Partners in Crime—Low T and Its Co-Occurring Health Problems
One of the major determiners of men’s health is our complicated, volatile balance of hormones. When that balance is disturbed, we may experience not only the common symptoms of a hormone imbalance like Low T that disrupt our life, but also a number of co-occurring illnesses that could seriously compromise our wellbeing.
Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, plays a vital role in the proper functioning of our bodies, and deficient levels can either be a cause or an indication of more serious co-occurring issues.
Low T and Its Destructive Co-Occurring Medical Conditions
Testosterone is responsible for the production of lean muscle, and men with more lean muscle tend to produce even more testosterone, maintaining a testosterone-heavy balance.
(More detailed information on the role of testosterone is available here.)
Similarly, fat tissue functions as an estrogen-producing organ. People with a higher BMI (body mass index) are likely to develop increased levels of estrogen in relation to their testosterone production, tipping the balance. That results in chronic low testosterone.
Research, both large-scale epidemiological studies and small population-based research studies, suggests rates of associated obesity and low testosterone to be somewhere between 45.0–57.5%, increasing likelihood of serious co-occurring health conditions, including:
- Cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke
- Hypertension
- Metabolic syndrome
- Musculoskeletal disorders, especially osteoarthritis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancer, including:
- Prostate
- Colon
- Endometrial
- Breast
- Kidney
- Ovarian
- Liver
- Gallbladder
In addition, increased rates of low testosterone are frequently found in men diagnosed with:
These illnesses, at best, will seriously disrupt your daily life and cause discomfort and frustration. Some are even life threatening.
Treating Low T and Its Co-Occurring Illnesses
Does testosterone lead to the development of co-occurring illnesses?
It’s possible.
It could also be that both low testosterone and co-occurring illnesses simply happen simultaneously as a result of the cycle of general poor health.
Either way, you’re going to have to escape a self-perpetuating roundabout of medical distress in order to reduce the associated risks.
The evidence compiled by the medical community indicates that the severity of these issues decrease when testosterone levels are restored and maintained within a normal range.
The question is this:
Do you treat the illness itself, or do you treat the hormone imbalance that could very well be at the root of the trouble?
How about both.
It’s logical to conclude that treating the underlying issue in conjunction with the presenting illness would be more effective than simply trying to eliminate the co-occurring illness itself.
The most effective way to accomplish that aim is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).
Our comprehensive guide contains key facts and answers to the most common questions regarding the treatment of chronic Low T and the path to restoring the vibrant “you” that you can be.
