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Is It Age Or Mail Menopause?
By National Integrated Health Associates
National Integrated Health Associates
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http://www.nihadc.com/
More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Is It Age Or Mail Menopause?
Facts
Approximately 40% of men between 40 and 60 will experience some symptoms of male menopause, known as andropause. These symptoms include fatigue, depression, increased irritability, mood swings, insomnia, decreased libido, loss of lean body mass, and difficulty in attaining or maintaining erections. These physical and psychological changes can be a major cause for concern.
A recent aging study showed that 51% of normal, healthy males aged 40 to 70 experience some degree of impotence. However, this problem cannot be attributed to aging alone, because well over 40% of males remain sexually active at 70 years of age and beyond.
Factors that are known to contribute to male menopause are
Hormone deficiencies
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
Smoking
Hypertension
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes
Prescription medications
Poor diet
Lack of exercise
Depression
Causes
There are many tests to determine the cause of male menopause symptoms. Traditional blood work and screenings are the basis used to rule out non-hormonal causes of male menopause. Hormonal imbalances may show up in a variety of ways and symptoms such as a history of chronic stress, fatigue, low sex drive, low body temperature, inability to handle stress, and dry skin/constipation.
A complete hormone testing can help determine the root of the problem. A complete hormone test will test the adrenal hormones (cortisol, DHEA) and the sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone). A saliva hormone test is used to test for biologically active hormones, which may more accurately reflect what is happening in the body.
The adrenal and sex hormones play important roles in the body. The adrenals are the major “shock absorber” hormones and buffer the negative impact stress can have on both physical and mental function. Long term stress can shrink the adrenal glands and affect all parts of the body, as well as accelerating the aging process. The sex hormones influence sex drive and regulate metabolism.
Treatment
Once the root cause of symptoms has been identified treatment for male menopause can begin. If testing shows that the andropause is not hormonal in nature, treatment of the underlying cause of symptoms with lifestyle changes is necessary. Lifestyle changes to control diabetes, quit smoking, learn to cope with stress, increase regular exercise and improve diet will help alleviate the symptoms associated with menopause and improve general health and well-being.
If hormones are out of balance, one can be tested and treated with a bio-identical hormone replacement cream. This customized cream can supply the necessary male hormones to bring you back into balance. Bio-identical hormone cream combined with lifestyle changes can make male menopause a stage in which to discover a healthier life.
Comprehensive solutions from an integrative physician combine the best of traditional and complementary/alternative medicine to regain balance and optimal male energy.
