Hormone Help for Men

That’s right guys – it’s not just us ladies who get hormonal!

Male testosterone levels start to decline beginning in their 30's, and drop steadily at approximately 1% per year. Testosterone is not just important for libido, but is also essential for heart health, proper brain function, maintaining muscle tone and bone density, mood and more. Low testosterone levels are a symptom as well as the primary cause of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. But what about other hormones levels for men?

While evaluating and treating suboptimal or low testosterone levels is important, the function of other hormones should not be overlooked. Estradiol and progesterone levels also play an important role, and like testosterone their levels change with age. Male estradiol levels increase in older men because body composition shifts and higher levels of adipose tissue can convert testosterone into estradiol. Increasing estradiol levels often cause a rise in SHBG, a glycoprotein that binds to sex hormones, specifically testosterone and estradiol, but preferentially to testosterone. This amplifies a testosterone deficiency as more of the testosterone becomes bound, rendering less of it "free" or bioavailable to interact with target tissues.

Additionally, a recent Italian study found that estradiol levels are independently associated with metabolic syndrome. A group of 452 men ages 65-69 were evaluated for free and total estradiol levels and markers of metabolic syndrome. The data was adjusted to account for additional variables including smoking history, alcohol consumption, physical activity and BMI, however the results indicate a high estradiol level is an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome.

As estradiol levels are increasing, progesterone, like testosterone levels, are declining, establishing an estrogen dominant state. This imbalance influences prostate health as estrogen causes the prostate cells to grow in size and in number. Progesterone helps to balance this proliferation and is protective to the prostate. The risk of prostate cancer is growing and the incidence of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is remarkable. Approximately 80% of men over the age of 80report some hypertrophy of their prostate! The symptoms associated with BPH include urinary retention and urgency that can result in an increased likelihood of infection as well as disrupted sleep pattern.

Men are certainly not exempt to the stressors of life. In addition, adrenal dysfunction is likely a factor in their symptoms and the pathophysiology of endocrine imbalances so it is prudent to evaluate cortisol and DHEA levels. The best way to test for adrenal exhaustion and DHEA levels is through an ASI Stress Test, which I offer to my clients in my health coaching practice.

Shocked? Don’t be. I have a lot of men coming to me these days who are feeling out of sorts, overly emotional, and downright depressed, and it can almost always be linked to a hormonal imbalance.

The good news is that if you take a holistic approach to balancing your hormones, you can restore function to your endocrine system without harsh medications that only exacerbate the problem.

Hallelujah! Take that Big Pharma ;)

Wanna know more? Contact me for a FREE Strategy Session to discuss your healthy history and strategize ways to set you on the straight and narrow. E mail me at angela@wellnesswithangela.com to set it up.

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How To Know If You Are Suffering From Adrenal Exhaustion and What To Do About It

With the amount of stress we are under every day nowadays, it is highly likely you are suffering from adrenal exhaustion and do not even realize it. Conventional doctors fail to recognize this condition as anything more than secondary, but without healthy adrenal glands, your entire endocrine system will malfunction, resulting in a host of side effects that lead to longterm illness if left untreated or reversed.

Your body produces chemicals, also known as hormones,that are used to control certain functions, and the main system that controls these chemicals is the endocrine system. The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands. The major glands that make up the endocrine system are:

hypothalamus
pituitary gland
thyroid
parathyroids
adrenal glands
pineal body
reproductive glands (ovaries and testes)

The endocrine system influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. It is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, weight and metabolism, libido, and reproductive processes. Each gland works synergistically with the others, and when one is out of balance, it affects each of the other organs.

Your mind is unable to differentiate between real and perceived threats and if you experience stress ona regular basis, as most Americans do, it interprets an irate boss or traffic jam the same as needing to outrun a saber toothed tiger. Our adrenal glands, which are tiny walnut-shaped organs that sit on top of our kidneys and produce adrenaline and cortisol, are too small to keep up with the excess cortisol production our bodies produce in response to the stress we are experiencing in today’s society. This ultimately exhausts them and results in the condition known as adrenal exhaustion.

Our bodies react to adrenal exhaustion, or adrenal fatigue, in the form of allergies, lowered immune systems, acne, excess weight around our midriffs, psoriasis, anxiety, depression, irritability, dizziness, dry skin, insomnia, excess fatigue, salt or sweet cravings, poor digestion, difficulty concentrating, extreme sensitivity to cold, amongst others.

There are 7 stages to adrenal exhaustion.

0 Healthy Adrenal Function
1 Atypical Adrenal Response
2 HPA Axis Dysfunction
3 Acute Fight or Flight
4 Early Adrenal Fatigue
5 Evolving Adrenal Fatigue
6 Established Adrenal Fatigue

If a woman experiences a stressful pregnancy and exhausts her adrenal glands, she will then feed off the baby’s. Therefore, it is possible you were born with adrenal exhaustion. If you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning but have energy until late night, your circadian rhythm is working opposite of how it is supposed to which is a clear sign of this condition. And, as you move through life, you may transition into the various stages of adrenal exhaustion, and ultimately wind up in the last stage.

In order to heal them, it is imperative to first eliminate the source of stress, then work to balance your hormones, optimize your digestion, and support your adrenal glands through supplementation. This process could take anywhere from 6 months to a year. It requires patience, consistency, and tenacity.

To learn more about how to heal your adrenal glands, consider working with a qualified holistic practitioner.

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