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The good news is
that we are retiring earlier and living longer. Life expectancy for the
average person has increased dramatically over the last several decades. At
birth, life expectancy for the average female is 79 years, and for the
average male is 72 years. Once reaching age 65, we can expect to live to 84
and 80 years, respectively, and if we make it to 75, the numbers increase to
87 and 85 years.
However, with living longer there are the serious issues of
aging we must face. For one thing, our bodies aren’t what they used to be.
There is a drop-off in our physical endurance with each succeeding decade of
life. That 30-minute workout now takes 45 minutes. Our knees have shortened
that 5K run to 3K. We don’t sleep as well as we once did. These are some of
the changes that we notice.
But, there are changes taking place inside our bodies
that we can’t see. At the cellular level, our hormone production begins to
decline as we approach middle age. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, we begin to
see the effects of this hormonal shift. We start to notice things like
decreased energy, mood swings, memory trouble, decrease in sexual energy and
desire, thinning hair, weight gain, and the list goes on.
In response to our concerns about how we age, the medical
community has focused its attention on the link between the age-dependent
decline of certain hormones and the quality of life we enjoy. Experts in
anti-aging medicine believe that hormone supplementation
significantly decreases the risk of many age-related diseases, therefore
helping not only to extend our life, but also enhancing its quality.
Hormones play a critical role in our health and vitality. One
of the best examples of this role is the diminishing levels of ovarian
steroids at menopause which can lead not only to immediate symptoms such as
hot flashes, but also to long term deleterious health effects such as
osteoporosis and accelerated cardiovascular disease. More recently, it has
been recognized that with age, men have decreasing amounts of testosterone
and DHEA (important androgens) which may be associated with some of the
debilitation that accompanies male aging. In response to increasing demands
from an aging population and a great deal of scientific information,
healthcare providers are recommending hormonal supplementation to help
maintain vitality and quality of life.
The first step in anti-aging medicine: Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT)
When it comes to hormone replacement dosages, one size does not fit
all. The way each person responds to replacement hormones is unique. What
works well for one may be too much or too little for another. If a decision
to begin HRT is made, a saliva hormone test can be an important guide for
determining how much hormone should be taken. Testing can indicate
physiologic benefit. For example, if a healthcare provider has prescribed a
particular estrogen preparation and dosage, it is important to know whether
the dose is correct. Too little estrogen will not address short term
symptoms or give long term protection. Excessive estrogen supplementation
can lead to recurrent vaginal yeast infection and/or bleeding, breast
tenderness, headaches, thinning hair, weight gain and depression.
Return to Hormonal Testing
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