Correcting hormone imbalance can help fix hormonal pauses

Much of aging follows a predictable pattern of built-in obsolescence. We are born, we mature and we feel invincible. Then something happens. Our hormones decline and our function follows. Muscular strength, dexterity and mental acuity is lost in the most subtle ways so that we don’t notice the loss but by the end little is left. We get regular check-ups and get a clean bill of health but we continue to feel our age and wonder is this all there is. Current advances in technology allow the replacement of hormones and nutrients to levels expected in youth. Without them your overall function and health will continue the pre-programmed decline.


Do

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  • understand hormonal decline
  • understand the different types of hormonal pauses
  • get your hormones tested
  • eat a healthy, well balanced diet that is full of nutrients that we need
  • exercise regularly
Don't

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  • ignore mild symptoms and assume that they are a “normal” part of ageing
  • overeat
  • forget to eliminate any addictions that you may have
  • go to a pill-mill

[publishpress_authors_data]'s recommendation to ExpertBeacon readers: Do

Do understand hormonal decline

Much of aging follows a predictable pattern of built-in obsolescence. We are born, we mature and we feel invincible. Then something happens. We start a slow but steady decline, hardly noticeable at first but it gathers steam until maybe it’s too late. At that point many wish that they had done more but have no one to blame but themselves. Not everyone ages at the same speed, however. Despite being the same age, some lose more function than others. Conversely, some age gracefully and manage to hold onto much of their functionality while avoiding chronic disease. Some of it is genetic but much of it is not. The decline in function is unique to each individual as their fingerprint and reflects the interaction of our genes with our lifestyle and our environment.

Hormone decline is as inevitable as ageing. In fact, when hormones decline ageing accelerates. The decline in hormones is referred to as a pause and this is the basis of the pause theory of ageing. We have all heard of menopause, a decline in sex hormones that every woman goes through.

Do understand the different types of hormonal pauses

Since hormones regulate every organ system in the body, we can experience a pause of every organ. This is true for both men and women. The various pauses will occur from head to toe and can be accompanied by an emotional change frequently referred to as a “mid-life crisis”. This is simply a realization of our decline and inevitable mortality. For example, with thyropause the thyroid hormone levels decline, while with uropause there is loss in control of the urinary bladder. Osteopause signals the loss of bone density while andropause is a decrease in testosterone levels in men. Perhaps you never heard of sensorypause which is a decline of all of the five senses starting with hearing, which can start after twenty. The onset of wrinkling and loss of elasticity of the skin signals the onset of dermatopause.

Overall, the human body can experience a total of 24 different pauses affecting every organ in the body including the brain. In fact, a decrease in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain or biopause, may prompt a start of another pause elsewhere in the body. Likewise, a decrease of a hormone can have an adverse impact on brain function. Don’t assume that any deterioration in your function is just part of ageing. Not long ago, erectile dysfunction was accepted as a normal part of ageing but look where it is now. As ageing occurs other pauses will follow. Act to repair and recover at the earliest possible stage or act to prevent or defer the decline in the first place.Be aware of this and get the care to feel better and to preserve your independence.

Do get your hormones tested

Accept the paradigm shift from one centered on illness to one centered on wellness and preventive care. Get your hormones tested to find any deficiencies and get them in balance with bio-identical hormones.Bioidentical means that the chemical structure is identical to what your body produces. Do not accept non-bioidentical compounds that may cause cancer and other disease. Notice any changes that you are going through as this may help your doctor find impending pauses that are about to hit; get your health any way you can even if that means going outside of your health insurance, which in many cases only provides care when you’re sick. Get the risk factors for disease measured so treatment can start.

Do eat a healthy, well balanced diet that is full of nutrients that we need

One of the best ways to prevent a pause is to eat a healthy diet comprised of a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grain complex carbohydrates. These can be supplemented with vitamins and antioxidants. Foods to avoid consist of those that are processed or those that are white and have low nutritional value but are high in calories. High sugar drinks, high sodium foods and unhealthy oils should be avoided.

How do you know what you’re eating? Read the nutritional facts on the back of the box. If you find ingredients that don’t describe a food don’t buy it. It’s probably full of chemical additives that won’t make you healthy or thin. If you’re overweight or obese like 70% of Americans start eating healthy and eat less. Calorie restriction will make you lose weight and can make you live longer by activating longevity genes.

Do exercise regularly

In addition to eating healthy foods, make exercise a daily routine. Aerobic exercise has been shown to increase brain neurotransmitters and other hormones that can avert or delay many of the pauses mentioned above. Replacing diminished hormones with bio-identical ones appears to lead the way to graceful ageing, gaining back the energy and vigor that has been lost. You never know how much life you’ve been missing until your vitality comes back. Wealth without health has no meaning at all.


[publishpress_authors_data]'s professional advice to ExpertBeacon readers: Don't

Do not ignore mild symptoms and assume that they are a “normal” part of ageing

The symptoms and signs you experience during aging are important clues as to what is happening in your body and your doctor should know. Don’t let people tell you that you don’t need hormone replacement or that you shouldn’t fix it because it’s not yet broken. The longer you delay the more difficult it becomes to reverse and the more likely that impairment will stay. It takes time in the making to get a disease. Stop silent disease before it strikes, don’t wait for an illness to change your ways.

Do not overeat

Instead, chose a healthy fruit to snack on if you are hungry; take it easy on yourself by being inactive. This will end up being much harder on you as you develop chronic disease; skip preventive care visits due to inconvenience or unfounded fear as it may save your life; rely on your health insurance to get you health, it’s not designed for that, instead go out and get your health from any source that you can find even if that means going outside of your health plan.

Do not forget to eliminate any addictions that you may have

Select foods without harmful pesticides; join a health club or devise your own exercise routine such as walking around the neighborhood; get educated as to what is healthy and why you should eat it; work at staying healthy by making it a priority.

Do not go to a pill-mill

Any hormone replacement therapy requires a physician skilled in such treatment. It is recommended that such physicians have credentials that reflect training by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine or in Integrative Medicine. Hormone replacement requires periodic evaluation so that a delicate hormonal balance can be achieved and maintained. It should not consist of haphazard dispensing of prescriptions but careful ongoing evaluation and testing.


Summary

Don’t forget that hormonal and functional decline are linked and start after age 30. Don’t wait till you’re desperate to make simple yet profound changes in your life that will boost your chances of becoming or remaining healthy. Like everything else that is worthwhile, it is an effort that pays off. Only you will reap the benefits if you do and only you will experience the consequences if you don’t act to improve.

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