What is the Best Solution to Low Testosterone Levels?
By Space Coast Daily // August 15, 2020
Life expectancy for men has increased from 46 years in 1900 to 76 years in 2014, as per the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Regular exercise, a healthy diet, technological advancement and adequate rest all contribute to the increase in energy and vitality in men over 50 years of age.
Apart from this, men have also started to resort to one of the most advanced anti-aging solutions currently available and that is using Testosterone Boosters.
Use of testosterone increasing products among middle-aged men has become a common phenomenon since the last decade.
Testosterone boosters directly impact the levels of testosterone by prohibiting the hormone from being converted into estrogen.
Testosterone replacement therapy is suited for people with abysmally low levels of testosterone.
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is a hormone that is responsible for the development of external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics in men. It is produced primarily by the testicles.
Testosterone is in charge of maintaining:
■ Red blood cell production
■ Bone density
■ Fat distribution
■ Muscle bulk
■ Sexual and reproductive function
■ Testosterone is also essential for vitality and overall well-being.
What happens to testosterone levels with age?
As men age, their bodies gradually produce less testosterone than before. This natural decline starts at around age 30 and continues throughout the rest of a man’s life.
Testosterone levels usually reach their peak during adolescence and early adulthood. It declines gradually, roughly about 1% a year after age 30 or 40.
In older men, it’s imperative to determine the cause of low testosterone level. It must be ascertained whether the loss is due to normal aging or if it is due to a disease (hypogonadism).
Male hypogonadism
Some men live with a condition called hypogonadism, which is caused by testosterone deficiency. This condition is characterized by inadequate production of testosterone.
Hypogonadism hampers the body’s ability to produce normal amounts of testosterone due to a problem plaguing the testicles or the pituitary gland that controls the testicles.
Major causes include:
■ delayed puberty
■ testicular damage (caused by trauma, alcoholism, or mumps)
■ hypothalamic disease
■ pituitary disease
■ noncancerous pituitary tumor
■ Klinefelter syndrome
■ Kallmann syndrome
■ myotonic dystrophy
Men who have suffered an injury to the testicles or have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS have a greater possibility of being afflicted by this condition.
Also, men who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or have had undescended testicles as an infant, are also considered to be at risk for hypogonadism.
Symptoms of male hypogonadism in adulthood include:
■ Decrease in beard and body hair growth
■ Decrease in muscle mass
■ Decreased sex drive
■ Development of breast tissue
■ Difficulty concentrating
■ Fatigue
■ Infertility
■ Loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)
Normal testosterone levels
In order to understand whether testosterone levels are low, it is important to establish a normal level. This has proven to be a challenge for clinicians.
However, as per a press release from the Endocrine Society in January 2017, results from a recent study have helped refine the definition of normal ranges for testosterone levels in men.
The range for normal testosterone level has been calculated by observing men between the ages of 19 years and 39 years who aren’t obese.
The range is 264–916 nanograms per deciliter(ng/dL).
Treatment options for low testosterone levels
Lifestyle changes
There are certain lifestyle changes that help increase testosterone levels. Adding resistance exercises to your daily routine and losing weight are two changes that are known to have a positive effect.
Studies indicate that resistance exercise, such as lifting weights, is directly related to temporary increases in testosterone levels. However, these surges are typically much higher in younger men than in older men, and don’t appear to greatly affect the overall level of testosterone.
Most exercises, especially cardiovascular exercise, promotes the loss of excessive weight, which helps in increasing levels of testosterone. This is significantly beneficial for people who are obese.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy is an FDA approved option to treat low testosterone levels in men. In replacement therapy, the doctor monitors your testosterone levels and helps you effectively treat symptoms associated with low testosterone.
Testosterone replacement therapy is suited for people with abysmally low levels of testosterone.
Normal body functions get affected by these abnormally low levels, which directly contribute to decreased muscle mass and a reduced sex drive, among other effects. Testosterone medication is prescribed for this treatment.
Medication is primarily testosterone in the form of pills, patches, and gel that works trans dermally, and liquid that can be injected into your body. It helps in increasing your body’s overall testosterone level and eliminates or decreases symptoms of low testosterone levels.
A visit to the TRT clinic can help you find specific solutions that fit your condition. Testosterone injections are often suggested in case of dangerously low levels. These injections contain bioidentical hormones, which are molecularly identical to the testosterone that are naturally produced by your body.
If you undergo testosterone replacement therapy, it is essential to conduct frequent blood tests to check your testosterone levels and to look out for side effects.
A common side effect is an increase in the number of red blood cells. It may rarely cause blood clots. People are known to have experienced acne and breast enlargement.
Testosterone supplements
A proposed treatment for low testosterone levels are testosterone supplements, which can be bought online..
Supplements like Prime Male, that are all-natural, are often preferred for long-term treatments over pharmaceutical options.
These supplements provide your body with the vitamins and minerals that are necessary to produce testosterone.
Testosterone foods
Certain foods play a vital role in helping your body regulate your testosterone levels. Foods that are rich in zinc and vitamin D help to keep your testosterone at the required level.
Some of the foods that are rich in zinc and vitamin D are:
■ Tuna
■ Low fat milk
■ Egg yolks
■ Fortified cereals
■ Oysters
■ Shellfish
■ Beans
Garlic is known to produce increased levels of testosterone. Results of a study concluded that rats fed diets that were supplemented with garlic or a compound commonly found in garlic exhibited a noticeable increase in testosterone levels in the testicles.
Takeaway
It is natural for testosterone levels in men to decrease gradually with age. However, in some cases, these levels can be dangerously low and this may cause unwanted symptoms.
Treatments are available in abundance, but it’s important for your doctor to first confirm your low testosterone levels with one or more blood tests.
Your doctor may also conduct other tests to help determine what’s causing your low testosterone, and what treatment works best for you!
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