Does testosterone cause cardiovascular disease? by Jerry Brainum

 

 

 

Joe M knew that something was just not right with himself. Although he had been an athlete in his youth, and for most of his life had proudly displayed a significant level of muscle mass, lately it seemed that muscle had converted into flab. At age 50, Joe still worked out regularly, although he had become a bit loose with his diet over the years. But it was his regular weight workouts that tipped off Joe that all was not right. It seemed that every other workout he incurred some kind of injury or muscle strain. This was unusual for Joe, who had wisely reduced the amount of weight he used over the years for that express purpose: to prevent possible injuries. In addition to the newfound proclivity to muscle and joint injuries, Joe just didn't feel great, either. He tended to be depressed, which was exacerbated when he caught his wife looking at the Ashley Madison website. He had only himself to blame for that. His libido wasn't what it used to be, and even worse, getting it up had become a cause for celebration instead of a routine event. The fatigue and lowered energy level that he felt lately wasn't exactly boosting his motivation to workout, either. He felt irritable most of the time and sensed a lack of well-being that he couldn't account for. While his eating habits could be better, he still didn't eat poorly enough to explain the added girth around his waistline. Although he hated going to doctors, Joe finally gave in and made an appointment to see his doctor.

   When Joe disclosed his symptoms to his doctor, Dr.Arrogante ordered blood tests. Arrogante suspected he knew what the problem was, but he needed to confirm it. He told Joe to ensure that he has the blood test between 8 and 10 a.m and that he was to repeat the blood tests for three consecutive weeks at the same time. Joe complied with those orders, and a month later was back sitting in Arrogante's office awaiting the answer to his obvious medical problems. "Your testosterone levels are 290 for total testosterone, and are on the borderline for free or active testosterone, "said Arrogante without looking up from Joe's medical test results. "So I should get on some testosterone to boost the levels to normal, right Doc?" asked Joe. "No, I wouldn't advise it at this time, since you are just under the normal level for total testosterone, and I have some misgivings about prescribing this hormone.," said Arrogante.

Arrogante then went on telling Joe that his reservations stemmed from the fact that testosterone "caused prostate cancer," and even worse, two new studies had recently been published suggesting that supplemental testosterone is . . .