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Testosterone may benefit female heart patients

Category: Hormones and Metabolism

Individuals who have any common risk factors for heart disease may want to consider testosterone testing. The findings of a new study suggest that the hormone may play an important role in the heart health of both men and women.

Prior investigations showed that higher testosterone levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in elderly men, according to Health Day News. In the current study, researchers from the University of Alberta recruited 36 women with heart failure to receive either normal medical treatment or testosterone therapy.

Researchers found that women who received the testosterone therapy had improved tolerance for exercise and stronger muscles following recovery from heart failure, which are all factors that may help individuals come back from heart failure.

"We have a hit a wall in terms of what we can do for patients with heart failure," cardiologist Justin A. Ezekowitz, who wrote a commentary about the findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, told the news source. "We've made a lot of progress, but there are still patients who have symptoms despite the premium blend of medications and fancy devices."

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association.