Is testosterone good for our cardiovascular health? And why should I care about my cardiovascular health? Every 40 seconds an American has a heart attack! About 1 in 3 deaths in the US is caused from cardiovascular disease, it is the leading cause of death in both men and women. Over half of the deaths from heart disease are men with an average age of 65yo. This includes deaths from coronary heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, heart failure, arterial diseases and strokes. (facts from CDC & American Heart Association).
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
- Increased age
- Decrease testosterone levels
- Diabetes
- Inactivity
- High blood pressure
- Smoking & drinking
- Poor diet
- Obesity
- Certain genetic or SNP mutations
Testosterone & Common Sense
Let’s look at the basics of testosterone and it’s effects in the body, from this you can see how having healthy levels contribute to a healthier cardiovascular system and a better quality of life.
Role of Testosterone in the body
- Body Hair– Promotes growth of hair growth on face, chest, pubic area, and umbilical line.
- Bone & Muscle– Stimulation and maintenance of muscle and bone strength.
- Healthy joints– stimulation of growth and repair of ligaments and cartilage.
- Sex Organs- stimulates the development of the testes, scrotum and causes sperm production.
- Healthy erections– helps maintain healthy erectile function. Boost sex drive.
- Energy & Fat Burning– Increases metabolism to promote energy production, fat burning and maintenance of a healthy weight.
- Improves Mood– boost mood, confidence and drive
- Improves Sleep quality.
- Cardiovascular Health– Maintains good cholesterol called HDLs, while preventing arteriosclerosis, and maintaing a healthy blood pressure. All important markers for cardiovascular health
We know as testosterone declines prostate cancers, other cancers, and cardiovascular disease all increase. As men hit andropause they get fatter, muscle mass declines, activity and mood declines. Men who have healthy testosterone levels have more muscle which helps burn sugar and fat, their mood is better and they are more motivation to get out exercise and be healthy. They have better recovery time and less joint pain which keep you mobile longer. With health erections, and a healthy libido they are likely more sexually active, which means more cardio! This alone would improve your cardiovascular health and overall well being. But lets look at the research and see what it says!
What does the Research Say
Overall the research indicates that men with low testosterone levels have higher mortality rate and higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Men who normalized their testosterone with testosterone replacement therapy had lower rates of stroke, heart attacks and overall mortality.
The Research indicates that testosterone has the following effects on our cardiovascular system :
- Improves exercise induced ST depression and myocardial ischemia
- Dilates the coronary arteries -increase blood flow to the heart muscle
- Improves body composition, insulin resistance and reduces risks for metabolic syndrome
- Improves inflammation, CRP and inflammatory cytokins
- Improves congestive heart failure
- Lowers risks for heart attacks and overall mortality
- May slow the progression of artherosclerosis
- Reduces risks of type 2 diabetes
- Mixed results on lipid profiles, however lower testosterone is related to dyslipidemia (poor lipid levels), and testosterone replacement has been shown in improve lipid ratios.
In summary having healthy levels of testosterone helps to improve your cardiovascular health in a variety of ways, improving metabolism, reducing blood sugar, improving fat burning, reducing inflammation, increasing circulation to the heart, and lowering other risks factor for cardiovascular disease. Conversely, having low levels is associated with increased mortality, strokes and heart attacks. So why not choose to have your testosterone levels tested, improve your quality of life and your longevity! If you want o learn more about low testosterone and what you can do to boost it read more here!
Dr.Escobedo has extensive experience working with men to balance, replace and restore healthy hormones including testosterone as well as improve cardiovascular health. She utilizes a wide range of testosterone replacement therapies, supplements, diet, exercise and herbs to help restore the bodies natural hormone levels and restore cardiovascular health. To find out if she can help book your free 15 minute phone consult today.
References
Sharma, R et al. Normalization of testosterone level is associated with reduced incidence of myocardial infarction and mortality in men. Eur Heart J. 2015 Aug 6
Shores MM, Moceri VM, Gruenewald DA, et al. Low testosterone is
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in men: European prospective investigation into cancer in Norfolk
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Shores MM, Matsumoto AM, Sloan KL, et al. Low serum
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Laughlin GA, Barrett-Connor E, Bergstrom J. Low serum
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Basaria S et al. Effects of Testosterone Administration for 3 Years on Subclinical Atherosclerosis Progression in Older Men with Low or Low-normal Testosterone Levels. JAMA.2015; 314(6):570-581.
Cheetham TC et al. Association of Testosterone Replacement With Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Men With Androgen Deficiency. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 Apr 1;177(4):491-499
Berg G. et al. Impact on lipoprotein profile after long-term testosterone replacement in hypogonadal men. Horm Metab Res. 2002 Feb;34(2):87-92.