Sex hormones make men more at risk of developing, and dying from, heart disease – compared to women of a similar age.
A University of Leicester-led study found that this “male disadvantage” links in with sex-specific effects of naturally occurring hormones that as of yet defy explanation.
The research team looked at the ways the sex hormones – estradiol, estrone, testosterone and androstenedione – interacted with cholesterol, blood pressure and weight in boosting men’s risk of heart disease.
Research showed men with the highest concentrations of estrogens estradiol and estrone were at greatest risk of cardiovascular problems, even though these chemicals are generally seen as cardio-protective in women.
Team leader Dr Maciej Tomaszewski said future studies on the impact of endogenous estrogens in youth, and ongoing studies on sex-specific aspects of cardiovascular disease, will provide answers on this male vulnerability.
About Terence Cosgrave
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading causes of death around the world are heart disease, cancer, HIV, and AIDS.
Many organizations are primarily concerned about sexually transmitted diseases (STD) like HIV and AIDS, as the prevalence of these conditions are high in developing countries, and can even affect very young children.
About 5 million of the HIV/AIDS victims around the world have no access to medical facilities that may help alleviate their condition. Some of the other STD’s that are a cause for alarm are syphilis and gonorrhea.
Many more STD’s are present across many cultures today, some of them are treatable, while others are not.