Testosterone may be beneficial for patients with heart failure. In this condition, the heart is less capable of pumping blood throughout the lungs and the body. Fluid may accumulate in the ankles and people may feel week and tired. Appropriate exercise can be helpful for people with congestive heart failure but it may also be a challenge. Researchers evaluated the impact of testosterone replacement therapy on heart failure patients. Those who were given this male hormone through a patch, gel or injection performed better on exercise testing than those on placebo. The finding is preliminary and the investigators caution that patients should not rush out a buy testosterone or badger their physicians for a prescription until these findings are confirmed.
[Circulation, April, 2012]
