Health and Wellness as You Age

Each part of your body – from your brain to your skin, your heart, your kidneys, and your muscles – has a specific job. They take direction from your endocrine system to get the work done. The glands of the endocrine system send out hormones that tell each part of your body what work to do, when to do it, and for how long. Hormones are vital to your health and well-being. Upset any part of the delicate balance, especially the production of endocrine hormones, and, like a chain reaction, you disrupt the entire system.
As life would have it, the arrival of middle age begins this process of physical disruption and imbalance. That’s when hormone production declines in women and men alike. By the time a woman reaches her early 50s, she completely stops making her most important estrogen—estradiol. At the same time, her progesterone and testosterone levels all but disappear. Diminished testosterone production in middle-aged men can actually cause them to become estrogen dominant at this stage of their lives.
Beyond creating sexual performance issues, a long list of other distressing symptoms often accompanies midlife hormone deficiency. Unwanted weight gain, loss of sexual desire, fatigue, depression, increased anxiety and irritability, hot flashes, night sweats and migraines are just a few of the signs of a body out of sync. It’s also a time when relationships falter and physicians too often prescribe counseling and anti-depressants instead of hormone replacement.
Perhaps the most alarming outcome of hormone deficiency, however, is the growing vulnerability to aging-related diseases. Abundant research continues to link low levels of key hormones with increased risk of diseases like osteoporosis, prostate and breast cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and others.

Healthy Hormone Levels Are Vital to Good Health

Healthy hormone levels are associated with optimum brain function, emotional and physical well-being, cardiovascular and bone health, breast and prostate health, cell growth regulation, beneficial blood sugar levels, better sexual function and satisfaction, and more.

Properly restoring testosterone and estrogen (specifically estradiol) to the levels of younger years replenishes your body and gives it what it needs. Hundreds of body functions depend on the presence of these key hormones in order to work properly. This is true whether you’re male or female, 19 or 91. Your need for hormonal balance never goes away.

Using Pellet Implants Could Be Your Passport to Healthier Aging

Did you know that bioidentical pellet therapy can help keep you on the road to more vibrant aging? When you combine appropriately administered pellet implant BHRT with a healthful diet, regular exercise and other aspects of a beneficial lifestyle, you will reap the rewards thousand fold.

Why pellets? Many people don’t realize that bioidentical pellets have been prescribed and researched since the 1930s. Abundant medical literature in respected international journals supports pellet implants as the safest and most effective hormone delivery system available. Pellet doses can be individualized and will go to work for you around the clock for 3-4 months.

Additionally, pellet therapy is more convenient and cost effective than other HRT methods. Pills, patches, injections, creams and gels all come with a long list of downsides. Hormonal balance can be difficult or impossible to achieve with these. And besides the mess, the expense and the bothersome repeat dosages, why take a chance on the side effects and serious health risks of synthetic hormone treatments?

Be proactive. Have your hormone levels tested before symptoms and health issues get out of hand. Find a specialist, preferably someone with expertise in bioidentical pellet implants. The key to your well-being has everything to do with the type and quality of the hormones you’re taking, the method being used, and the skill and knowledge of your practitioner.

 

Meta-analysis concludes beneficial effect for testosterone replacement on body composition, glucose

Life Extension Update
Tuesday, June 21, 2016

The March 2016 issue of the European Journal of Endocrinology published a meta-analysis of randomized trials and observational studies that affirmed an association between testosterone supplementation and improvement in body composition, glucose levels and insulin resistance.

For their analysis, Italian researchers identified 59 randomized controlled trials and observational studies that provided information on varying aspects of body composition in 3,029 men receiving testosterone and 2,049 control subjects. Not surprisingly, use of any testosterone preparation was associated with higher testosterone levels. Supplementing with testosterone was associated with a significant reduction in fat mass and an increase in lean body mass. Fasting blood glucose was lower among men using testosterone, particularly among younger men and subjects with metabolic disease. Insulin resistance was also reduced in men who supplemented with testosterone compared with those who did not use the hormone.

When the analysis was limited to placebo-controlled trials that enrolled men with low testosterone levels, testosterone supplementation was found to be associated with lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

“In men, visceral obesity is the main cause of age-related late-onset hypogonadism and weight loss is the first avenue of its treatment,” note authors Giovanni Corona and colleagues. “On the other hand, hypogonadism is associated with a substantial increase in fat accumulation, in particular in the visceral stores . . . The antiobesity activity of testosterone supplementation in hypogonadal men may be effective because, on one hand, it reduces abdominal fat accumulation and, on the other, it improves muscle mass and strength, facilitating adherence to exercise regimens designed to combat obesity.”

“Our data suggest that testosterone supplementation is able to improve body composition and glycometabolic profile particularly in younger subjects and in those with metabolic disturbances,” they conclude. “Specifically designed studies are urgently needed to confirm this point.”2016_man_720_02

Fitness & Exercise Middle-Age Fitness Helps Ward Off Stroke Later

Study finds this one thing reduces risk by 37 percent

By Steven Reinberg

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physical fitness in middle age may lower your risk of stroke after 65, a new study finds.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that healthy mid-life behaviors pay off as we age, and lower our risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke,” said Dr. Ralph Sacco, chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He was not involved in the study.

Among nearly 20,000 adults in their mid to late 40s, researchers found the most fit had a 37 percent lower risk of having a stroke after 65, compared with the least fit.

The protective effect of fitness remained even after the researchers accounted for risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation.

“Incorporating exercise and regular physical activity in one’s day-to-day routine is important to improve fitness and lower risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in older age,” said lead researcher Dr. Ambarish Pandey. He is a cardiology fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.

Pandey said an exercise routine should include aerobic exercise (such as jogging, swimming, walking or biking), plus strengthening exercise (such as free weights or strength-training machines).

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability, Pandey noted.

Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, cutting off blood and oxygen. This causes brain cells to die and can leave permanent disability.

Pandey speculated that exercise might help prevent stroke by keeping blood vessels healthier and lowering inflammation that can affect their function.

The findings suggest doctors should consider low fitness levels a risk factor for stroke, the study authors said.

While lifelong fitness is best for optimum health, starting later in life is still beneficial. “It’s never too late to exercise to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke,” Pandey said.

The report was published online June 9 in the journal Stroke.

Pandey and colleagues analyzed 1999-2009 data from a study conducted by the Cooper Institute in Dallas. It used treadmill tests to measure heart and lung exercise capacity when participants were 45 to 50.

The most interesting finding in this study, Sacco said, was that the effect of fitness was independent of some traditional risk factors. “Diet was not evaluated and can also be linked to health fitness lifestyles,” Sacco said.

Sacco agreed it’s never too late to start getting fit to reap health benefits.

“Other studies have shown that physical activity, even among older individuals, can also lower stroke risk and be associated with less silent stroke and mental decline,” Sacco said. “However, among older adults it is important to check with your physician before you start more vigorous physical activity.”hormonereplacementherapy

How Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Beneficial to Men?

When people think of hormone balance and replacement therapy, women usually come to mind. However, this is also extremely important for men.

Testosterone levels greatly affect a man’s overall well-being and health. With age, men naturally experience a decline in their testosterone levels. This is known to cause andropause, easily explained as the male version of menopause.

Loss of testosterone can have several side effects including:

  • Poor sexual performance
  • Potential for osteoporosis
  • Depression and/or anxiety
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • and more

In order to restore this hormonal imbalance, men have several options. SottoPelle® offers a science-based hormone replacement therapy that is designed specifically for andropause. After the age of 30, men have especially found this beneficial to their lifestyle.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Beneficial to Men

For instance, our hormone replacement therapy provides a natural solution for decreased testosterone levels. With SottoPelle®, men are able to gain back their sexual desire and drive. This restored testosterone encourages optimal sexual performance.

Men also experience more energy which complements other aspects of their lives as well. To illustrate, they have more tolerance when it comes to exercise, gain muscle mass easier, and consequently see a decrease in body fat. Without this hormone increase, men continue to battle against a lack of manufactured testosterone that actually encourages weight gain.

Finally, hormone replacement therapy improves a man’s mental health. Not only does it offer physical benefits, but it helps clear the mind as well. SottoPelle® provides clarity that strengthens the mind and increases memory in men. It also helps individuals cope with depression and anxiety so that they experience more consistent moods.

Overall, hormone replacement therapy is essential for men who want to experience optimal physical and mental well-being throughout their entire lives. Despite the natural decline in testosterone that comes with age, SottoPelle® offers a solution. Men now have the option to increase their hormone levels and revitalize their bodies with age.testosterone-750x422

Have You Had Your Thyroid Checked Lately?

have-your-thyroid-checked

Most men and women know something about aging-related estrogen and testosterone deficiencies, but what about thyroid hormones? The thyroid is also an important part of your endocrine system. In fact, it plays a central role in your health. Its control over metabolism affects nearly every cell and organ in the body. The thyroid also regulates body temperature, growth, muscle strength, appetite, and the health of your heart, brain, kidneys and reproductive system.

As you get older, thyroid function begins to slow down. Unfortunately, under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) is difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are often vague and develop so slowly that many people don’t even know they have it. It was estimated in 2009 that nearly 4.6 percent of our populace aged 12 and up has hypothyroidism. According the American Thyroid Association, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. Women are statistically more likely than men to develop hypothyroid and it’s also more widespread in people over age 60.

Indications That You Should Have Your Thyroid Checked

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
• Low energy
• Fatigue or exhaustion, even after a full night’s sleep
• Cold and heat intolerance
• Decreased sweating
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Dry, thinning hair
• Depression
• Slowed heart rate

Other signs of hypothyroidism may include:
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Digestive problems
• Constipation
• Circulatory problems
• Anemia
• Allergies
• Frequent infections
• Sleep disturbances
• Muscle weakness
• Acne
• Eczema
• Infertility
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Memory loss
• Difficulty losing weight
• Fuzzy brain
• Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness
• Low libido

You may have several of these or even none at all. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor and have your thyroid checked. Since these symptoms can also be related to other health problems, it’s imperative to have a thorough health check to determine what’s going on. You’ll need comprehensive blood tests, including thyroid and other endocrine hormone panels. If you’re over 50, you may find your doctor writing off your complaints as a part of “normal aging.” Find another physician who will take your situation seriously.