HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE RESEARCH & NEWS

Study Proves Link between Testosterone Deficiency and Male Frailty

There are a number of prominent studies that have come out in the last decade which correlate low levels of endogenous testosterone with a number of different physiological ailments. A new study presents evidence that older males who are testosterone deficient are at a significantly higher risk of developing geriatric frailty than their counterparts with normal testosterone levels.

The clinical study observed a group of over 3,600 Australian males over the age of seventy. Scientists discovered that the group of males who were testosterone deficient in comparison to their peers were either more physically fragile or had higher incidence of frailty as they aged further.

Low Testosterone Correlated with Poor Health Outcomes

The study and its implications were revealed in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. This scientific data provides further evidence that the loss of Endogenous Testosterone as a result of the aging process leads to poor health outcomes. The problem that scientists are trying to answer now is, What can be done about Testosterone Deficiency?

Zoe Hyde of the Perth University of Western Australia is the principal researcher who lead this important study. He and his colleagues are very cautious against recommending Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy with the current body of evidence, but they do display a certain level of optimism and possibility when discussing the subject.

Mrs. Hyde believes that widespread clinical testing of Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Testosterone Deficiency needs to be conducted as a means to assess the effectiveness of the therapy to treat or prevent physical frailty that occurs as a result of such deficiency. She understands the great potential of this amazing therapy, but she feels that the risks and benefits of Testosterone Treatment need to be assessed before the therapy can be properly approved.

Testosterone Replacement is Proven Beneficial in Many Ways

Testosterone has been proven to have many fantastic benefits for patients over the age of thirty who suffer or are simply beginning to notice the effects of accelerated aging due to Testosterone Deficiency. Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy has been shown to aid males in building both muscle strength and muscle mass. In addition to this, Testosterone elevates red blood cell counts and bone density as well.

It is a proven and unfortunate fact that Testosterone levels drop with age. There is also mounting evidence that shows that older males who develop Testosterone Deficiency have a higher rate of major medical issues such as osteoporosis and bone fractures, depression, and diabetes. All of these ailments along with other less recognized factors lead to a lifespan which is potentially reduced by a marked degree.

Although Testosterone Therapy Seems Promising, There is Much More Research to be Done

There is not a definitive link yet that proves that Testosterone Deficiency has a direct causal link to male health problems that occur as a part of the aging process. It is still unclear in exactly what ways Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy can aid men who are suffering from the physiological effects of Testosterone Deficiency. There is plenty of promising evidence regarding a number of different consequences of aging, but there are still many leads yet untapped in the clinical research community.

A number of scientific studies have discovered that Testosterone Therapy administered via injection or patch has the capability to remove adipose fat tissue and build muscle mass, but there is not yet definitive evidence that the physical changes that occur lead to enhanced strength, mobility, or physiological function in the population of older males.

Testosterone Frailty Study in Depth

In the above study, Doctor Hyde and her associates monitored testosterone rates and frailty in 3,616 males whose ages ranged between seventy and eighty-eight. Of those 3,616 males, the team was able to meet 1,586 of those males for further assessment in the following 4 to 7 years.

At the time of their first evaluation, fifteen percent of the males were found to be clinically frail. The clinical definition of frailty is that an individual display a minimum of three of the following symptoms related to health deterioration:

• Issues walking for a distance longer than a single block

• Problems ascending a single flight of stairs

• More than 5 major physiological ailments. The full list of eligible conditions are arthritis, cardiovascular disease, depression, asthma, stroke, anxiety, skin cancer, colon cancer, osteoporosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, Alzheimer's, myocardial infarction, angina, hypertension, leg ulcers, dementia, and diabetes

• Chronic fatigue

• Unintentional loss of weight which accounts for more than five percent of body mass over a period of a number of years

Researchers discovered their initial hypothesis to be correct: Participants who were found to have a Testosterone Deficiency were significantly more likely to suffer from clinical frailty. In addition to this, patients who were initially found to be healthy, but had lower levels of Free Testosterone than normal were found to be at an enhanced risk of developing clinical frailty than participants who were found to have average levels of Testosterone for their age group.

Doctor Hyde believes that the next logical step that emerges from this study is that Testosterone Replacement Therapy should be provided to willing participants who both suffer from Clinical Frailty as a result of Low Testosterone and those who have a Testosterone Deficiency and have yet to show signs of frailty.

Free Testosterone is Vital to Healthy Aging

One intriguing finding discovered by this study is that Total Testosterone Concentration is not effected by the aging process, but Free Testosterone levels are effected tremendously. Free Testosterone levels are an important indicator for the presence of Testosterone's benefits because Free Testosterone is much more active biologically than other configurations of the hormone.

It is important to note that this study provides no ability to prove that Testosterone Deficiency directly leads to male frailty.

Doctor Hyde believes that total causality may never be fully proven because there are a multitude of potential co-morbid disorders which can lead to both Testosterone Deficiency and symptoms of clinical frailty.

Even Healthy Patients with Low Testosterone at Elevated Risk of Future Complications

Despite the fact that scientists may not be able to directly link Testosterone Deficiency and Clinical Frailty, the fact that relatively healthy patients who were initially found to have Low Testosterone Levels were later found to develop physical frailty at an enhanced rate compared to their peers displays a significant probability that Testosterone Hormone Deficiency plays a prominent role in the issue of Male Geriatric Frailty.

Doctor Hyde feels that there are biological mechanisms which make this a distinct possibility, since Testosterone has been proven to be important for the maintenance of muscle health and bone strength.

In spite of this, there is not yet definitive proof that Testosterone Replacement Therapy can viably be used to treat or prevent clinical frailty. There is a possibility, for example, that Testosterone could lead to prostate enlargement or complicate existing tumors of the prostate, whether benign or cancerous. In addition to this, there is not yet sufficient data to make a knowledgeable prediction whether Testosterone Therapy enhances the risk of heart disease in older males.

Live Healthy, Live Consciously

For now, Doctor Hyde believes that the most important thing for older males to do at the present day is to maintain as active and healthy life as possible, in addition to eating a nutritious diet, working to keep weight in check, exercising, and avoiding tobacco.

From Reuters Health

About Zoe Hyde

Dr. Zoe Hyde is a Professor of Health Science at Curtin University in Bentley, Western Australia. Hyde is a Master of Public Health PhD. She is also a member of the Endocrine Society, the Public Health Association of Australia, and the Australasian Epidemiological Association, among other Prestigious groups. She specializes in Hormone Replacement Therapy and Epidemiology.

Conscious Evolution Responds:

We at Conscious Evolution Institute respect and value the scientific contributions of Dr. Hyde and her clinical staff, but we feel confident that there is significant value in Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy for older gentlemen who have been diagnosed with Testosterone Deficiency. Any male who is diagnosed with Abnormally Low Testosterone is eligible for Physician-Monitored Testosterone Replacement Therapy

We recognize that there are risks involved with the therapy regarding issues with the prostate and do not allow patients with a history of prostate cancer to utilize this therapy. We also monitor our patients closely for changes in prostate health and if any complications arise, therapy will be suspended immediately.

As a result of our vast clinical experience with Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, we have witnessed first-hand the benefits that Testosterone can provide to a deficient patient. If you are interested in learning more about this or any other of our 21st Century Hormone Treatments, we urge you to call or contact us today.

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http://www.eje.org/content/156/5/585.full

Sleeping Issues Tied to Low-T

Testosterone has a complex and widespread affect on physiological function. Most people think of Testosterone strictly as a hormone related to sexual function, but Testosterone plays a role in a variety of other systems. One area where Testosterone (or the lack of Testosterone) can have a major impact is sleep.

Have You Been Having Trouble Sleeping?

Many men report that, as they get older, they start having more and more trouble sleeping. Have you caught yourself laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, more often than you'd like to admit? Do you wake up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep? This may actually be a symptom of Testosterone Deficiency.

Testosterone and Sleep Quality

Low-T may not only affect your ability to stay asleep, but the quality of your sleep as well. As we sleep, the human body goes through different phases of sleep, all of which are important.

What Are the Normal Sleep Phases?

There are five stages of sleep, all of which are important to getting the most restful night possible. When we first fall asleep we enter Stage-1, which is characterized by a pattern of falling in and out of light sleep. During this phase, we are most prone to waking, and also to being jolted awake by the feeling of falling. During this phase, the muscles and the eyes are still active, but minimally.

As we fall deeper into rest we enter Stage-2, which is characterized by a combination of suppressed brain activity combined with occasional flourishes of neuronal activity. Stage-3 is comprised primarily of Delta Waves, the slowest rate at which our brains operate under normal circumstances. The brief bursts of activity from Stage-2 slow down, but remain far more active than Delta Wave. During stage three, all muscle and eye movement ceases. Stage-4 is the deepest form of sleep, and consists almost completely of Delta-Wave activity.

The first two phases of sleep are considered light sleep, whereas the latter phases are considered deep sleep. There is fifth stage of sleep, which is incredibly important. It is known as REM Sleep, REM an abbreviation for Rapid-Eye Movement. The first half of the normal sleeping pattern is characterized by a slow progression to deep sleep, while the latter half of the night is a shift back and forth from REM Sleep and an increasingly lighter and shorter reversal of the other four phases. REM Sleep is strongly associated with memory and learning, and is the period in which we dream.

Testosterone and Sleep Phases

Testosterone Production is tied directly to sleep phases. Testosterone Levels during sleep peak around the time that the first phase of REM-Sleep begins, and remain elevated for the rest of the night under normal circumstances. Testosterone Production ramps up as we enter stages three and four of deep sleep.

If poor sleep prevents us from sustaining deep sleep for a sufficient period of time, then Testosterone Levels fall. As men enter their fifties and sixties, sleep issues become more and more common. Recent research suggests that Low Testosterone Levels may account for as many as one in five men's sleep issues. The normal pattern of sleep is the result of a complex interplay of cerebral and physiological sequences, and Testosterone Deficiency impairs the body and mind's systems and aspects from working together in appropriate synchronicity.

Testosterone and Insomnia

Another sleep-related condition which impairs normal Testosterone Secretion is insomnia. Insomnia is a condition where it is incredibly hard to fall asleep, leaving some patients up all night, perhaps falling into occasional periods of light, fitful sleep at best. Insomnia is a spectrum condition, with some patients experiencing minor, occasional bouts, and others struggling with the condition for days, months, years, or even their entire life.

Testosterone Production is very sensitive to periods of inadequate sleep. One study suggests that even a single week of insomnia can impair Testosterone Production by around 15%. Sometimes Insomnia is the result of poor sleeping habits, other times it is the result of underlying physiological or neurological issues. If you are worried about your Testosterone Levels, it's important to take steps to improve your sleeping habits. Some steps that you can take to improve your sleeping habits are to avoid caffeine at night, install blackout curtains, turn the television off in the bedroom, and simply have a more rigorous bedtime. If insomnia isn't impacted by your efforts at improvement, you should see a sleep specialist.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a common condition in which your body doesn't get enough airflow while you sleep. This can result in shallow breathing for some patients, while others stop breathing for brief periods of time throughout the night. The range at which breathing can pause varies due to the severity of the Sleep Apnea and other factors. Breathing can stop for simply moments at a time, or much longer periods of time, even minutes. In severe cases, breathing can stop more than thirty times each hour.

When oxygen supplies drop to a certain level in the blood stream, the body recognizes that its choking and reinitiates breathing with a start, often associated with a choke or a snort. Sleep Apnea severely impairs sleep quality, because it prevents the brain from naturally moving along the normal pattern of sleep phases. As a result, Sleep apnea often causes significant fatigue and exhaustion throughout the day.

Testosterone and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea's lengthy pauses in breathing lead to repeated awakenings as the body struggles to recover oxygen in order to stabilize its functions. Sleep fragmentation leads to chronic sleep deprivation and excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as other sleep disorders, like insomnia.

While we are sleeping, the brain and body go into a total repair mode. It is while we sleep that our bodies recover from the previous day and get us ready for the next day. Sleep enhances functions from the cell to cell and from system to system, providing us with energy and keeping us healthy.

One of the vitally important aspects of sleep is hormone maintenance. The body releases the highest quantities of many of the most important hormones while we are asleep. Testosterone and Human Growth Hormone are primarily released at night. The body releases the majority of its Testosterone while we are in deep sleep. Sleep Apnea prevents deep sleep, causing Testosterone Levels to plummet. Testosterone Levels drop as the day proceeds to a close, and the body restores Testosterone back up to peak levels as we sleep.

Testosterone Deficiency can also contribute to sleep apnea. Patients with Low-T are more likely to be overweight, and they are also more likely to have diminished muscle mass, both of which can cause your airways to be impaired while you sleep.

Sleep Apnea Treatment to Increase Testosterone Levels

So Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency combine to create a double-edged sword. Low-Testosterone Levels make Sleep Apnea more common and more problematic, and Sleep Apnea suppresses Testosterone Levels. Getting tested and treated for Sleep Apnea is one way to help support healthy and normalized Testosterone Production. There are breathing machines, breathing masks, and other tools which can create air flow and prevent Sleep Apnea. Some patients may even benefit from surgery.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Better Sleep

As you can tell, Testosterone plays a strong role in your ability to get healthy and restful sleep. Testosterone Deficiency causes so many problems for patients, and not enough men seek a Hormone Specialist that can get them the Prescription Testosterone that they deserve. We are a Licensed and Board Certified Hormone Clinic which operates in all fifty states. If you believe that Testosterone Therapy can help improve your life, we encourage you to contact us by phone or by form to get in touch with one of our professionally trained Hormone Doctors.

We also offer a variety of other HRT Programs that may interest you, including Human Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy, HCG Injections for Weight Loss, Sermorelin Acetate HGH Booster, among others. If you have any questions or comments, we look forward to hearing from you!