions without proper aseptic procedures. Many of you may have seen videos where American labs are raided in garages or basements, with products seized in unlabelled vials or even in bottles marked with a marker... And such “products” are circulated among athletes.

2. Use of Narcotics

   The problem of narcotic abuse also exists in bodybuilding. Narcotics are often used as a way to manage stress, improve sleep, or increase endurance and performance. However, this leads to serious health problems, including addiction, psychoses, inappropriate states of athletes, and even death.

3. Lack of Monitoring Blood Tests and Organ Ultrasounds

   As with any other high-intensity sport, periodic medical checks are crucial in bodybuilding. Due to muscle hypertrophy and the consumption of large amounts of food, bodybuilders are at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

4. Excessive Training Loads Without Adequate Recovery

   Excessive training loads without proper recovery can also lead to health problems. Intense workouts can result in overtraining, exhaustion, and injuries. And using questionable quality pharmacology, there is no guarantee of the stability of the declared content of active ingredients in the product. This can negatively affect the entire body, continuing training to the point of exhaustion without proper hormonal balance and support.

5. Use of Diuretics for Stage Preparation

   The use of diuretics to achieve the ideal stage appearance is also a recognized risk. Excessive use of diuretics can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and even kidney failure.

6. Congenital Pathologies

   Congenital pathologies can exacerbate the effects of the above risk factors, including increased stress on the cardiovascular system from training and AAS use. It is very important to undergo all necessary tests before starting a cycle to rule out any pre-existing chronic conditions.

Conclusion

Anabolic steroids are undoubtedly a catalyst for pre-existing problems in an athlete’s body when used recklessly. However, with proper monitoring of tests, appropriate dosages, and a thoughtful approach, they can serve only as necessary support for the athlete’s body. AAS can help you handle heavy loads, not overly strain the heart and other vital organs, recover between workouts, and maintain the necessary hormonal balance for muscle growth and anabolism. However, American bodybuilding culture requires a comprehensive review of the approach to health and safety for practitioners.

So, ladies and gentlemen, make the most of these opportunities, take care of your health, read more, and develop with us!