Take Control of the Aging Process

Aging and the life course? What does that mean? Do we have to simply trudge on through life, aging as we go – and with nothing to stop it?

Far from it. In fact, there's a lot you can do to slow, stop, even reverse the aging process in many cases. And guess what? It doesn't involve fancy creams, expensive pills, or invasive surgery. Just some good common sense.

What can you do to take control of aging and the life course you choose?

• Eat well

Your diet is your body's fuel and building material. Eat junk and you'll literally reap what you sow: Low energy, weight gain, and a myriad of health problems. Feed your body well and you'll do the same – this time with glowing health and plenty of energy. Focus on a diet of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, plenty of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables (with no sugar added), and good fats like omega-3s.

When you eat to fuel and rebuild your body, you also reduce inflammation and oxidative stress caused by free radicals; both of these things contribute to the aging process and the development of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer's disease.

• Sleep enough

We live in a society that actually values being "efficient" and running on as little sleep as possible. Unfortunately, that's not what nature intended. Most adults need at least 7 to 8 hours of restful, restorative sleep every night to function at their best. (The upshot of that is, you'll actually be more productive, not less, during your waking hours.) Your body and brain need sleep to rebuild and repair from the stresses of the day. Skimp on it, and you'll greatly accelerate the aging process.

• Exercise

Moderate exercise keeps brain and body active. It also helps prevent the muscle and bone loss we naturally begin to experience in our 30s.

Start slow if you haven't been active

If you've been sedentary for a while, don't start out by trying to run a 5K. Instead (with your doctor's permission), start by walking around the block and lifting light weights. As you increase your endurance, you can increase the difficulty of your exercise program, as well.
 

• Get some sun – and wear sunscreen

We need a little bit of sun every day. While it's true that too much sun can cause skin cancer and other damage, some exposure every day helps give us the vitamin D we need for best health and boosts mood, too. When weather permits, spend 10 to 15 minutes a day outside without sunscreen when the sun is at its least intense, such as midmorning or late afternoon. Wear sunscreen at all other times to prevent skin damage.

• Take a multivitamin for good measure

While most experts agree that supplements do more harm than good in overdoses, taking a good quality multivitamin can help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet. Caution: A multivitamin doesn't substitute for eating right. It's just a way to make sure you get everything you need to be your best, and slow down aging and the life course.

• Consider hormone replacement options

If you're doing everything right and still don't feel your best, consider hormone replacement options. These can truly make you feel "like your old self" -- without the dangers or side effects of old. That's because they're natural, customized to your needs. Hormone replacement can:

• Restore libido
• Reduce depression
• "Roll back" age-related body changes by reducing body fat and increasing muscle and bone mass
• Restore vitality and energy
• Improve sleep

... and so much more. Try it today!

Andropause Symptoms And Solutions for Active Men

Andropause is often referred to as male menopause, since it has to do with low levels of testosterone.  Understanding andropause symptoms can help your pinpoint the reason why certain things seem to be happening, and motivate you to talk with a physician about treatment options.  Here are some of the more common signs associated with the condition.

Fatigue

One of the more common andropause symptoms is fatigue.  More than simply feeling the need for a nap, physical and mental fatigue can make it difficult to function at home or at work. Since so many different health issues can lead to a loss of energy and brain fog, you should see a physician and undergo a series of tests to find out if your testosterone levels are within a normal range.  If not, replacement therapy may be what you need to feel more like yourself again.  

Irritability and Moodiness

People who are normally balanced in their moods and temperaments will find that this condition causes them to become upset about things that never bothered them in the past.  Among all the andropause symptoms, this is the one that is most likely to cause damage to relationships.  You may find yourself wondering why things that were never a big deal before now fill you with such rage.  The underlying issue could be that your balance of androgens is out of sync.

Loss of Interest in Sex

Another of the more discomfiting andropause symptoms is a loss of libido.  In times past, you looked forward to intimate time with your partner.  The sensation of being together brought you a great deal of happiness.  Now, it seems as if you are only going through the motions at best.  Even if your partner seems to be satisfied, you don’t get much pleasure from the encounter.

Erectile Dysfunction

In more advanced stages, andropause can interfere with the ability to achieve and sustain an erection.  If your physician checks your levels and finds they are low, the treatments will gradually increase those levels and you will find that your ability to get aroused and stay that way returns.

Loss of Muscle Mass

Men are not the only ones who will lose muscle as a result of andropause. If you are finding that your workouts are not producing the results that came so easily in the past, low testosterone may be the culprit. A patch or injections may be what you need to get back on track.

Self-Doubt

Situations that you once faced without blinking an eye are now intimidating.  The prospect of going after a promotion or pursuing someone who you find interesting is impossible, simply because you feel you are not good enough.

Anxiety and Depression

Andropause symptoms are not limited to physical manifestations.  When you find that your mind will not stop racing or that you experience panic attacks for no apparent reason, it could be due to an androgen imbalance.  If you used to look forward to each day and not find that you have to drag yourself out of bed and only do what is absolutely necessary, you could have depression brought on by this condition.  

Keep in mind that all of the more common andropause symptoms are associated with other health issues.  The only way to be sure is to see a physician and undergo testing.  If the problem is low levels of testosterone, rest assured that you do not have to live this way the rest of your life.  With the right plan of action, you can get those levels back within a reasonable range and begin to feel good again.

Study Says: Post-menopausal hormone therapy cuts heart disease

New York: A team of US researchers has found that hormone therapy, when taken within six years of menopause, may slow the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis -- the primary underlying pathway that leads to heart disease and stroke.

The findings suggest that after a median of five years of hormone therapy, women in the early post-menopausal group who were taking estradiol, showed significantly less rate of blocked arteries -- a condition that can lead to heart disease and stroke, when measured against those taking the placebo. 

"Studies on hormone therapy and vascular degeneration, provides strong evidence that the cardiovascular benefits of hormone therapy are dependent on timing of initiation," said Howard N. Hodis from Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in the US.

The researchers examined the hypothesis that the cardiovascular effects of post-menopausal hormone therapy vary with the timing of hormone therapy initiation.

The team conducted a study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Early versus Late Intervention Trial with Estradiol (ELITE) in over 600 post-menopausal women with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

They were stratified into two groups: early post-menopause -- women who were within six years of menopause and late post-menopause -- women who were 10 years or more beyond menopause. 

Women in each group were randomly assigned to receive either oral estradiol -- with progesterone vaginal gel for those with a uterus or a placebo -- which included a placebo vaginal gel for those with a uterus. 

"ELITE provides proof of concept and first direct evidence from human investigation that timing of hormone therapy is imperative for success in the prevention of atherosclerosis progressio," Hodis added. 

"The stratification of participants into early and late post-menopause was a unique feature of ELITE. We believe that applying this design to further examination of heart disease prevention could ultimately prove immensely fruitful for women's health," Hodis noted.

The concept of timing of initiation of an intervention is likely applicable to most preventive approaches to cardiovascular disease in women, the authors stated.