That’s right guys – it’s not just us ladies who get hormonal! Men need help with hormonal rages and hot flashes too.
Male testosterone levels start to decline beginning in their 30's, and drop steadily at approximately 1% per year. Testosterone is not just important for libido, but is also essential for heart health, proper brain function, maintaining muscle tone and bone density, mood and more. Low testosterone levels are a symptom as well as the primary cause of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. But what about other hormones levels for men?
While evaluating and treating suboptimal or low testosterone levels is important, the function of other hormones should not be overlooked. Estradiol and progesterone levels also play an important role, and like testosterone their levels change with age. Male estradiol levels increase in older men because body composition shifts and higher levels of adipose tissue can convert testosterone into estradiol. Increasing estradiol levels often cause a rise in SHBG, a glycoprotein that binds to sex hormones, specifically testosterone and estradiol, but preferentially to testosterone. This amplifies a testosterone deficiency as more of the testosterone becomes bound, rendering less of it "free" or bioavailable to interact with target tissues.
Additionally, a recent Italian study found that estradiol levels are independently associated with metabolic syndrome. A group of 452 men ages 65-69 were evaluated for free and total estradiol levels and markers of metabolic syndrome. The data was adjusted to account for additional variables including smoking history, alcohol consumption, physical activity and BMI, however the results indicate a high estradiol level is an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
As estradiol levels are increasing, progesterone, like testosterone levels, are declining, establishing an estrogen dominant state. This imbalance influences prostate health as estrogen causes the prostate cells to grow in size and in number. Progesterone helps to balance this proliferation and is protective to the prostate. The risk of prostate cancer is growing and the incidence of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is remarkable. Approximately 80% of men over the age of 80report some hypertrophy of their prostate! The symptoms associated with BPH include urinary retention and urgency that can result in an increased likelihood of infection as well as disrupted sleep pattern.
Men are certainly not exempt to the stressors of life. In addition, adrenal dysfunction is likely a factor in their symptoms and the pathophysiology of endocrine imbalances so it is prudent to evaluate cortisol and DHEA levels. The best way to test for adrenal exhaustion and DHEA levels is through an ASI Stress Test, which is available through any holistic health wellness practitioner.
Shocked? Don’t be. There are a lot of men out there these days who are feeling out of sorts, overly emotional, and downright depressed, and it can almost always be linked to a hormonal imbalance.
The good news is that if you take a holistic approach to balancing your hormones, you can restore function to your endocrine system without harsh medications that only exacerbate the problem.
For more articles from Cleveland Mind and Body Examiner, Angela Minelli, CLICK HERE.