| Background: What are hormones? We hear so much about them, but what are they? Hormones are messengers. They signal cells within the body to do very important things. They help control metabolism or the rate at which our bodies burn energy. They strongly influence blood sugar (think avoiding diabetes), blood pressure, body temperature and fluid balance. And, as we’ve come to understand, they are involved with controlling sexual function. Was this a credible study? The answer is yes; this study that looked at the results of 11 prior studies which examined results from 24,000 men. The publication in which it was reported, The Journal of the American Medical Association, has been around since 1883 and is very well-respected. What is the problem for men regarding testosterone levels? Although both women and men produce testosterone, this hormone plays a greater role for men. Men begin to lose their levels of testosterone at the rate of about 1% per year beginning in their mid-30s. But recent research, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed a very disturbing finding. Low testosterone in men shortens their lives. A reduction of about one third below normal leads to a higher risk of death from any cause, a drop of about one half leads to a higher risk of dying from heart disease, specifically. Can’t I just test myself and use testosterone from the internet? No, no, no. Overly high testosterone can be every bit as dangerous as low testosterone. Leave the management of your testosterone levels to your medical doctor. How can I tell if my testosterone is high or low? This is as simple as asking your doctor to check it next time you have a blood test. One example I know of is an individual who injected testosterone in this manner and it led to a stroke. This is not an area for ‘do it yourselfers’. Testing is generally covered by insurance. Self-testing and self-administrating testosterone is very dangerous. |
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