Big-hearted
Men's arteries are bigger than women's, even after correcting for height and weight, according to Osterweil (2007) on MedPageToday.com. Osterweil cites two articles from this month's issue of the journal Circulation (Milicent et al,2007; Andersen & Pepine, 2007) which examine gender differences in women's recovery from acute myocardial infarction (heart attacks). Women die more often than men after heart attacks, but Osterweil feels these studies indicate that this is because "they are older and sicker when these events occur."
Although Osterweil points out that male-to-female transsexuals do have a reduction in their arterial size (presumably as a result of hormones), New et al (1997) found that vascular function was improved to be similar to cisgendered (non-transsexual) women's levels. Conversely Polderman et al (1993) found that endothelin (a vasoconstricting peptide) levels are similar in transsexual and cisgendered men, and in transsexual and cisgendered women. These results suggest that sex hormone levels may play a pivotal role in cardiac health.
There is some history of heart disease in my family, but honestly cancer is a bigger killer for us. Still, my doctors tend to watch me fairly carefully for signs of cardiac and vascular problems, because testosterone is known to be a risk factor for these issues. My cholesterol levels have gone up, as has my blood pressure, but still well within normal levels for a man of my age. Often it feels like my doctors expect me to stay within the healthy ranges for both sexes simultaneously, whether or not they intersect.
Although Osterweil points out that male-to-female transsexuals do have a reduction in their arterial size (presumably as a result of hormones), New et al (1997) found that vascular function was improved to be similar to cisgendered (non-transsexual) women's levels. Conversely Polderman et al (1993) found that endothelin (a vasoconstricting peptide) levels are similar in transsexual and cisgendered men, and in transsexual and cisgendered women. These results suggest that sex hormone levels may play a pivotal role in cardiac health.
There is some history of heart disease in my family, but honestly cancer is a bigger killer for us. Still, my doctors tend to watch me fairly carefully for signs of cardiac and vascular problems, because testosterone is known to be a risk factor for these issues. My cholesterol levels have gone up, as has my blood pressure, but still well within normal levels for a man of my age. Often it feels like my doctors expect me to stay within the healthy ranges for both sexes simultaneously, whether or not they intersect.