Patti Wall: A Story of Weight Loss, Rejuvenation, and Life Change

The Truth About Low T: Men, Middle-Age and More

I admit it. Those low T commercials are great marketing. The middle-aged man dancing with his testosterone shadow, all his strength, energy and vigor restored. His simple solution? Testosterone supplementation. It paints an oversimplified picture of men, as if we are nothing but testosterone sponges. When we get low, we just stop off at the local testosterone dispenser and we are good to go. However, the truth is not that simple about low T.

Low testosterone is a very common problem in men today. But it is much more complex than just adding testosterone to solve the problem. Men are complex. (And you thought only women were complex!) Looking at the specific causes of low T in an individual is a critical part of creating a plan to solve the low T problem.

What is testosterone? Testosterone is the predominate hormone in men. From the moment of conception, it is the key to male development. It is what makes a man a man. It is what gave us Tim “the tool man” Taylor.

What is low T? Quite simply, it is low testosterone. Symptoms include fatigue, reduced libido, estrogen dominance, weight gain, and loss of confidence and motivation. Low T is, in many ways, the middle-aged man suffering the dreaded “mid-life crisis.” Think about it. At the same time that women experience menopause, men are experiencing their own life change. Men are just as hormonal as women; however, the symptoms of change are different.

Low testosterone is a lot more common than you think. Approximately 40 million US men suffer from low testosterone. Only a fraction of these men are symptomatic, which means most men with low T don’t even know it.

Not only is low T a silent problem, it is a growing problem. Men are discovering low T at younger ages, too. I’ve seen men as young as their mid-20’s with low testosterone. Typically, however, most men living with low T are in their 40’s and beyond.

What is the cause of low T? It would be convenient if the answer was simply low testosterone production. But look at our bodies. We are complex creations. In most cases, low T results from a combination of issues.

Cause #1: Excess weight. Today, we eat so many items that suppress the body’s natural testosterone production. Just look at the American diet. Americans eat up to 200 pounds of refined sugar, 90 pounds of fats, 63 dozen donuts, 60 pounds of cakes and cookies, 23 gallons of ice cream, 22 pounds of candy, and 15 pounds of chips, popcorn, and pretzels annually. Obviously, this leads to excess weight.

Excess weight, especially around the mid-section, becomes a major estrogen-producing factory. Not only does the associated weight gain help produce more estrogen, but the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen increases as we age as well. We become estrogen dominant. Increased weight = increased estrogen and decreased testosterone.

Cause #2: The environment. The environment is full of hormone-like chemicals. Xenoestrogens are environmental estrogens. They range from pesticides and insecticides to plastics to hormone-laden meat and dairy products. Although not native to the body, the body views them as estrogens nonetheless. Xenoestrogens = increased estrogen and decreased testosterone.

Cause #3: Hormones. That’s right. Even giving testosterone to some men can be a problem. A 27-year male patient came to me after he was given testosterone for a suspected low T problem by another physician. The testosterone replacement made him feel worse. Why? He was already estrogen dominant, and the additional testosterone was like throwing gasoline on the fire. His proposed cure, testosterone supplementation, turned out to be the source of his problem: excess estrogen. Too much testosterone = increased estrogen.

What is the answer to low testosterone? There is no single answer. Answers are found through customized testing which determines exact hormone levels. From these results, we can create an individualized therapy plan. Because we are all created uniquely, causes can vary. Likewise, your therapy plan should be unique. Your symptoms are clues to the underlying problem. By uncovering the problem’s root cause, an effective treatment plan can be developed which will solve those health issues and eliminate your symptoms.

The truth about low T? Only a few men really need testosterone. The majority of men need weight loss, reduction of estrogen, and the elimination of environmental xenoestrogens. It is easier to simply supplement testosterone. But that will NOT treat the problem at the source and achieve true healing.

Now that you know the truth about low T, what will you do about it? If you have symptoms and need answers or more information, call our office at 318-255-3223.

 

What is Functional Medicine?

The following guest post was written by Dr. Ron Grisanti, a board certified chiropractic orthopedist with a master’s degree in nutritional science from the University of Bridgeport. You can read more of Dr. Grisanti’s posts at www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com and www.Clinical-Rounds.com.

It’s a science-based, natural way to become healthy again

Functional Medicine is patient-centered medical healing at its best. Instead of looking at and treating health problems as isolated diseases, it treats individuals who may have bodily symptoms, imbalances and dysfunctions.

As the following graphic of an iceberg shows, a named disease such as diabetes, cancer, or fibromyalgia might be visible above the surface, but according to Functional Medicine, the cause lies in the altered physiology below the surface. Almost always, the cause of the disease and its symptoms is an underlying dysfunction and/or an imbalance of bodily systems.

If health care treats just the tip of the iceberg, it rarely leads to long-term relief and vibrancy. Identifying and treating the underlying root cause or causes, as Functional Medicine does, has a much better chance to successfully resolve a patient’s health challenge.

Using scientific principles, advanced diagnostic testing and treatments other than drugs or surgery, Functional Medicine restores balance in the body’s primary physiological processes. The goal: the patient’s lifelong optimal health.

How Functional Medicine Heals a Key Health Care Gap

Today’s health care system is in trouble because it applies a medical management model that works well for acute health problems to chronic health problems, where it is much less successful.

If you have a heart attack, accident, or sudden lung infection such as pneumonia, you certainly want a quick-thinking doctor to use all the quick-acting resources of modern medicine, such as life-saving technology, surgery and antibiotics. We are all grateful about such interventions.

However, jumping in with drugs, surgery and other acute care treatments too often does not succeed in helping those with chronic, debilitating ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. Another approach is needed.

The Two-Pronged Healing Approach of Functional Medicine

To battle chronic health conditions, Functional Medicine uses two scientifically grounded principles:

1. Add what’s lacking in the body to nudge its physiology back to a state of optimal functioning.
2. Remove anything that impedes the body from moving toward this optimal state of physiology.

Plainly put, your body naturally wants to be healthy. But things needed by the body to function at its best might be missing, or something might be standing in the way of its best functioning. Functional Medicine first identifies the factors responsible for the malfunctioning. Then it deals with those factors in a way appropriate to the patient’s particular situation.

Very often Functional Medicine practitioners use advanced laboratory testing to identify the root cause or causes of the patient’s health problem. Old-fashioned medical diagnosis helps too, in the form of listening carefully to the patient’s history of symptoms and asking questions about his or her activities and lifestyle.

For treatment, Functional Medicine practitioners use a combination of natural agents (supplements, herbs, nutraceuticals and homeopathics), nutritional and lifestyle changes, spiritual/emotional counseling, and pharmaceuticals, if necessary to prod a patient’s physiology back to an optimal state. In addition, educating the patient about their condition empowers them to take charge of their own health, ultimately leading to greater success in treatment.

Treating Symptoms Versus Treating the Person

In the dominant health care model today, medication is used to get rid of people’s symptoms. If the patient stops taking the medication, symptoms generally return.

Functional Medicine approaches health problems differently. Instead of masking the problem, it aims at restoring the body’s natural functioning. Although Functional Medicine practitioners may prescribe pharmaceuticals, they are used to gently nudge the patient’s physiology in a positive direction so the patient will no longer need them.

For example, conventional doctors would normally prescribe pharmaceuticals like Prilosec, Prevacid or Aciphex to treat acid reflux or heartburn. When the patient stops taking such drugs, the heartburn symptoms come back. In contrast, a Functional Medicine practitioner might find that a patient’s acid reflux is caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Eradicating the Helicobacter pylori might very well lead to the end of heartburn symptoms, permanently.

It’s also important to note that in Functional Medicine, treatment for similar symptoms might vary tremendously for different patients, according to their medical history and results of laboratory tests. Factors that can come into play in producing the same symptoms include toxic chemicals, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, chronic viral pathogens, emotional poisons like anger, greed or envy, and structural factors such as tumors or cysts.

The Roots of Functional Medicine

You may be surprised to learn that Functional Medicine isn’t new. It actually represents a return to the roots of modern scientific medicine, captured in this statement by Sir William Osler, one of the first professors at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and later its Physician-in-Chief: “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”

Another important saying by Osler is “If you listen carefully to the patient, they will tell you the diagnosis.” This encapsulates the importance placed in Functional Medicine on taking a thorough history from the patient.

Your Experience of Functional Medicine

We have titled this web site, “Your Medical Detective,” because patients often feel their Functional Medicine practitioner is leaving no stone unturned in their relentless research to pinpoint the causes of a particular patient’s symptoms.

When you consult a Functional Medicine practitioner, the first step is always your history. Practitioners are trained on how to unravel and make sense of a complicated story. Often clues in the story lead to the identification of key imbalances.

The next set of clues comes from a comprehensive physical examination, which includes many nearly forgotten examination procedures used by famous diagnosticians (both living and long gone), such as chapman reflex points, ankle brachial reflex and nail inspection.

The final set of clues comes from advanced laboratory testing. Innovative, cutting-edge lab tests help the practitioner look deeply into a patient’s physiology to identify how it has been compromised and how physiological balance can be restored.

After diagnosis and treatment, a Functional Medicine patient can expect his or her symptoms to diminish in severity, with a renewed sense of well-being and significant increase in health and vitality.

While there is no substitute for face-to-face treatment from a trained Functional Medicine practitioner, this site educates you on the Functional Medicine perspective and on the kinds of clues and treatments that may be key to restoring you to optimal health.

 

 

From the Doctor’s Desk: Salivary Hormone Testing Backed by Science

Testing hormones through saliva is backed by science. But don’t take my word for it. In fact, it is well supported in the medical literature and is the right thing to do.  Below are links to several abstracts regarding salivary hormone testing. Read them for yourself and learn about the science behind this form of hormone testing.

• Belkien LD, Bordt J, Moller P, Hano R, Nieschlag E. Estradiol in saliva for monitoring follicular stimulation in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertil Steril 1985;44:322.
• Bolaji II, Tallon DF, O’Dwyer E, Fottrell PF. Assessment of bioavailability of oral micronized progesterone using a salivary progesterone enzymeimmunoassay. Gynecol Endocrinol 1993;7:101-110.
• Campbell BC, Ellison PT. Menstrual variation in salivary testosterone among regularly cycling women. Horm Res 1992;37:132-136.
• Aardal-Eriksson E, Karlberg BE, Holm AC. Salivary cortisol- and alternative to serum cortisol determinations in dynamic function tests. Clin Chem Lab Med 1998;36:215-222.

These articles are published in well-respected journals; and if you notice, they are not recent.  Salivary testing of hormones has been well published in the medical literature for some time now.

Here are a few quotes from these studies:

• “…salivary cortisol may be used as an alternative parameter in dynamic endocrine tests.”
• “…assessment of ovarian function…can be performed precisely with the saliva estradiol assay.”
• “…saliva collection has provided the medical and research community with an excellent medium for the monitoring of plasma steroid levels.”

Nowhere else in medicine do we blindly treat people without assessing a baseline and post treatment level(s). Balance is the key; not one individual hormone. Unfortunately, the medical field is very slow to learn and change.

What Is Seasons?

At Seasons, our focus is wellness, not just treatment of disease. In this video, Dr. Nathan Goodyear talks about his vision for Seasons and our revolutionary approach to women’s health care.

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Bioidentical Progesterone Helps Your Heart

President Eisenhower said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened”

In my last post, we looked at some new discoveries in science about the truth of bioidentical hormone therapy. Specifically, we looked at the different ways bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins affect the breasts. This week I want to look at the different ways they affect the cardiovascular system.

I can hear what you’re probably thinking. “You mean some hormones might have beneficial effects on the heart? That is not what my doctor told me.”

I don’t know your doctor or your specific situation, but I do know about the latest scientific research.

Synthetic hormones increase cardiovascular risks.

One study, the Women’s Health Initiative saw a large increase in the risk of heart attacks and stroke in women who used Provera. This is not at all surprising since synthetic progestins have previously been shown (in the PEPI study) to negate the positive cardiovascular benefits of estrogen.

These results stand in stark contrast to studies using bioidentical progesterone, which has been shown to provide additional cardiovascular benefits.

Here’s some more down and dirty science. First, you need to understand that blood vessel constriction and plaque formation both increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Bioidentical progesterone reduced blood vessel constriction and plaque formation by 50%, but synthetic progestins actually increased blood vessel constriction and plaque formation.

Wow. I wish President Eisenhower’s words weren’t so appropriate. The truth is easy when everyone believes it; but the truth is hard to follow when so many people seem blind to it.

Here’s the truth: Bioidentical progesterone provides cardiovascular benefits to women.

Who needs Hormones?

Who needs hormones? The answer is: not everyone. Some need hormones, and some don’t. Additionally, a need for hormone therapy is not unique to women. Men can benefit from hormone therapy as well.

If you have symptoms of hormone imbalances, then hormone replacement therapy may be right for you. However, a “one size fits all approach” is never appropriate. Each individual’s hormone needs are as unique as his or her thumb print.

Hormone testing will help determine the specific hormone imbalances and direct treatment.

Menopause and Hormones 101

If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause, you are probably wondering about hormones. Everyone is talking about hormones these days. So here’s a quick crash course in the ones that affect your body.

Let’s start with the three estrogens.

1. Estradiol: Estradiol is produced primarily in the ovaries and is the most potent of the 3 estrogens. This estrogen will decrease significantly during menopause or after removal of ovaries. This estrogen is responsible for the symptoms that most associate with menopause.
2. Estrone: Estrone is produced primarily from fat tissue and muscles. This estrogen is the second most potent. It will be elevated in women who are overweight and has been linked to the accelerated growth of breast cancer among other things. In fact, this hormone is best left out of hormone replacement regimens.
3. Estriol: Estriol is the weakest of the 3 estrogens. It is dominate during pregnancy and has been linked to breast cancer protection.

There are several other hormones that you’ll hear about.

• Progesterone: Progesterone is the counterpart to estrogen. Where estrogen promotes growth, progesterone promotes maturation or stabilization. Progesterone is dominant in the latter half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone has been shown to have PMS, anti-depressant and anti-anxiety benefits. Simply put, progesterone balances estrogen.
• Testosterone: Yes! Women have testosterone too. It is produced primarily from the ovaries before menopause. After menopause, it is primarily produced by the adrenal glands. Testosterone has well known libido benefits.
• T4: This thyroid hormone is produced in the thyroid gland and released for circulation. It can be replaced with such medicines as synthroid and levothryoxine. Low T4 can be a result of iodine deficient diets.
• T3: This is the most potent of the two thyroid hormones and is produced from the conversion of T4 in the liver and kidneys. T3 is present in the medicines armour thyroid and cytomel.
• Cortisol: Produced in the adrenal glands, cortisol is released in large response to stress. High cortisol levels promote slow metabolism and fat storage. Prolonged stress and high cortisol levels, can result in adrenal exhaustion and low cortisol levels. Low cortisol levels cause fatigue and other symptoms that can mimic depression.

ZRT Laboratory has an interactive graphic that is very helpful in giving you an overview of most hormones your body produces.

What symptoms indicate hormone imbalance?

The symptoms of low estrogen include…

• hot flashes
• night sweats
• vaginal dryness
• urinary frequency
• depressed feeling
• sleeping difficulty
• no interest in sex
• no periods

The symptoms of low testosterone include…

• fatigue
• lack of drive
• lack of initiative
• less assertive
• decline in sense of well being
• general depressed moods
• irritable
• lack of self-confidence
• difficulty in setting goals
• decline in mental sharpness
• no stamina/endurance
• loss of muscle mass, strength, or tone
• increased body fat around waist
• elevated cholesterol
• decreased libido
• decreased sexual ability
• sleep apnea

The symptoms of low thyroid include…

• general fatigue or afternoon fatigue
• elevated cholesterol
• difficulty losing weight
• cold hands and feet
• sensitivity to cold
• difficulty thinking clearly
• difficulty concentrating
• poor short term memory
• depressed moods
• hair loss
• constipation
• dry, itchy skin
• fluid retention
• recurrent headaches
• restless sleep
• tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• decreased sweating
• infertility or recurrent miscarriages
• recurrent infections
• muscles aches
• joint pain
• thinning of eyebrows and eyelashes
• enlargement of tongue and teeth indentations
• decreased body hair
• hoarse voice
• slow heart rate
• low blood pressure
• low body temperature
• sleep apnea

The symptoms of high estrogen/low progesterone include…

• premenstrual breast tenderness
• premenstrual mood swings
• premenstrual fluid retention and/or weight gain
• migraine headaches
• severe menstrual cramps
• heavy periods with clotting
• irregular menstrual cycles
• uterine fibroids
• fibrocystic breasts
• endometriosis
• history of infertility
• history of miscarriages
• joint pain
• muscle pain
• decreased libido
• anxiety and/or panic attacks

The advantages of saliva testing

From the patient’s perspective, saliva testing is painless and costs less than conventional blood tests. It can also be collected at home.

From the doctor’s perspective, saliva testing is easier because samples remain stable at room temperature up to 3 weeks. Most important though, saliva testing evaluates the active hormone levels in your body.

After you have collected your saliva samples and mailed them off, DiagnosTechs laboratory will e-mail the results to our office in 5-7 business days.

In a follow-up appointment, we will go over the results with you and discuss a treatment plan unique to your individual needs. Most patients begin implementing this plan at the end of the follow-up appointment.

Further testing will be based on symptoms unique to each individual. Sometimes it is necessary to do additional testing of your thyroid, insulin levels, glucose levels, and cortisol levels.

You can learn more about salivary testing at www.salivatest.com.

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