The majority of my Anti-Aging patients are male but the reverse is true when it comes to Hormone Replacement. Its an observation that I find interesting, why the difference? I'm not sure.
This month I am going to focus on issues affecting Anti-Aging specifically and many of them are more male directed intentionally because I think that sometimes women's issues are overrepresented.
What is Growth Hormone exactly and why is it so popular? Growth Hormone is naturally secreted by the pituitary it affects almost every organ in the body, it is a master controller of metabolism and muscle tone.
In my opinion, Growth Hormone is a misnomer,oftened referred to as HGH (Human Growth Hormone) it was originally named because children without it didnt grow. In adults once the growth plates are closed there is no opportunity for getting taller no matter how much growth hormone a person takes.
The name gives the impresion of a substance that can cause strange things to grow like horns and cancer, it actually does not. It is in fact HGH a reparative hormone which helps the body repair damage and heal faster.
I recently had a patient whose company sent him to a leading hospital annually for an 'executive' physical. This, and the fact that he had formerly been a triathlete led him to believe that he was very healthy. After he had some arthroscopic surgery last year he became very frustrated because he could not get back to his prior level of fitness. A friend told him he needed to find an Anti-aging physician and he found me. I ran a series of tests on the patient and started him on therapy. We optimized his vitamin, and supplement levels in addition to short course of HGH.
At his 3 month follow up visit, the patient told me he was 'back to 100%'. It took less than 90 days to get him back in condition, something physical therapy and working out had not been able to achieve.
I had another patient who was 35, also an athlete and when he was offered his 5th knee surgery decided there had to be another way.
The first patient asked me an interesting question, one in fact that I couldnt answer: "Why doesnt every patient who is getting surgery get treated like this from the get go?"
I have no idea, but it seems to make sense. Why should this be 'the medicine of the future' when we have the information to help people now? Why dont more orthopedic doctors refer their patients to get 'tuned up' before undergoing the knife?
I put all the patients who come to me for a 'pre-operative' physical on a healing regimen, afterall, surgery is just self-inflicted trauma. We can anticipate the damage that will be caused and limit it.
(For more information on Growth Hormone please see my website).
Another interesting point that this case brings up is: Do you really want your preventive medical care managed in a place that is totally focused on disease? It is fine to go to the country's best hospital for 'Treatment' but the goal of Preventive Maintenance is different. Be clear about exactly what you want from your 'routine' physical exams and what your doctor's focus is. Primary prevention is the art of preventing something before it occurs, secondary prevention (for example a mammogram) is detecting a disease early enough to do something about it and then there is the third option: fixing a problem that is already entrenched.
You choose what works best for you.
Showing posts with label Growth Hormone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Growth Hormone. Show all posts
Monday, July 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
More stuff on men
There are a host of complaints that men have that can be indicative of hormone deficiencies or Andropause. These complaints often include weight gain, and a lack of stamina.
For many men aged 35 to 50 the major concern is loss of lean body mass (muscle) around the middle and decreased libido. On occasion there may also be depression, sleep disturbances and loss of vitality.
I think the biggest surprise is how early men begin to manifest signs of hormone imbalance and deficiency. One often associates women with menopause starting in the late 40's not realizing that men can start a decade earlier.
The difference with men is that the changes are not as dramatic as Menopause and so men tolerate them better and gradually get acclimatized to feeling less than optimal.
What to do?
Well, first figure out your baseline in your early 30's.
Did you know that the average testosterone level in men is much lower than it was 50 years ago? Scientist's dont know why this is the case. It may have something to do with the food supply, fertilizers, hormones in meat etc.
Secondly , get a saliva test to check both your hormone levels in the tissues and the balance between them, this would include your sex hormones as well as the adrenal and thyroid hormones.
With this information your Growth Hormone level and the blood chemistry profiles you will be able to evaluate your risk factors for morbidity and mortality.
Many studies have shown a direct link between a man's testosterone level and his risk of early death from all causes including cancers.
We always knew testosterone was important for a man's well being and now we have proof!
Keep your hormone levels optimal, one of the best ways to:
Add years to your life and life to your years!
(Come in and get your levels checked, it could save your life)
For many men aged 35 to 50 the major concern is loss of lean body mass (muscle) around the middle and decreased libido. On occasion there may also be depression, sleep disturbances and loss of vitality.
I think the biggest surprise is how early men begin to manifest signs of hormone imbalance and deficiency. One often associates women with menopause starting in the late 40's not realizing that men can start a decade earlier.
The difference with men is that the changes are not as dramatic as Menopause and so men tolerate them better and gradually get acclimatized to feeling less than optimal.
What to do?
Well, first figure out your baseline in your early 30's.
Did you know that the average testosterone level in men is much lower than it was 50 years ago? Scientist's dont know why this is the case. It may have something to do with the food supply, fertilizers, hormones in meat etc.
Secondly , get a saliva test to check both your hormone levels in the tissues and the balance between them, this would include your sex hormones as well as the adrenal and thyroid hormones.
With this information your Growth Hormone level and the blood chemistry profiles you will be able to evaluate your risk factors for morbidity and mortality.
Many studies have shown a direct link between a man's testosterone level and his risk of early death from all causes including cancers.
We always knew testosterone was important for a man's well being and now we have proof!
Keep your hormone levels optimal, one of the best ways to:
Add years to your life and life to your years!
(Come in and get your levels checked, it could save your life)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Its about Men too!
Many people are guilty of focusing a lot of the attention of hormone replacement on women and as a result men tend to come up as an after thought. I think one of the reasons for this is that the vast majority of patients we see are women.
Women have no problem seeking help once they realize it is available and they need it. Men on the other hand, are reluctant to seek care. They often need to be dragged in by a partner or a well meaning friend.
Surprisingly enough however, men need hormone replacement and anti-aging just as much if not more than women do. How so?
Well for starters women can be acutely aware when their hormones are not balanced and of course for many, the signs of Menopause are inescapable.
In men Andropause tends to be more subtle and the changes from insufficient hormones more insiduous but no less destructive. I have had patients who have tolerated impotence and loss of muscle strength and weight gain until the sudden arrival of Diabetes wakes them up to their predicament.
Men need hormone replacement, detoxification, vitamin supplementation and tune ups regularly and prevention is better than cure. There is so much science available now, NO ONE should settle for feeling less than optimal.
I realise that I too have been guilty of blogging mostly about women's issues, but now I will write a fair amount about men as well.
It is extremely gratifying when a man who was very skeptical at first returns with a big smile and firm handshake and says "Thank You" !
There is also a role of Hormone Replacement for men who are already diagnosed with a disease state.
GS is an 85 year old male. He has been coming to see me for a long time, I remember when I first met him he was frail and didnt breathe very well because of long standing emphysema. The doctors had not given him a happy prognosis and advised him that he would not be able to be independent or live without oxygen for long. This was seven years ago.
Fortunately, for both of us he is a fighter and we both had the same goals i.e make the time left functional and as disability free as possible. In other words, make the best of whatever lung tissue he had.
G stopped smoking and literally took control of his health, he changed his diet, took supplements and had a wonderfully positive atitude. He did really well and with good preventive care we kept him 'healthy'. I told him to keep his pulmonology follow ups and hadnt heard from him for a few months, I assumed all was well.
Late last year he called my office and told my staff he could not walk across a room without becoming extremely breathless and as a result he could not even make it in to my office. He had been given a slew of pharmaceutical agents and oxygen and was becoming weaker by the day. He asked if them to find out from me if I had any suggestions. That was a little challenging without seeing him but I suggested some supplements and medicine adjustments and hoped for the best.
Sure enough he became strong enough to come to the office and we now have him on Hormone Supplements as well, he looks and feels great. We are ready for another seven years!
there are several points to this story:
1, Don't wait until you are on your last leg
2, Men can be significantly helped by an anti-aging program
3, Even if you are frail from disease that is irreversible, you may be able to regain enough of your strength to improve the quality of your life.
4, Its never to late to take control of your health!
Have a great week, add years to your life and life to your years.
Its your health enjoy it!
Dr Tuakli
Women have no problem seeking help once they realize it is available and they need it. Men on the other hand, are reluctant to seek care. They often need to be dragged in by a partner or a well meaning friend.
Surprisingly enough however, men need hormone replacement and anti-aging just as much if not more than women do. How so?
Well for starters women can be acutely aware when their hormones are not balanced and of course for many, the signs of Menopause are inescapable.
In men Andropause tends to be more subtle and the changes from insufficient hormones more insiduous but no less destructive. I have had patients who have tolerated impotence and loss of muscle strength and weight gain until the sudden arrival of Diabetes wakes them up to their predicament.
Men need hormone replacement, detoxification, vitamin supplementation and tune ups regularly and prevention is better than cure. There is so much science available now, NO ONE should settle for feeling less than optimal.
I realise that I too have been guilty of blogging mostly about women's issues, but now I will write a fair amount about men as well.
It is extremely gratifying when a man who was very skeptical at first returns with a big smile and firm handshake and says "Thank You" !
There is also a role of Hormone Replacement for men who are already diagnosed with a disease state.
GS is an 85 year old male. He has been coming to see me for a long time, I remember when I first met him he was frail and didnt breathe very well because of long standing emphysema. The doctors had not given him a happy prognosis and advised him that he would not be able to be independent or live without oxygen for long. This was seven years ago.
Fortunately, for both of us he is a fighter and we both had the same goals i.e make the time left functional and as disability free as possible. In other words, make the best of whatever lung tissue he had.
G stopped smoking and literally took control of his health, he changed his diet, took supplements and had a wonderfully positive atitude. He did really well and with good preventive care we kept him 'healthy'. I told him to keep his pulmonology follow ups and hadnt heard from him for a few months, I assumed all was well.
Late last year he called my office and told my staff he could not walk across a room without becoming extremely breathless and as a result he could not even make it in to my office. He had been given a slew of pharmaceutical agents and oxygen and was becoming weaker by the day. He asked if them to find out from me if I had any suggestions. That was a little challenging without seeing him but I suggested some supplements and medicine adjustments and hoped for the best.
Sure enough he became strong enough to come to the office and we now have him on Hormone Supplements as well, he looks and feels great. We are ready for another seven years!
there are several points to this story:
1, Don't wait until you are on your last leg
2, Men can be significantly helped by an anti-aging program
3, Even if you are frail from disease that is irreversible, you may be able to regain enough of your strength to improve the quality of your life.
4, Its never to late to take control of your health!
Have a great week, add years to your life and life to your years.
Its your health enjoy it!
Dr Tuakli
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