Do Testosterone Supplements

Increase the Risks of Heart Disease? Anyone that watches sports on a weekend has seen the commercials for “low T.” It seems like treating low testosterone in men is all the rage these days. In fact, more than 5 million prescriptions are written annually in the U.S. alone for men wanting to increase strength, boost muscle mass or improve sexual performance. So are “low T” supplement treatments safe for your heart? A new research study of more than 8,500 men showed those taking testosterone were 30% more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack or death after three years of use. The difference could be seen even after taking into account age, blood pressure, the presence of heart disease and other factors. Most study participants were in their 60s and most had other health issues. The study was published November 5, 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study doesn’t prove that testosterone treatments caused the heart attacks, strokes and deaths. It does however mirror an earlier study and hopefully will prompt patients to consider the risks of treatment. The study’s authors caution that men can experience a diminishing libido, decreased strength and low energy levels for reasons other than low testosterone. Because of that, and with no studies showing long-term safety, men would be wise to use testosterone supplement treatment with a great degree of caution. As a natural doctor, I go after the cause of disease. If testosterone is low, why is it low? Is it food or chemical related? For example, fat in the body converts testosterone into estrogen therefore overweight people tend to have lower testosterone. Answer, lose weight! Keep reading our blog for more information. In an upcoming post, we’ll cover the best natural ways to for men to maintain healthy testosterone levels.