Good News and Bad News for a Man's Heart

Chemotherapy Can Negatively Affect a Man’s Heart

Recent research finds that chemotherapy may wreak havoc on the male heart. One study focuses on the use of chemotherapy to fight off testicular cancer and what effect the medication may have on the heart. 

While more men are beating the odds against testicular cancer through the use of chemotherapy, research is indicating that they may not be in the clear in terms of their heart. 

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles, organs that produce and store sperm as well as supply the body with male hormones. It is the most common form of cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35.

Depending on the type, location, and severity of the disease, chemotherapy, as well as surgery and radiation, are common methods for treating this type of cancer. Now, a group of researchers are warning against the potential heart problems that may be associated with chemotherapy. 

The Chemotherapy Study

The study involved 32 men who had undergone cisplatin and doxorubicin containing chemotherapy. 

A variety of tests were conducted to determine the participants’ overall health. They were also asked several questions regarding symptoms they might be experiencing associated with main organ function. 

There were a number of heart-related health problems found. From the questions and test results, the researchers determined that many of the men had health abnormalities that could increase their risk of heart disease.

• Thirty percent of the participants had an abnormal functioning of the left ventricle of the heart, indicating the early stages of cardiac dysfunction.
  
  
• Eighty-two percent had high cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease.
  
  
• More than half were overweight, a factor that could also increase heart problems.
  
  
• Twenty-five percent of the participants had small blood vessel abnormalities; however, researchers are unsure whether this raises the risk of heart disease.
  
  
• Seventy-five percent of the participants had elevated levels of both the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) - triggering a low production rate of the male hormone testosterone. Low levels of testosterone can lower sperm count, cause erectile dysfunction, as well as decrease sex drive.

In addition, the researchers found that 30 percent of the participants suffered from hearing loss and more than a third had problems with nerve damage. However, none of the patients developed new cancers. 

Physicians Advised to Inform Chemotherapy Patients of Potential Heart Risks

The researchers conclude that while chemotherapy is effective in treating testicular cancer, patients need to be aware of the potential heart problems that may be associated. 

They add that men should be made aware of how they can minimize their risk of heart disease by maintaining a proper weight, managing appropriate cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and by not smoking. 

Stress Can Negatively Affect a Man’s Heart - Men Stressed at Work and Marriage Likely to Have Serious Heart Problems

The combination of stress at home and on the job can lead to fatal heart problems, indicates a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  

More than 10,000 married men, who showed no signs of heart disease at the study’s initial stages, were involved in the nine-year study focusing on life stressors and their effect on mortality. 

For the study, the men were asked, during their annual health examinations, a number of questions regarding their life’s events. The questions revolved around life experiences and the feelings associated with those events. 

The results found that the men suffering from marital problems or constant job tension were more likely to experience fatal heart problems. The study found a higher rate of deaths due to cardiovascular problems among the men who divorced during the nine-year study (with 663 men dying from cardiovascular disease), compared with 1,332 men dying from other causes. 

Among the men reporting job stress, 771 men died due to cardiovascular problems, while 1,505 died from other causes. 

The researchers also found marital stress and job-related stress directly connected. The men who reported that they were undergoing a separation or divorce also indicated higher levels of stress from their jobs. 

How Stress May Have an Impact on the Heart

The study’s authors conclude that there are a number of factors as to why stress from marriage and work may lead to fatal heart problems. Stress is known to increase blood pressure and hormone levels affecting the heart’s normal rhythm as well as platelet production. 

Stress also increases one’s susceptibility to infectious diseases making one more vulnerable to illnesses that could have an impact on the heart. In addition, the researchers say that stress plays a role in an individual’s lifestyle choices. Habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating, and poor sleeping patterns are known to have negative health consequences. 

Researchers Suggest Counseling for Managing Stress

In order to lower job stress and the potential for heart problems, researchers recommend counseling and job training in order to better manage work-related frustration and, if possible, avoid marital strife when tackling difficult work issues. 

Always consult your physician for more information.

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