June is National Men’s Health Week, Explains, Phil Altman, R.Ph., Compounding Pharmacist

In support of National Men’s Health Week, The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy, wants to empower men to lead a proactive lifestyles and take charge of their health by putting hormone testing on this month’s health check list.

“For men and women alike, health should be the number one priority, regardless of age. It’s common for men to desensitize themselves to the idea of getting older, being that they’re more willing to accept these changes, they usually do little to prevent them.” explains, Phil Altman, R.Ph., Compounding Pharmacist.

Men have hormones too and like women, as men age, their hormones begin to decline, often times resulting in symptoms of andropause – the male menopause. It’s estimated that nearly 25 million American men over 40 are currently suffering symptoms of hormonal imbalance, but most chalk it up to getting older or ‘midlife crisis.

Physicians recommend hormone testing for men who experience three or more of the following signs of andropause:
• Loss of Sex Drive
• Depression
• Irritability
• Muscle loss
• Weight gain
• Sleep problems
• Erectile problems
• Memory loss
• Thinning hair
• Decreased bone density

Although andropause is the most common cause of hormonal imbalance in middle-aged men, when it comes to low testosterone,  male menopause isn’t necessarily the only culprit. Other conditions such as hypogonadism can have a similar effect on testosterone production and manifest many of the same symptoms – the only difference is that hypogonadism can occur at any age, while the onset of andropause typically doesn’t set in until a man’s 40’s. Other hormones play a role as well. Chronic stress can raise blood-cortisol levels and suppress testosterone production. Excess estrogen can counteract the effects of testosterone on the body and lead to bone and muscle loss. This is why hormonal balance is so critical to women and men alike. Physicians recommend every man over the age of 40 get a baseline hormone test to determine hormone deficiencies, especially testosterone.

Hormonal imbalances affect everyone differently,so it’s hard to determine the nature of a particular hormonal imbalance, based on the symptoms alone.  With blood and saliva testing, and with close collaberation with your doctor, we’re able to pinpoint the source of underlying hormonal imbalances and address the patient’s needs accordingly. Using customized nutrition and bioidentical hormone therapy, we’ve helped hundreds of women – and men too – overcome symptoms of hormonal imbalances.