Healthy Aging Medical Centers in New Jersey caters to women that feel their health has fallen below optimal levels, and the clinic’s comprehensive Healthy Aging Female Program can help women to counteract the effects of aging and rise above the challenges of hormonal decline. Upon the initial consultation, women will discuss their health goals with the physician and explain their entire medical history. The doctor will review all of the patient’s blood work, diet and exercise habits, and potential treatment options. At the end of the first visit, the doctor will let patients know if they are candidates for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, the best diet for their bodies, and which supplements would be most beneficial to their health. The doctors at Healthy Aging Medical Centers can tailor programs to suit individual needs, and women can get the care that is specific to their individual health concerns.
One of the most important aspects of female health is hormonal balance, as all important hormones must be in alignment for women to experience complete physical and mental health. When hormones fall out of balance, Healthy Aging Medical Centers can help women to replenish deficient hormones using hormones that are bioidentical to the hormones produced in women’s bodies. These hormones maintain the exact chemical and molecular structure to human hormones, and for this reason, women can enjoy the benefits of these hormones without experiencing harmful side effects. They can also be used to replenish one of the most important hormones in the female body, which is Thyroid Hormone.
Thyroid hormone is essential to human life, and a person cannot live without healthy levels of thyroid hormone. It controls several aspects of metabolism, including the synthesis of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. This hormone helps women to absorb important vitamins and minerals, and it plays a role in muscle and nerve action. Cellular energy and heat or energy production both rely on the thyroid to be regulated and maintained at optimal levels. Production of thyroid hormone can be affected due to several factors, but most often aging is the culprit for thyroid imbalances. Other factors that can affect the production of thyroid hormone include stress, environmental factors, illnesses, medications, and other hormonal imbalances.
Aging Women & Thyroid Hormone
Imbalances within thyroid hormone are often missed because the symptoms can be relevant to several other issues. Often women in the pre-stages of menopause or during menopause have issues their thyroid function and cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. In women going through perimenopause, which is the phase that occurs three to seven years before menopause, women may begin to notice a series of symptoms and changes if their thyroid gland begins to stop functioning at optimal levels. Women with an underactive thyroid gland may notice that their periods become irregular and that their hair is shedding more than normal, and despite eating a healthy diet and exercising, they may notice that they are rapidly gaining weight and accumulating body fat for no apparent reason. Because the thyroid gland regulates many aspects of metabolism, weight gain is inevitable with low thyroid hormone production.
Low thyroid hormone production is most common in women going through menopause or women that are in their 50’s and 60’s. The reason that thyroid issues occur during this time is because the ovaries have thyroid receptors, and the thyroid has ovarian receptors, which is why deficient estrogen and progesterone can adversely affect the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone production. Low thyroid hormone levels can still cause issues of weight gain and thinning hair, and women may also feel the need to bundle up and wear more sweaters or jackets, even when it is warm outside. This is contrary to how most women feel during menopause, as hot flashes and night sweats are a common issue with menopausal women. Other women may have difficulty with regular bowel movements because low levels of thyroid hormone can lead to sluggish bowels and constipation. Balancing thyroid hormone with a bioidentical version can allow women to reduce hair loss, reduce their weight, regulate periods, balance body temperature, and improve bowel movements.
Metabolic Functions & Thyroid Hormone
Thyroid hormone controls numerous metabolic functions, and while it can damage health if these functions are slowed down, it can also cause problems if these metabolic functions are sped up. On the flip side of hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland, some women develop hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid gland. In hyperthyroidism, women may notice drastic weight loss and a gaunt appearance. Despite the fact that most women want to get rid of excess weight, a lower body weight can lead to muscle wasting and flabby, unhealthy appearance. Women may also notice a faster heart rate and heart palpitations; a heart rate that is too high can promote heart disease, which is the number one killer of women. Another side effect of an overactive thyroid gland may be increased bowel movements. Because thyroid hormone can speed up the nervous system and digestion, food may be pushed through the intestines too quickly for it to be absorbed properly, and this can lead to poor intestinal absorption, weight loss, thinning bones, and nutrient deficiencies. Other women may notice emotional side effects, such as increased anxiety, nervousness, and panic attacks.
Healthy Aging Medical Centers in New Jersey can help women to overcome the issues associated with thyroid disorders through the Healthy Aging Female Program. The physicians can offer women around the clock care in the form of emails, texts, and phone calls. Women can also have an unlimited amount of office visits during their first year of care, and the all inclusive program offers multiple therapies to help women optimize health and wellness, which may include hormone optimization, IV vitamin treatments, testing for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, amino acid and allergy testing, and oxidative stress testing. The clinic utilizes bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to balance thyroid hormone levels in order to help women avoid several debilitating symptoms that can greatly reduce the quality of life. The clinic’s specialized anti-aging programs have helped women to regain balance and recapture their lost vitality.