By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer

Published: 07/31/2013 09:19 AM EDT on LiveScience


Men with large testicles may be at increased risk of heart disease, and a new study from Italy suggests why.


The study measured the testicle size of more than 2,800 Italian men who sought care for sexual dysfunction[1] , and were followed for about seven years afterward.


Unexpectedly, the researchers found a link between risk factors for heart disease -- such as obesity, smoking and high blood pressure -- and larger testicles.


Having larger testicles was also linked with a slightly increased risk of being hospitalized for heart disease[2] , which could be due to the risk profile of men with larger testes, the researchers said.


The researchers also found a link between high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) -- which is secreted by the pituitary gland, and stimulates production of testosterone -- and an increased risk of heart disease. This link held even after the researchers took into account risk factors for heart disease.


It's possible that high LH levels may have a direct, harmful effect on the cardiovascular system[3] , or that another factor not considered in this study is responsible for both high LH levels and heart disease, the researchers said.



Previously, larger testicles were considered a sign of good reproductive health, so it was surprising to find a link between large testicles and poor health, the researchers said.


"Although it is generally assumed that testis size can predict reproductive fitness, our results indicate that this objective parameter can provide insights also on overall health and [cardiovascular disease] risk," the researchers wrote in the July 11 issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.


As for the reason that larger testicles may be linked heart disease, the researchers pointed to the fact that men with health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, are known to have lower testosterone levels[4] . The researchers speculated that, in such men, the body may try to compensate for low testosterone levels by secreting higher levels of pituitary hormones, which in turn could lead to an increase in testicle size.


However, other experts called his hypothesis a stretch.


Although men with low testosterone might have an increase in the production of pituitary hormones, the notion "that then the testicle gets pushed by the pituitary, and gets bigger than normal -- I doubt that's true," said Dr. Andrew Kramer, a urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center.


"I suspect testicular size isn't any bigger, but maybe smaller than their healthy counterparts," Kramer said.


Kramer agreed that high LH levels are a sign of poor health, and could be linked to heart problems. But he said he would have expected low LH levels to be linked with bigger testicles, and high LH to be linked with smaller testicles. "I think there isn't a relationship that makes sense here," Kramer said.


Because the study was conducted on men with sexual dysfunction, the results may not apply to the general population, the researchers said.


Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner [5] . Follow LiveScience @livescience [6] , Facebook [7] & Google+ [8] . Original article on LiveScience.com[9] .



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    While not entirely surprising, it doesn't make the message any less important: <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/smo/" target="_hplink">Smoking kills</a>. The habit is considered the No. 1 cause of preventable death and sickness in the U.S.

    Specifically, <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/smo/" target="_hplink">smoking cigarettes harms the heart</a> in that it damages heart and blood vessel function, thereby upping the risk of atherosclerosis (where your arteries harden), according to the National Institutes of Health.




  • 2. Being Physically Active


    Aerobic exercise is good for the heart in that it makes you take in more oxygen, helps you <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aerobic-exercise/EP00002/NSECTIONGROUP=2" target="_hplink">keep to a healthy weight</a>, reduces plaque buildup in the arteries and helps to lower blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults are recommended to get at least <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html" target="_hplink">150 minutes of aerobic exercise</a> a week (moderate to intense level), and also do muscle-strengthening at least twice a week.




  • 3. Maintaining Normal Blood Pressure Levels


    <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/bp/bp.htm" target="_hplink">Blood pressure measurements</a> are written in terms of systolic over diastolic. Systolic pressure is "as the heart beats," according to the National Institutes of Health, while diastolic pressure is the relaxation of the heart between heartbeats.

    A person with a normal blood pressure level has a systolic blood pressure reading of 120 millimeters of mercury or less, and a diastolic blood pressure reading of 80 millimeters of mercury or less.

    A person is <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/detect/categ.htm" target="_hplink">considered hypertensive</a> (has high blood pressure) when the systolic blood pressure is between 140 and 159, and the diastolic blood pressure is between 90 and 99.




  • 4. Maintaining Normal Blood Glucose Levels


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    Tests to check for high blood glucose can help show whether a person has diabetes, and are used to <a href="http://diabetes.webmd.com/blood-glucose" target="_hplink">monitor someone with diabetes</a> over time, WebMD reported.




  • 5. Maintaining Normal Total Cholesterol Levels


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    The <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm" target="_hplink">optimum total cholesterol level</a> is 200 or fewer milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood, while having a total cholesterol level of 200 to 239 milligrams per deciliter is considered borderline high. High total cholesterol is having 240 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood, or more, according to the National Institutes of Health.




  • 6. Having A Healthy Weight


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    <a href="http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/" target="_hplink">Click here to calculate your BMI</a>.

    <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.html" target="_hplink">Waist circumference</a> can also give clues to your weight; a man may be at risk for health problems from obesity if his waist circumference is more than 40 inches, the CDC reported. For a non-pregnant woman, it's more than 35 inches.




  • 7. Eating A Healthy Diet


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    For more nutrition advice, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/NU00200" target="_hplink">click over to the Mayo Clinic</a>.




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