blog about how to get your testosterone level checked and how can it affect your health.
You might not give much thought to the idea of low testosterone, but the moment you turn 40, it should have been a top priority. Low testosterone level in men can often be correlated with erectile dysfunction (ED) or sexual dysfunction. It can even cause problems such as loss of muscle mass, increase in body fat, lower bone density and declining overall health.
1. Low testosterone levels can lead to fatigue, weight gain and memory issues.
Testosterone is a hormone produced in the testicles. It's what gives men their masculinity, and it also plays a role in bone density and muscle mass.
When men reach middle age, their testosterone levels slowly decline — but some men experience a more rapid decline than others. Low testosterone levels can lead to fatigue, weight gain and memory issues.
If you've noticed that your sex drive has declined or you're having trouble walking upstairs, your doctor may suggest testing your testosterone levels.
What Is Testosterone?
Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in the male body. It plays a key role in sexual function and reproduction as well as muscle building and strength maintenance. Testosterone also helps keep bones strong and healthy by stimulating red blood cell production and regulating calcium absorption from food.
2. Your risk for low testosterone increases as you get older, it's important to be aware of the symptoms.
For men over 40, low testosterone (hypogonadism) can interfere with your health, sex life, and even your ability to think clearly.
Your risk for low testosterone increases as you get older, it's important to be aware of the symptoms. They include:
Decreased muscle mass (sarcopenia)
Difficulty concentrating and remembering things, I call brain fog
Erectile dysfunction or decreased sexual desire
Even hearing loss
Testosterone is a hormone that's produced mainly by the testicles. It plays a role in sperm production as well as bone and muscle mass. Low levels of testosterone can affect your libido and energy level. It can also cause changes in mood and memory problems. All of these symptoms may be signs of hypogonadism.
Causes of Low Testosterone
The symptoms of low testosterone (low T) can be subtle and hard to recognize. But the most common signs include low energy, poor sex drive, trouble sleeping and mood changes like depression and irritability.
Low testosterone is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. If you're experiencing some of these symptoms, see your doctor for blood tests that measure your levels of this hormone.
If you have low testosterone, there are several things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing:
Take steps to manage stress in your life. Stress is a major contributor to low testosterone in men over 40 years old.
Exercise regularly. Exercise helps maintain muscle mass — one of the things that naturally declines as we age — which can improve your bone health and reduce risk factors associated with heart disease and diabetes.
Eat a healthy diet rich in protein-rich foods such as lean meat and fish; beans; lentils; nuts; seeds; eggs; soy products like tofu; dairy products such as cheese or yogurt; legumes like chickpeas or black beans. These foods help boost levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates production of both testosterone and sperm cells in men's bodies
3. Getting your testosterone tested is the best way to determine if your testosterone levels are within the normal range for your age.
The first thing that you should do is get your testosterone level tested. If your levels are on the low side, you may be able to increase them naturally. If they're too high, then you'll need to see a nutritionist or functional nutrition doctor who can prescribe the right treatment for your needs.
Testosterone can be checked using blood or saliva. If having your testosterone checked your doctor should check your estrogen level as well since they compete for the same receptors.
If at all possible, getting a full medical work-up is the best way to determine if your testosterone levels are within the normal range for your age. This will include additional testing for blood sugar, insulin and possibly thyroid.
Know what normal is for you. You may actually have to get tested a couple of times; once to find your initial level and at least another time to make sure the dietary changes and supplements are working, and your testosterone level is improving. This ensures finding your optimal level, but the additional cost is definitely worth it, when you feel so good!
As we age, our testosterone levels decline naturally and this can cause many symptoms of low T including fatigue, poor libido, muscle loss and lack of focus. For most men, this happens between 40 and 60 years old. Most men's testosterone levels fall within 300 ng/dl (nanograms per deciliter) or 10 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter). But every man's body is different and testosterone levels vary by age, so these numbers may vary from person to person based on how much muscle mass he has or his family history of heart disease or diabetes.
4. Low testosterone levels can be treated with hormone replacement therapy, but there are other options.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is one of the most common ways to treat low testosterone. The idea behind TRT is that restoring your body's natural levels of the hormone will help you feel better and lead a healthier lifestyle.
But there are some side effects of TRT that you should be aware of before starting treatment:
1. Low libido — If your sex drive decreases after getting TRT, it may be due to the hormones released by your body during treatment. These hormones can increase your estrogen levels, which may cause symptoms such as breast tenderness and gynecomastia (male breast enlargement). More research is needed on the possible link between estrogen supplements and prostate cancer risk. If you have any questions about this possible link, talk to your doctor about whether or not it's safe for you to take estrogen supplements while on TRT.
2. Gynecomastia — Gynecomastia is a condition where men develop enlarged breasts due to an imbalance in their estrogen and testosterone levels. It can affect men who are taking TRT or who have naturally high
3. Increased belly fat — Obesity and increased abdominal, aka visceral fat, is the most dangerous kind of fat to carry. Visceral fat, sometimes known as a "beer belly" dramatically increases your risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. This fat is especially dangerous because it puts pressure on the abdominal organs, including the liver, which activates and deactivates testosterone and estrogen.
The natural supplements used to boost Low testosterone levels naturally are:
Zinc. Zinc is a mineral that’s essential for male fertility and testosterone production. It’s also important for sperm motility, or the ability of sperm to move toward an egg. Zinc deficiency is linked to low sperm motility and concentration, which can lead to infertility.
Magnesium. Magnesium is another mineral that’s needed for healthy sperm production and motility. Studies show that men with low levels of magnesium have lower levels of testosterone than men with high levels of magnesium do. Magnesium also supports muscle strength, which helps with athletic performance and recovery from workouts.
Vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the amount of testosterone your body produces by helping your body’s cells absorb calcium for bone growth and repair. It also promotes healthy prostate function and helps keep your immune system strong so it can fight off infections more effectively.
5. Get tested if you think you might have low testosterone and ask questions.
There are herbal supplements that can address symptoms of fatigue, muscular weakness, low libido and erectile disfunction found in low testosterone without the side effects listed above.
But don't panic — getting your testosterone and estrogen levels checked in saliva is the best way to determine if your testosterone levels are within the normal range for your age.
Many men who have low T don't realize they have it because they don't fit the classic picture of an older man with low testosterone. So, if you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting tested:
You have difficulty falling asleep at night or staying asleep through the night
You wake up exhausted even after a full night's sleep
You feel irritable or frustrated throughout the day
You experience depression or anxiety more often than usual
In conclusion, if you're an over-40 guy, you've probably heard about low testosterone — but you may not know how it's affecting your life or why it's important.
Low testosterone (or low T) is when your body doesn't produce enough of the hormone testosterone. It's also sometimes called andropause (a male menopause).
Testosterone is a hormone that's key to male health and well-being. It helps build muscle mass, burn fat and build bone strength. Testosterone also helps regulate sexual function, mood and energy level — which makes sense since testosterone declines with age.
The prevalence of low T in men over 40 has been estimated at anywhere from 2% to 19%. However, many physicians believe that number could be higher because low T is often underdiagnosed because symptoms aren't as obvious as those for other medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
Some doctors may use other names for low T, like hypogonadism or hypoandrogenism. But whatever it's called, the bottom line is that if your testosterone levels are low, you're likely to feel less energetic and have a harder time maintaining muscle mass as well as sexual function.
Get your testosterone levels checked today!