Emerging Trends in Men’s Health

Gerry Letendre, RPh, MBA, CHt

When it comes to men’s health, we typically discuss conditions like heart disease and prostate cancer, but there is one issue that gets put on the back burner and chalked up to a “normal” issue more often than not—Low Testosterone. Along with hormonal imbalance, what’s even more telling, is that having low testosterone is usually contributed to other health issues and poor lifestyle choices and dietary habits.

Men often think they won’t have any health problems until they reach a certain age, but Dr. Al Peters, Center for Anti-Aging Medicine & Hormone Wellness, says that’s not always the case. In fact, younger and younger men are coming into his office.

His male patients in their 30s and 40s suffer from conditions like fatigue, weight gain, low libido, sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction. In his 30 years as a physician, he has never seen so many men with such low testosterone levels.

Low Testosterone
As men’s hormonal testosterone levels begin to decline, they will experience a lack of energy, low libido, loss of muscle, weight gain, decreased mental focus, hair loss and low metabolism. Hormone levels can be adjusted through Testosterone Replacement Therapy, which alleviates or in many cases eliminates the associated symptoms and life fluctuations surrounding hormones. There are even studies now that suggest hormone replacement therapy can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Low testosterone and weight gain go hand in hand. It’s Low testosterone and weight gain go hand in hand. It’s imperative to lose weight in order for testosterone treatment to benefit you long term. Fat contains an enzyme called aromatase. Aromatase converts testosterone in estrogen, so without losing weight, it will be a constant battle.

Low Testosterone Can Lead To:
• Heart Disease
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Depression
• Diabetes

Lessening Environmental Toxins and Making Lifestyle Changes
Dr. Peters attributes this trend to two main factors: lifestyle and the environment.

“We live in a very stressed society,” he says. “We’re required to do more day in and day out.”

He worries about environmental effects on our health, as well. Toxins in our water and the air can have negative affects on men’s fertility, among other functions.

To uncover all the possible contributing causes, Dr. Peters takes a holistic approach with his patients and their treatment plans. He begins his 1.5-hour initial consultation getting a very detailed history, ranging from diet and nutrition to exercise and sex function. Dr. Peters also looks at what the patient does for a living and how that might affect his daily health.

Only after gathering this lifestyle information does the medical testing take place. Dr. Peters then reviews the lab results and makes correlations between them and the patient’s symptoms to create a course of action.

If you have a hole in your gas tank, adding more gas is pointless. You need to fix the hole. It’s the same thing with living a healthy lifestyle, fixing a symptom with a pill is not the comprehensive solution your body needs.

“It’s not just medications or hormones,” he says. “For many, it’s going to involve lifestyle change.”

A typical patient of Dr. Peters is 45 years old and has two kids and a good but stressful job. He complains about increased belly fat, lack of energy, no sex drive and ED. Dr. Peters usually assesses the patient’s nutritional intake and devises a tailored workout program. Hormone balance is another important component of the treatment plan. His patients often have high estrogen and low testosterone, making them weak and rundown.

These men do extremely well on the treatment plan, excelling at work and having better relationships with their wives and children.

His biggest challenge with his male patients is their reluctance to see a doctor. “We still have a bit of a stigma that if you ask for help, it’s a sign of weakness,” he says. “This couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Dr. Peters urges men to be proactive with their health problems. “Put your health first,” he says. “If you don’t keep your body in the best shape, you won’t be able to help your loved ones.”

Bio-Identical Hormones
In the U.S., Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has been used since the 1930s. And based on hundreds of current medically thorough studies, the results for patient’s overall quality of life and dramatic changes in their hormonal symptoms are astounding.

BHRT is equal to our body’s natural hormones on a molecular level. The difference between synthetic and bio-identical hormones is that synthetic hormones do not match human hormones on a biological level.

Bio-identical hormones are made from plant sources and are readily received by the body as natural and normal. They are much more therapeutic and effective than synthetic hormonal substances.

Why Compounding?
Compounding combines an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and state-of-the-art technology, allowing specially trained professionals to prepare customized medications to meet each patient’s specific needs. Compounding is fundamental to the profession of pharmacy and was a standard means of providing prescription medications before drugs began to be produced in mass quantities by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The demand for professional compounding has increased as healthcare professionals and patients realize that the limited number of strengths and dosage forms that are commercially available are unable to meet the unique needs of many patients. These patients may have a better response to a customized dosage form that is “just what the doctor ordered”.

Quality Compounding Maximizes Therapeutic Outcomes
The efficacy of any formulation is directly related to its preparation, which is why THE SELECTION OF YOUR COMPOUNDING PHARMACY IS CRITICAL. On-
going training for compounding pharmacists and technicians, state-of-the-art equipment, and high-quality chemicals are essential. Experience and ingenuity are important factors as well. When modifying a formula or developing a unique preparation, the compounding pharmacist must consider physical and chemical properties of both the active ingredient and excipients, solubility, tonicity, viscosity, and the most appropriate dosage form or device for administering the needed medication. Standard Operating Procedures should be in place and appropriate potency testing should be performed.

Sarasota Compounding Pharmacy
Call 941.366.0880 or visit sarasotarx.com
2075 Siesta Drive, Sarasota, FL 34239