Healthy SoFlo Issue 49 - Menprovement: A Hub Design to Improve Men's Lives

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JUNE 2017
AGING AND LOW
TESTOSTERONE:
Time to Intervene!
If you knew that a major
physiological change was going
to take place in your life and
you could do something about
it, wouldn't you want to learn
everything you can about it and do
something to ease or stop that
transition?
For any young man who has spent awkward
moments in a school health class, we all
know some subjects make us squeamish,
but if you're a healthy young man with a
healthy sex drive, whether you want to admit
it or not, you need to start a conversation
with yourself and your healthcare provider
about testosterone, more importantly, about
testosterone levels and how they taper off as
you age.
Most likely you already know that
testosterone levels reach their peak during
adolescence and early adulthood. You know
that your voice changes, your shoulders
broaden, and you become more masculine
looking if you will. Your facial structure
matures, hair grows under your arms, your
chin, above your lip – you get the idea. But,
did you know that for all those changes
you undergo during your formative years,
after you've hit your stride, so to speak,
your testosterone levels begin to decline
somewhere around the time you hit thirty
years old? Yes, it's true. While the percentage
isn't huge – generally, about a 1% decline
with every year – the consequences could be
startling.
While you won't necessarily see any
physical changes initially, you may
start to notice smaller changes like
a decrease in your sex drive or
sexual function, even impotence or
infertility.
These changes can have a significant impact
on your future. Some changes might be
subtle and not so alarming like changes to
your sleep patterns, emotional changes
like a sudden lack of motivation or issues
with your self-confidence, or you might
notice a decrease in your muscle tone over
time. Those changes are gradual, but when
combined, they could be quite significant to
your overall health and well-being.
The good news is that many, if not all, of
those symptoms, can be reversed. There
are a significant number of testosterone
building supplements on the market today.
Researchers are hard at work testing new
supplements and monitoring to see which
garner the best and safest results for
men. There are also non-medicinal ways
to optimize testosterone levels. Medical
professionals and health advocates are
touting a multi-pronged approach that
includes a healthy diet plan and exercise.
While there's no one-size-fits-all method,
there are options. The most important
thing to remember is that you need to
pay attention to your body and its natural
rhythm. No one knows their body better
than you. If you think that there may be
something wrong or you're undergoing a
significant change, make an appointment
with your doctor. Simple blood tests can tell
them (and you) whether your suspicions are
correct and can help you and your health
care team to come up with a solution to
reverse the effects now.
By Cassandra Bullocks
22 HEALTHY MAGAZINE