To Your Health
June, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 06) |
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Have You Checked Your T?
By Editorial Staff
Levels of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, start to decline by approximately 1% annually beginning in a man's 30s. As a result, men may begin to experience a variety of distressing symptoms including loss of lean muscle mass, fatigue, reduced sex drive and more – including reduced lifespan.
New research underscores the importance of addressing declining testosterone levels, suggesting that low testosterone can shorten a man's life compared to a man with normal levels. In the analysis, researchers found that men with T levels lower than 213 ng/dL (300 ng/dL and above is considered normal) had a higher risk of dying from any cause. Men with very low levels (below 153 ng/dL) also had a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease specifically.
The study was an analysis of previous research – 11 studies totaling 24,000-plus participants. Findings appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association and beg the question: Have you had your T checked? It's as simple as asking your doctor to order a blood test to measure testosterone levels.
So, what can you do if your levels are low – or borderline low? WebMD has an informative slideshow that illustrates some of the ways. You can also talk to your doctor for more information.
