The transition for men from being young, vital and virile to entering into the more mature stages of life has been endured by men for thousands of years. Most men seem resigned to living with the discomfort of aging and the symptoms that accompany this transition. It is generally accepted that this is the plight of all men. But with the help of Dr. Johanan Rand men can now easily make the transition through the aging process more comfortable and enjoyable. As Michael Pritchard says, “You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing”.
At Healthy Aging Medical Center in New Jersey, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy specialist, Dr. Johanan Rand strives to return health and vitality to men who are suffering from age related hormonal decline. For decades treating women with hormonal supplements has long been a medical standard but until recently men who suffered from andropause, or male menopause, had few, if any, options for treatment. Healthy Aging Medical Center has worked tirelessly to change the aging experience for all men and they have successfully treated countless men who are suffering from hormonal decline and all of the symptoms that are commonly associated with this stage in a man’s life.
Dr. Rand wants all men to realize that there are treatment plans available to help in this transition. Men have seen outstanding results when being treated with male bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. By returning male hormonal balances to the level s that are in the normal ranges for men can help to make men feel more vital, energetic and can help to heighten sexual libido. The mainstream medical community is willing to offer synthetic hormones to women to help fight the symptoms that declining hormones bring with it. However, until just recently, men were offered no options for the impact that their declining hormones had on their health and their quality of life. Dr. Johanan Rand now makes that option readily available to men.
Hormones are used by the body to regulate critical activities, including digestion, growth, energy supply, and reproduction. They also help to regulate appetite, mood, and libido. Unfortunately, when hormonal imbalances occur, it can lead to a chain reaction of health problems. Restoring the hormonal balance within the body can improve the body’s overall function and restore health. Bioidentical Hormones are designed to chemically and biologically match the hormones in the human body. Instead of using synthetic or animal hormones, which do not exist naturally in humans, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy uses hormones that are an exact chemical match to the hormones already found in your body. For over 80 years, Bioidentical Hormones have been used successfully, and these hormones are used today to treat many medical conditions.
Dr. Rand has a warm and generous relationship with all the gentlemen that he treats at his clinic. He is a real ‘man’s man’ and he, himself, utilizes the treatment options that he makes available to his male patients. He doesn’t just ‘talk the talk’ he also ‘walks the walk’ as, just like all the rest of us, he wants to experience optimal health throughout the aging process.
At 50 years old, Dr. Rand is a role model for his patients. He is a health and fitness expert and is currently working on his own book entitled, “It’s Not Too Late To Live Past 100”. He is passionate in his quest to present the “evidence based support” for bioidentical hormones. He uses current studies and trials in the field to support his treatments and feels strongly about having this type of clinical evidence before prescribing a treatment plan for his patients.
This helps him to implement only the safest and most effective methods for the patient. He is a firm believer in treating the individual patient and their individual symptoms and has never adhered to the “one pill fits all” and the “treat the symptoms” approach to medicine. He collaborates with each patient to develop a rapport and to discuss the symptoms and lifestyle choices of each patient individually. He realizes that every patient is different and that each patient needs to be prescribed a treatment plan that works best for their specific needs.
Dr. Rand is a strong advocate for healthy aging. He feels that we all should have the option to go through life feeling our very best so that we can offer our very best back to the world. Feeling great, regardless of one’s age, often manifests in the everyday interaction with the individual and his world. When one feels great it is much easier to have a positive and engaged outlook on life and when this is the case it often generates a more positive and productive contribution to all of those around us.
If you would like to feel your very best so that you have your very best to offer those around you now is the time to be proactive and to take that first step by contacting Dr. Rand for a consultation.
What is Andropause?
Andropause is the decrease in serum testosterone in men with the resulting symptoms that can occur. Testosterone decreases by approximately 1% per year after the age of 30.
Hormone replacement therapy in women has long been the gold standard of care for the treatment of menopausal symptoms resulting from estrogen deficiency. It has become increasingly widely recognized that hormone deficiency in aging men can also affect their quality of life. Unlike female menopause, however, the male counterpart is a slowly progressive condition.
This stage of life is commonly referred to as andropause. Fortunately for men, this decline in hormone levels is not as drastic or sudden as what is experienced by women during menopause. As the levels of testosterone gradually start to decline men may notice small changes in their energy level, their stamina, their short term memory, and their sexual function. Many of these symptoms are usually overlooked by most men as a natural part of aging. It is usually not until major symptoms or conditions present themselves that men begin to consider looking for a way to feel normal again.
Some of the physiological changes that can occur with androgen deficiency in the aging male can include decreased lean body mass and increased fat, decrease in bone mineral density, decreased body hair and skin thickness, reduction in muscle mass and strength, diminished libido and sexual activity, reduced energy, irritability and depression, impaired sleep quality and deterioration in cognitive function.
There have been a number of studies done in which testosterone has been administered to older men. The testosterone replacement achieved was in the low normal range. Most studies demonstrated beneficial effects of testosterone replacement. In this population there was an increase in lean body mass which is also associated with a decrease in fat mass. The bone mineral density was improved. There were increases in both muscle strength and sexual function and improved generalized feelings of well-being, and improved cognitive function.
Weight Gain
As men age, testosterone levels begin to decline and estrogen dominance develops due to the loss of testosterone which often results in a loss of lean muscle and a drop in energy levels. This combination often results in weight gain. Restoring deficient testosterone levels with Natural Hormone Replacement can help keep men’s bodies performing at optimal levels and prevent hormone related weight gain with age.
Depression
Characterized as feelings of severe despondency and dejection. Men experiencing age related hormone decline often have never experienced feelings of depression before, yet with a changing body, reduced energy levels, and other physiologic changes occurring, many middle aged men begin to lose hope. Frustration with body image, sexual performance, or an inability to participate in favorite activities or hobbies can become a catalyst to feeling depressed. There is hope. By optimizing male hormones using Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy you can begin to reverse the signs and symptoms of age related hormone decline and restore youthful energy, vitality and function to the body.
Mood Swings
Although mood swings are generally recognized as a female symptom of menopause men can also experience these swings as hormonal balances change. Men experiencing age related hormone decline common with andropause often show signs of increased anger, sadness, anxiety, irritability and a short temper. These mood shifts can occur when estrogen and testosterone levels fluctuate and inhibit the chemicals responsible for regulating moods. Restoring hormone balance in men using Hormone Replacement Therapy can help to properly regulate moods and stimulate optimal brain chemistry, bringing a greater sense of wellbeing.
Memory Loss
Testosterone is responsible in helping to regulate cortisol levels in the brain. When the testosterone levels begin to decline, cortisol levels can fluctuate inhibiting mental cognition and causing symptoms such as confusion and foggy thinking. The neurotransmitters are not able to work properly due to the irregular levels of hormones. Men can be more vulnerable to failing memory than women. Ensuring the steady and balanced levels of testosterone in the body as men age can promote a stronger memory and sharper mental cognition into old age.
Low Libido
Many men experience low libido and sexual function. This can cause great concern and anxiety in men which may only exacerbate the problem. Symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, lack of sexual desire and even impotence. Replacing deficient testosterone levels using Natural Testosterone Replacement Therapy for men can improve the symptoms of sexual dysfunction and stimulate libido.
Insomnia
Sleep disturbances can be caused by hormonal interference with the body’s ability to properly regulate brain chemistry and deal with the stresses of everyday life. Insomnia is a persistent disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep or both, despite the opportunity for adequate sleep. With insomnia, you usually awaken feeling unrefreshed, which takes a toll on your ability to function during the day. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life.
Adrenal Disorders
Adrenal fatigue is produced when your adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress. The adrenal glands mobilize your body’s responses to every kind of stress (whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological) through hormones that regulate energy production and storage, immune function, heart rate, muscle tone, and other processes that enable you to cope with the stress. If the adrenal glands are not producing sufficient amounts of these hormones, individuals may experience multiple symptoms, such as low blood pressure, nausea, muscle pain, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy may help to alleviate some of the symptoms that occur due to adrenal insufficiency.
Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance (IR) is a physiological condition. Insulin is a hormone that works to balance blood sugar in the body, attaching to cells and helping cells use sugar in the blood for important metabolic processes within the body. . This can cause high blood sugar, brain fogginess, inability to focus, sleepiness (especially after meals), intestinal bloating, weight gain, increased hunger, inability to focus and even depression. As the body produces insulin, those with IR are unable to use the insulin effectively. Cells fail to respond to the normal actions of the hormone insulin. Individuals with pre-diabetes or diabetes often suffer from insulin resistance or a decline in insulin production. For many diabetics BHRT can be used to supplement the body with insulin to manage and treat this condition.
Muscle Atrophy
Muscle loss due to the decline of testosterone levels with aging is a common symptom of andropause. Loss of muscle mass means loss of strength and mobility. People who are physically inactive can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass per decade after age 30. Testosterone binds to muscle cells in the body and promotes both muscle growth and integrity. Low testosterone levels can inhibit muscle growth and allow estrogen to begin to build up in body fat. This cycle of muscle atrophy and weight gain can be stopped in its tracks with Natural Testosterone Replacement Therapy for men experiencing the symptoms of andropause related hormone decline.
Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid is responsible for releasing hormones that control the efficiency and speed of the body’s metabolism. Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland influences almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. Hypothyroidism, which is often referred to as an underactive thyroid, often causes low blood pressure, cold sensitivity, weight gain, and lethargy. Although the effects can be unpleasant or uncomfortable, most thyroid problems can be managed well if properly diagnosed and treated. Bioidentical Hormones may be used to treat thyroid problems, particularly hypothyroidism, effectively. This treatment may also prove helpful in patients who have been aggressively treated for hyperthyroidism.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis becomes more common with age. About 15% of people in their 50s and 70% of those over 80 are affected. Although it is more common in women than in men, in the developed world 2% to 8% of males are affected and 9% to 38% of women are affected. Estrogen deficiency if the most common cause of osteoporosis. When the body has a quick decline in estrogen bone loss is accelerated. This can cause an increase in bone fractures, a stooped posture and back pain. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can be affective in slowing the progression of bone loss.
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy may also prove helpful for patients suffering from fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain. For patients experiencing chronic pain, the pain often results in depression, and depression has the ability to increase the amount of pain experienced by patients. Eliminating hormone imbalances may help to stop this cycle, reducing fatigue, pain, and depression in patients. The knowledge relating to hormonal disturbances in fibromyalgia patients simplifies the diagnostic process. Though current research cannot confirm with certainty that a hormonal imbalance causes fibromyalgia, hormone blood tests can be used as a fibromyalgia diagnostic marker in specific situations.
Defined as a form of muscular and soft tissue rheumatism, fibromyalgia is a complex medical condition included in the classification of musculoskeletal pain syndrome (MSPS). Causing chronic non-inflammatory widespread pain throughout the body, this disorder is accompanied by a series of symptoms, ranging from painful tender points, sleep problems, headaches, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and even depression.
Common Symptoms of Low Testosterone:
• Low libido
• Erectile dysfunction
• Chronic fatigue
• Hair loss
• Muscle atrophy
• Anxiety and depression
• Reduced stamina
• Lack of motivation
• Foggy mind
• Increased body fat retention
• Outbursts of anger
Hormones used to Treat Male Andropause include:
• Testosterone
• DHEA
• Melatonin
• Insulin Pregnenolone
• Thyroid