Please read through the following information to see if you might be going through the male change of life.
Introduction:Unlike the dramatic hormonal changes occurring during menopause in women, the age-related changes in reproductive hormones of men are subtle and occur gradually throughout the years of mature life. Aging is accompanied by a decline in the function of the immune system, which can increase susceptibility to infections, promote inflammation and can decrease the quality of life.
Symptoms: A. Low testosterone: The decline in blood testosterone concentration during the course of male aging may be a result of inflammation throughout the body. Low testosterone can cause low motivation and loss of drive. Common complaints include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, loss of brain function, pain and inflammation. High blood pressure causes poor vascular tone, low blood flow to the brain, toes and penis. They no longer want to exercise or do sports because they’re in pain. They have a long list of medications that make no change in their condition and can end up with cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Taking testosterone will give positive results short-term but it won’t last. You can’t make testosterone when chronically inflamed.
B. Insulin Resistance: Andropause can lead to insulin resistance. As men’s testosterone decreases and estrogen increases they also get more insulin resistance. The chief complaints are fatigue after meals, sore feet, depression and erectile dysfunction. Insulin resistance can also cause obesity which can lead to vascular disease. There’s a prevalence of insulin resistance inflammation and low testosterone in diabetic men. Additionally, insulin triggers the release of a hormone that can cause hypogonadism (genital shrinkage). Erectile dysfunction is not generally an endocrine problem, but rather vascular, neurologic and psychogenic in origin. It also may be the first sign of systemic vascular disease. The major risk to this group is stroke.
Circulation and memory: As men age they often have poor circulation. Lack of blood flow can cause cold hands and feet, fungus in the toenails and erectile dysfunction. Aging is associated with a decrease in blood flow to the brain as well. This is associated with slowing of information processing, working memory and attention. Andropause has been shown to alter mood, memory, ability to concentrate and the overall sense of vigor and well-being. A decrease in testosterone related to brain aging can affect memory and lead to dementia.
D. The Brain-gut relationship: Brain neurochemistry is important for regulating enzyme secretions in the brain-gut relationship. Brain alteration of neurotransmitters can lead to abnormal stomach enzyme secretion.
Seniors need enzymes because their gut is degenerating. As the brain degenerates they can’t have brain activity that helps digest their food. Testosterone is involved in allowing the digestive tract to heal.
E.Pain and inflammation: Alcohol, drugs, smoking and eating allergic foods can cause an increase pain and inflammation. They also cause a decrease in testosterone. C-reactive protein is an important blood test for detecting inflammation in the body.
F. Alzheimer’s disease:
Low testosterone has been linked as a risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Testosterone amplifies acetylcholine activity. A decrease in testosterone causes a decrease in acetylcholine. This will cause problems with memory and ability to concentrate. Men with early diabetes pain and insulin resistance will have brain degeneration. The more the Insulin resistance, the greater the brain degeneration. Inability to concentrate or brain fog occurs when the brain is on fire and degenerating.
Memory and the hippocampus: An increase in Leutinizing Hormone can cause hippocampus degeneration. The hippocampus has to do with the ability to take in information and apply it, eg. ability to remember family members names. It can also affect the ability to convert short to long term memory-eg. can’t find keys and wallet.
Stomach acid secretion: An H. pylori infection can cause a decrease in stomach acid in older men.
Symptom Survey-Please check the following Symptoms: __1. Aches and pains in many areas of the body. Inflammation (swelling) __2. Insulin Resistance-Fatigue after meals, elevated blood sugar __3. Sweating attacks, obesity and emotional outbursts __4. Brain fog __5. Poor memory, visulospatial difficulty __6. Cold hands and feet, fungus in nails due to poor circulation. __7. Bloating, heartburn, stomach ulcer
IV. There are 4 hormonal patterns of male aging.
1. Aromatization-testosterone is converted into estrogen. Enzymes in the body fat and blood sugar issues can cause this. If you take testosterone it will convert estrogen which is a bad idea.
Increased production of sex hormone binding globulin, which produces a decrease in free testosterone. The problem is they can’t get the proteins off. This causes an increase in estrogen. If you take testosterone it will bind up and won’t be free.
Leydig (testicular) cell failure with an increase in LH. Testicular cells aren’t functioning well. LH will be increased and testosterone will be low or normal.
Up regulation of Alpha reductase leading to increased production of DHT. As sex hormone binding globulin increases, there will be a decrease in free testosterone. V. The following Blood and Saliva Tests need to be ordered to determine which of the 4 patterns you have and how to treat it:
Expanded Male Hormone Panel saliva test
Estradiol (E2 on the form)
Total testosterone
Comprehensive wellness blood test
You might ask "When should I opt for drugs or surgery and when should I try chiropractic?" When it comes to health problems there are always two options drugs and surgery (the allopathic medical model) or chiropractic, massage or nutrition-the holistic natural model. Common sense would tell you to try the least invasive, safest procedure first and the riskiest, more possible side effects option second.
If you think you might be going through andropause and would like some help, please call me for a free consultation at 510-558-0164 or e-mail me at drrettner@sbcglobal.net I would love a chance to relieve your symptoms and help you to achieve a happier, healthier life style. Thank you.
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Dr. Raphael Rettner is a Palmer College of Chiropractic West graduate and has been in practice since 1982. Dr. Rettner is one of the most highly skilled and respected chiropractors in the United States. He has made numerous radio and T.V. appearances, is the author of Vegetarian Cooking for People with Allergies and has produced several DVDs including: End P.M.S Now!, The Ultimate Diet, and Twelve Causes of an Unstable Spine. He has studied both force and non-force techniques such as Advanced Biostructural Correction, Applied Kinesiology, Biophysics, Gonstead, S.O.T. and over a dozen others. With a combination of creative thinking and an insatiable quest for knowledge, Dr. Rettner has developed several new and exciting chiropractic techniques. Since 1994 he has taught these in his Applied Trigger Points seminar to chiropractors all across the United States, Australia, Canada and England.
You can reach Raphael at drrettner@sbcglobal.net