Back in 2013, a largely flawed study came out that purportedly linked the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with an increased risk of heart attacks. Despite the many problems with the study, it garnered much attention with the media, and caused many men who could have been helped, to reconsider testosterone therapy.
Those of us who understand how bioidentical testosterone therapy can benefit aging men with low testosterone (Low T), continued in our efforts to discredit the study.
Finally, thanks to a detailed long-term study published by the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, the truth is now clear. The researchers concluded that not only that there was no link between proper use of TRT and increased risk of heart attacks, but that it could actually improve heart health.
According to the study, published in the January 2015 edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, “evidence from research conducted around the world for several decades suggests a beneficial relationship between [testosterone] therapy and cardiovascular health.”
Other Positive News about Testosterone and Heart Disease
The Mayo Clinic research follows up on, and included the results of, a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, published in July 2014. This study also concluded that there is “no link between testosterone therapy and heart attacks.”
The study involved over 25,000 men 65 or older who had received testosterone therapy for eight years or more. Lead researcher on the study Jacques Baillargeon, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas, said their goal was to quell the fears, and reveal the truth about TRT.
Baillargeon said, “Our investigation was motivated by a growing concern, in the U.S. and internationally, that testosterone therapy increases men’s risk for cardiovascular disease, specifically heart attack and stroke. It is important to note, however, that there is a large body of evidence that is consistent with our finding of no increased risk of heart attack associated with testosterone use.“
Much like the more recent Mayo Clinic study, this study published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy, found that testosterone therapy was not linked to any increased risk for heart attack, but also that testosterone therapy reduced the risk of stroke or heart attack in men over 65!
The Many Benefits of Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone therapy is a way to naturally replace, what age takes away. It is produced throughout your life, but, production and release decreases over time.
Once you reach your 40s or 50s, you are well past your peak production, and may be experiencing the symptoms of Low T, also known as andropause.
Typical symptoms of Low T, or andropause:
- Low energy, fatigue or weakness
- Declining libido, sexual desire or erectile dysfunction
- Lack of enthusiasm, drive or motivation
- Loss of physique or muscle tone
- Poor focus or concentration
Targeted and individualized replacement therapy, along with a program of exercise, and lifestyle modification can help improve all of these symptoms.
The only way to determine if you have low T levels, is with proper diagnosis and analysis. Your first step to detect a possible hormone deficiency is to have a proper blood test. Then, an appropriate course of safe and effective treatment can be planned.
