Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States. This Men’s Health Month, become more aware of how to prevent heart disease and be in the best health possible. Some key prevention tips include healthy eating, daily exercise, and yearly wellness visits. However, many men may be overlooking one of the most effective heart health tests available – checking testosterone levels.
Dr. Bright McConnell of FitMed Partners advises his male patients to have their testosterone levels checked. Men begin losing testosterone in their 30’s. Symptoms include changes in mood, loss of energy and physical agility, weight gain, cognitive fogginess, and loss of libido. Low testosterone (Low T) levels can result in health issues, some are apparent, but others may be silent. A recent study shows that high testosterone levels lead to better heart health. It states, “Testosterone has been shown to prevent plaque deposition (atherosclerosis) which is the primary cause of heart attacks. (1)”
There are ways a man can combat Low T and increase testosterone levels: Testosterone Therapy. A comprehensive blood panel at FitMed Partners provides a baseline testosterone level and will indicate low or normal testosterone. If testosterone or other relevant hormone levels are low, Dr. Bright McConnell, an expert on preventive medicine, places male patients on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) to normalize levels without the use of synthetic hormone replacement. Optimizing testosterone levels for men is a proven means of protecting against heart disease, diabetes, loss of bone density, and muscle strength. TRT also raises lean muscle mass, energy levels, libido, motivation, cognition, and memory. Says Dr. McConnell, ” testosterone replacement therapy has multiple benefits for men, including improved protection from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and loss of muscle mass. Low testosterone is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidaemia, adverse clotting profiles, obesity, and insulin resistance. Testosterone has been reported to improve symptoms of angina and delay time to inadequate oxygenation of myocardial tissue in men with coronary disease.(2)”
Schedule your consultation with Dr. McConnell to learn more about TRT and how to prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease.
(1) Neal Rouzier. The Truth about Male Testosterone Therapy and Heart Health. A Critical Review of a Recent Observational Study and Media Attention on Testosterone and Heart Attack Risk. July 25, 2014.
(2) Abdulmaged M. Traish, Ahmad Haider, Karim Sultan Haider, Gheorghe Doros, Farid Saad. Long-Term Testosterone Therapy Improves Cardiometabolic Function and Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Men with Hypogonadism. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2017; 107424841769113 DOI: 10.1177/1074248417691136
