An Overview of Testosterone and the Cardiovascular System

Introduction Testosterone and the cardiovascular system are the effects that the male hormone testosterone has on the cardiovascular system. The predominant androgen in men, testosterone, has shown to substantially decline throughout the ageing process. The decline in both serum and total testosterone with age have been linked to several disease states in men. In particular,… Read More

What is ‘Coronary Steal’?

Introduction Coronary steal (with its symptoms termed coronary steal syndrome or cardiac steal syndrome) is a phenomenon where an alteration of circulation patterns leads to a reduction in the blood flow directed to the coronary circulation. It is caused when there is narrowing of the coronary arteries and a coronary vasodilator is used – “stealing”… Read More

An Overview of Therapeutic Use Exemption

Introduction A therapeutic use exemption (TUE), also known as a temporary use exemption, is a term created in 1991 and refers to an official medical document. The document gives an athlete permission to take a medication listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List, normally prohibited because its use would be considered a performance… Read More

An Overview of the Cardiac Stress Test

Introduction A cardiac stress test is a cardiological examination that evaluates the cardiovascular system’s response to external stress within a controlled clinical setting. This stress response can be induced through physical exercise (usually a treadmill) or intravenous pharmacological stimulation of heart rate. As the heart works progressively harder (stressed) it is monitored using an electrocardiogram… Read More

An Overview of Growth Hormone in Sports

Introduction Growth hormones in sports refers to the use of growth hormones (GH or HGH) for athletic enhancement, as opposed to growth hormone treatment for medical therapy. Human Growth Hormone is a prescription medication in the US, meaning that its distribution and use without a prescription is illegal. There is limited evidence that GH doping… Read More