OVER WHAT HILL – Anti-Aging Hoo-Ha

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Anti-aging industry

A lot of people (female and male) must be buying into the Millennial trash attack if you consider that the global market for anti-aging products and services is expected to grow from $281.6 billion in 2015 to $331.3 billion in 2020. So much for growing old gracefully. There are products for every age range, teens to 50+ (now 70+). From $5 to $500 +. Balms, creams, gels, liquids, loose powder, lotions, masks, mousse, oils, scrubs, serums, sprays, wipes…new something-or-others every day.

Can the Scam

Anti-aging quackery and hucksterism are pervasive on the Internet. Ad and marketing mavens come up with names, promises and “secret” ingredients. (Hello, proof, please.) All these would-be miracles are referred to as the science of anti-aging, while you should really think of them as scientific breakdowns. Those “Doctors” (antonym; actors) in those white coats promising you the forever sought after fountain of youth? Our advice?

“Duck the Quacks”.

Trial, Trial and Trial Again

Run, run and run again. As far away from these temptations as possible. Unfortunately, there is a very deceptive, dark side to these offers, one that most people miss and don’t discover until they notice the exorbitant and monthly recurring charges appear on their credit card statements. “But the photos, you say”. Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat filters, anyone? utube testimonials, should be called “are you kidding?” claims. Another bit of advice; Beware “Bogus”.

It’s About Time

A promise we can make, is that there is absolutely no magic in any exorbitantly priced and promoted anti-aging products. If you’re feeling the years (and that could be as young as in your 40’s), there is real help in fighting off how much older you’re starting to feel; peptides; peptides have many functions in the body.  Some act like neurotransmitters, others function like hormones. There are also several amino acids that are necessary in sufficient amount to produce hormones like human growth hormone. If you aren’t absorbing or making enough of those amino acids, your production of that hormone will be lowered. That’s where Peptide Therapy comes in. And that’s when you need to see Stephen A. Goldstein MD, F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health. No one in the Denver area knows more about hormone replacement therapy, and no one is better able to determine which of the many Peptide Therapy options is right for you. After caringly and carefully discussing any symptoms you may be experiencing, from increased body fat to a lowered sex drive, Dr. Goldstein will prescribe the exact Peptide Therapy option to help you turn things around so that you don’t feel older than you are.

Don’t wait to call for an appointment now.

And feel young at a lot more than your heart.

WHAT IS ANDROPAUSE – Getting Older All the Time

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Andropause

What is Andropause? In men, the symptoms of aging are often the result of a growth hormone and testosterone decline. After age 20, a man’s growth hormone falls about 14 percent every 10 years. By the time he reaches 40, he’s lost almost half the growth hormones he had at 20 years old and by the time he reaches 80, men are left with just 5 percent of their original growth hormones. These imbalances can happen at any age. Advancing age is associated with an increase in aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Yes, you heard right, “estrogen”. Older men actually have higher estrogen levels than postmenopausal women. (Doesn’t exactly sound manly…)

Man Oh Man Oh Menopause…Andropause?

When you hear the word menopause, your thoughts most likely go to women.  However, the reality is that men can be affected by their own type of menopause, or andropause, as it’s often referred to. Male menopause doesn’t cause the same symptoms as it does in women. Andropause may happen so gradually or subtly that some might not even notice the transition taking place at all.  However, for other men, especially those with poor diets and low activity levels, they may be hit harder with the variety of male-specific symptoms.

The Estrogen/Testosterone Train Wreck

As we’ve mentioned, andropause can come on subtly. But when they do become apparent, these symptoms of male hormone imbalance are some of the most common:

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Hair loss
  • Low libido
  • Fatigue or lack of energy
  • Night sweats or hot flashes (your wife will have a riot at that one, once she discovers you with your face in front of the open fridge.)
  • Memory loss
  • Mood swings or irritability
  • Heart palpitations
  • Muscle loss or weakness
  • Sleep apnea or insomnia
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Constipation or increased bowel movements
  • Increased body fat
  • Gynecomastia (development of breasts in men. (Man boobs, they call them. Not to be confused with Man Cave.)

Man Up

Yes, it’s true that some men suffer from one or a combination of what have become known as the classic symptoms of aging (there’s that foul word again) as mentioned above. But male menopause doesn’t have to be so miserable. If certain symptoms have begun to affect your quality of life, hormone loss and imbalance is easily correctible. Sexual functions, thinning hair and restored muscle mass, among a few, can be restored. How? Tell me how. Tell me now. The answer is to consult with one of the most extensively trained, trusted and respected physicians in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: Stephen A. Goldstein MD, F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health. Unlike some others, he never takes a one-size-fits-all approach to your healthcare. After performing simple tests, he creates a custom-compounded treatment plan based on each patient’s individual diagnostic results. Part of that plan figures in everything from your lifestyle, diet, exercise and even level of stress.

Call for an appointment now.

It’s what any smart guy would do.

MENOPAUSE HORMONES – Caution: Falling Hormones

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Menopause Hormones

Your ovaries begin to age and as your years go up, your hormones go down. These inevitable changes in your hormones and natural decline of estrogen levels during menopause can significantly affect your health for years to come.

If You Could Change the Change

Estrogen depletion can bring on a combination of hormonal and biochemical fluctuations that can lead to changes in your brain and nervous system. You may experience mood swings, memory loss, problems focusing, irritability, fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, stress, anxiety and depression. (Some researchers believe that estrogen depletion can affect your memory in a way that can impact your risk for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.)  Due to estrogen depletion, women are also put at an increased risk for cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, or other heart-related problems. After the age of 30, the creation of new bone cannot keep up with the rate of bone loss in your body. The estrogen depletion that comes with menopause results in an increased risk for low bone mineral density, osteopenia and osteoporosis. For 5-10 years after menopause, this bone density loss accelerates into a gradual weakening of your bones and can lead to an increase in the risk for fractures and other injuries. (Gimme a break.)

Hit or Myth

Myth #1:  Menopause begins at 50

Menopause begins at 50…or at 42…or 36…or 61. The average woman begins menopause at 52, but you may start your transition anywhere from your 30’s to your 60’s.

Myth #2:  Weight gain is inevitable in menopause

Weight gain is an absolute in menopause but you don’t have to allow it.

Myth #3: There’s no difference between natural menopause and “surgical” menopause

It’s critical for women to know that natural menopause and surgical menopause are indeed very different. When a woman undergoes a total surgical hysterectomy, she experiences an immediate and significant change in hormonal balance, literally overnight, instead of the slower transition of natural menopause.

Myth #4: The first sign of menopause is hot flashes

Despite the fact that menopause and hot flashes are almost synonymous in peoples’ minds, (and are also the topic of endless, tasteless jokes,) your first sign of menopause could be any of these symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Irregular periods
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Weight gain
  • Hair loss
  • Cravings
  • Fuzzy thinking
  • Low libido
  • Forgetfulness
  • Heavy menses

Myth #5:  After menopause, your body doesn’t produce hormones

No cold turkey, empty bucket, here…

Myth #6:  The older you are when you get your period, the older you’ll be when you go through menopause

For many women, just the opposite is true.

Myth #7:  Menopause only causes physical symptoms

Could you describe yourself as a “raving maniac” at times? Are you more irritable and anxious? You’re not alone. Many women experience unnerving changes in their emotions, memory, and concentration during perimenopause and menopause due to sudden shifts in estrogen levels.

Some Hot Flashes About Sex.

Send up the balloons…your vagina is NOT going to shrivel up like a prune. Your libido isn’t going on permanent leave. You can still get hot and we’re not referring to flashes. Your desire isn’t headed to the dumps. The vagina is a “use it or lose it” place, the act of intercourse stimulating blood flow to keep it healthy. Media makes it sound gross to have sex after 50. It’s beyond Millennial imagination. (Hint: they’ll get there before they know it.) So, ok, you might not feel as sexy as before. Tip: up the intimacy. Go for as many orgasms as you can get. Why not? You just might have to work a little harder for it. Yes, you might be a little drier, but bring on the lubes. There are tons of them. And consider this; no tampon, pads, IUD’s. No kids doing anything interruptus. Enjoy. Probably even more.

Pause to Hear This

When it comes to menopause, there are many types of estrogen replacement you might hear of: pills, patches, creams, suppositories and more. None work as well as bioidentical hormones. It’s important to know the difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic ones. Natural or bioidentical hormones are hormones made from a natural substance and are bio-chemically identical to human hormones. Synthetic hormones are not derived from a natural substance and not biochemically identical. Synthetic hormones were created by pharmaceutical companies in an attempt to mimic the effects of natural female hormones. Which creates huge differences in both efficacy and side effects. The most important thing to know is who to go to, to get the professional help you really need. Write this name down, right now: Stephen A. Goldstein MD, F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health. With years of expertise and experience treating hundreds of perimenopausal and menopausal women, he is among one of few extensively educated and knowledgeable in BHRT specialists in the Denver area. You’ll begin to feel relief the moment you meet with him. He takes the time to listen and to talk about your individual symptoms and issues. Next, he does simple tests that tell him your estrogen levels. At which point he creates an integrated plan of hormones, healthy eating and exercise that will restore not just your estrogen, but what you need to feel as energetic and alive as you used to.

Call for an appointment now.

And be sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years.