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The Ultimate in Preventive
Medicine
has Finally Been
Realized
Insufficiency of hormones has been discovered to be a major
element in the process of aging.
Fortunately, the NIA (National Institute on Aging) has
instructed several major U.S. universities to study this
phenomenon. Research from around the world during the last five
years has lead the NIA to realize the tremendous benefits of
hormone replacement therapy.
The emphasis of allopathic medicine has always
been to diagnose and treat a disease process. Unfortunately,
many of the disease processes, including cardiovascular disease,
stroke, cancer and Alzheimer's disease, have been blamed on the
aging process. However, conventional medicine has never treated
aging as a disease process nor has it tried to prevent this disease
process. Now we can look at aging as a significant factor in
disease formation and attempt to prevent the symptoms of aging by
treating aging as a disease in itself. We now have begun to change
our thinking that it is normal to deteriorate with age and
therefore acceptable. Fortunately, we now know that much of the
deterioration of aging is preventable.
Hormones are tiny, chemical messengers
continuously secreted into the bloodstream by endocrine glands to
regulate activities of vital organs. Hormones stimulate a
multitude of life-giving processes throughout the body which
maintain health, harmony, growth, healing and repair. Probably the
best known hormone is insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas.
Before the development of the production and administration of
insulin, many people died as a result of diabetes or had severe
debilitating illnesses. Once scientists were able to synthesize
insulin, the severe changes associated with diabetes were
reversed.
Genetic engineering has now enabled
endocrinologists to synthesize all the natural hormones found in
our bodies. This significant advancement in the ability to
synthesize our hormones has lead to endocrinology research into the
correction of the deficiency of hormones that contributes to our
aging decline. It is the operation of the endocrine system that is
responsible for the regulation of the body's temperature, sexual
desires, growth, healing, aging and immune system. It is the
endocrine system that allows the central nervous system to
communicate with every cell in the body. Hormone deficiencies
affect every cell in the body and result in degenerative changes
and the aging process as well as symptoms of aging. However,
bringing hormone levels back to level we had when we were younger
reverses many of the unfavorable effects that begin to appear as we
age.
This new gestalt of treating age as a disease
process first started in 1991 by a famous endocrinologist at the
Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Daniel Rudman. Dr. Rudman
studied hormone replacement in older men, the results were
published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Rudman
stated in an interview, "We reversed 10 to 20 years of the aging
process in older men. Fat diminished, muscle tissue and strength
increased." There was also increased lean body mass, decreased body
fat, increased vertebral bone density, increased skin thickness,
increased exercise tolerance and exercise endurance, improved
healing and immunity, and tremendous increase in overall
well-being. This was all accomplished by the simple administration
of human growth hormone. Thus Dr. Rudman's study revealed
solid research supporting the fact that hormonal decline itself is
a major cause of our aging. Providing the body with additional
human growth hormone can reverse symptoms of the aging process.
Other scientists have realized the importance
of supplementation of other hormones. Scientists at the
Gerontology Research Center of the National Institute of
Health in Baltimore, Maryland, are working with other researchers
to examine the role that reduced plasma sex hormones play in
age-related disturbances, including musculoskeletal function, body
composition and metabolic function. Combined hormone replacement
therapy, by returning growth hormone and sex hormone levels to
levels typical for younger people, has shown additive or
synergistic effects. Physical and psychological function is
improved, including improvement in cardiovascular function,
improved cholesterol levels, increased lean body mass, and improved
muscle strength and fitness. Let's take a look at the various
hormones and their roles.
DHEA
DHEA is a hormone secreted by the
adrenal glands. This hormone is a precursor to other sex hormones.
In addition to having its own hormone effect, it results in a shift
to an anabolic or protein building state. It reduces cardiovascular
risk by increasing Lipolysis or breakdown of fat. It also
stimulates the immune system, restores sexual vitality, improves
mood, decreases cholesterol and body fat. Recent studies point to
DHEA as an anti-stress hormone, reversing he effects of stress on
the immune system.
ESTROGEN
Estrogen is secreted by the
ovaries. Estrogen protects against heart disease, stroke,
osteoporosis, Alzheimer's Disease and memory disorders. It protects
against vaginal atrophy, urinary incontinence, and prevents
symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and temperature
disregulation. It improves balance by improving the visual
somatosensory system in the central nervous system. Estrogen
deficiency results in urogenital atrophy, incontinence, sagging
skin in the breasts, increased skin wrinkles of the face, decreased
fatigue, depression, mood swings and decreased libido. It is of
extreme importance that the estrogen prescribed be a natural
estrogen and not a synthetic estrogen. The synthetic estrogens have
been shown to be harmful. We only prescribe natural hormones and
never use the cancer causing synthetic hormones (such as Premarin).
For optimal protection, natural estrogen supplementation should be
balanced by natural progesterone supplementation.
GROWTH
HORMONE
Growth hormone (HGH) is secreted
by the pituitary gland and is taken into the liver and converted
into a protein call somatomedin-C or IGF-1 (insulin-like growth
factor-one). It is IGF-1 that is partially responsible for the
growth hormone functions in the body. Growth hormone contributes to
ongoing tissue repair, healing, cell rejuvenation, bone strength,
brain function, enzyme production, and the integrity of hair, nails
and skin. The signs of growth hormone deficiency are the same as
the signs of aging. Body composition shifts with an increase in fat
and body weight and a decrease in muscle mass and energy. There is
a decrease in bone mineralization, vitality ebbs, and there is
increased cardiovascular disease and mortality. There are also
psycho social deficits and impaired physical performance, poor
sleep, and decreased social interaction.
Research indicates that daily supplementation
of growth hormone may reverse symptoms of the aging process
and restore a more youthful physiology and conditioning. All
major hGH studies have documented improved body composition and
function. There is a consistent improvement in muscle/fat ratio.
There is a 10 to 20% decrease in fat and a 10% increase in muscle.
There is also an increased lipolysis or breakdown of fat with the
concomitant decrease in cholesterol and triglycerides. There is
also an increase in exercise capacity, bone density muscle mass and
strength. There is increase in cardiac output, skin rejuvenation
with an increase in collagen and elastin, and a significant
improvement in immunity which results in growth hormone's anti
cancer and longevity effect.
MELATONIN
Melatonin is secreted by the
pineal gland. It is a circadian rhythm hormone - thereby affecting
the patterns of sleep. Research has shown that the cells of the
body rejuvenate and repair during the deeper stages of sleep. It is
during the deeper stages of sleep that the body produces natural
killer cells or CD4 cells. Melatonin increases the deep stage of
sleep and stage IV sleep, thereby increasing and enhancing
immunity. Improved sleep patterns serve to energize the body and
improve mood. Melatonin has powerful antioxidant effects which
accounts for disease prevention qualities. Melatonin has tremendous
cancer prevention effects due to its enhancement of the immune
system. Melatonin deficiency results in poor sleep, jet lag,
irritability, hypersensitivity and premature aging.
PREGNENOLONE
Pregnenolone is a precursor to
other hormones. It functions as a memory enhancer and is a factor
in cellular repair, particularly in the brain and nerve tissue.
Pregnenolone protects cerebral function and protects against
neuronal injury.
PROGESTERONE
Progesterone is secreted by the
ovaries and reduces symptoms of premature menstrual syndrome. It
protects against uterine and breast cancers, osteoporosis,
fibrocystic disease and ovarian cysts. It dramatically decreases
menopausal symptoms. Most U.S. physicians prescribe synthetic
progestins which cause such side effects as bloating, headaches,
fatigue and weight gain. The natural progesterone must be
prescribed in place of the synthetic progestin to avoid the side
effects and protect against cancer. We emphasize the use of natural
hormones and not synthetic hormones, which have been proven time
and time again to cause significant side effects.
TESTOSTERONE
Testosterone is a hormone secreted
by the adrenal glands, testes and ovaries. It contributes to muscle
mass, strength and endurance, decreased fat, increased exercise
tolerance, enhancement of well-being and psychological status.
Testosterone protects against cardiovascular disease, hypertension,
body fat and arthritis. It leads to improved lean muscle mass,
increased bone density, decrease in cholesterol, improved skin
tone, improved healing capacity, and increased libido and sexual
performance. It prolongs the quality of life by decreasing the
diseases of aging, as does estrogen in the female. Testosterone is
also present and extremely important in the female as well as the
male, making supplementation absolutely recommended for men and
women.
THYROID
HORMONE
Thyroid hormone is a metabolic
hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates temperature,
metabolism and cerebral function. It contributes to energy levels
and temperature regulation and body warmth. It increases fat
breakdown, resulting in weight loss as well as lower cholesterol.
It protects against cardiovascular disease and improves cerebral
metabolism. It helps to prevent cognitive impairment. Thyroid
hormone is probably the safest and most beneficial cholesterol
lowering agent, yet it is infrequently used for this!
SUMMARY
The basics for optimal health and
longevity are proper diet, exercise, nutritional
supplementation and hormone replacement therapy. This stops
cellular degeneration and allows regeneration of tissue, healing
and a slowing down of the aging process.
Hormones are not drugs. They are natural
substances that have existed in our bodies since conception. The
doses of hormones taken in hormone replacement therapy should never
exceed what your body has already been accustomed to in its younger
years. They caused no harm in the body at that time and when
restored to youthful levels continue to provide the health and
vigor that one loses as they age. When hormones are taken as
prescribed by physicians and monitored closely they produce no
negative side effects. When all the declining hormones are taken
together in the correct doses, they work with each other to restore
declining immunity which in turn helps protect the body against
cancer.
Physical deterioration is not a
requirement of growing older. It is now possible to stop much of
this undesirable aspect of aging as well as the symptoms and
diseases associated with aging. Hormone replacement therapy is an
updated science which has been shown to not only prolong life but
prolong the quality of one's life. At the Optimal Health Clinic of
Utah, we specialize in total hormone replacement regimens as well
as exercise, diet and nutritional supplementation to achieve
maximum benefits and deter the aging process. After a history and
physical examination with laboratory evaluation, a personalized
hormone supplementation program will be prescribed for you and
monitored until optimal hormone levels have been
achieved1.
We hope this clarifies some of the misconceptions
you may have had concerning hormone supplementation. It will be our
pleasure to discuss a personalized program to meet your specific
needs.
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