I recently received a text message from a patient concerned that testosterone was increasing his risk for heart attacks and blood clots. This patient said that his friend recently had a heart attack caused by a blood clot after being on testosterone for 6 months. The cardiologist told the friend that the testosterone was most likely the cause. The friend was advised to stop the testosterone and to tell his friends that taking testosterone is linked to increased cardiovascular risk. My patient was highly concerned and asked my opinion in whether he should continue his testosterone. What does the science say about
Many times patients ask me what the best supplements to take everyday for the heart. Specifically I want to address the top 4 supplements (with a few extras) that have proven benefit to patients with any cardiovascular disease (i.e high blood pressure, prior heart attack). All of these supplements can be found on my online store and are pharmaceutical grade (meaning they have been tested for purity and standardized) 1. Coenzyme Q10: the dose is anywhere from 100-360mg per day. Coenzyme Q10 helps the cells regenerate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is the main form of energy that
Higher testosterone levels in men reduce their risk of dying from all causes by 25-30% according to a study the journal Circulation (2007 ;116:2694-2701). They concluded “In men, endogenous testosterone concentrations are inversely related to mortality due to all causes, cardiovascular causes and cancer, with a 25%-30% lower risk in total mortality in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of testosterone level.” They discuss that the benefits of testosterone are the following in reducing risk of death: Improving HDL Cholesterol Lowering triglycerides Improving body mass index (decrease fat, increase in muscle) Reduced risk of diabetes Lower LDL
If you ask most physicians the effects of sub-optimal thyroid function on patients they will state that the most common symptoms are fatigue, weight gain, constipation and depression. Very rarely do we (doctors) discuss the benefits of thyroid on cardiovascular disease and cholesterol metabolism. However, there is a lot of data in the medical literature that shows thyroid hormone (specifically T3) reduces cholesterol, improves cardiac function and reduces your risks of cardiovascular disease. My goal of this blog is to make you aware that you can improve your cholesterol by doing more than just taking a “statin”
