Eldercare for postmenopausal women could be impacted by the findings of a study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Postmenopausal women who have higher testosterone levels could develop heart disease more easily than those whose levels are normal. This discovery reportedly represents a big advancement in the understanding of the role of hormones in women’s health.
"It is now largely accepted that premenopausal women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition in which androgens are elevated, have increased health risks," said Dr Anne Cappola of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
"However, the clinical relevance of testosterone in women over the age of 65 had remained uncertain until this recent study."
The researchers measured the testosterone levels of 344 women between the ages of 65 and 98. They found that women with high levels of the androgen were three times as likely to have coronary heart disease than those with low testosterone levels.
The Mayo Clinic says that heart disease results in the deaths of more Americans than any other cause. A good diet and regular exercise can help prevent the disease from developing.
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