Aging and HRT

Aging and HRT
The good news is that we are retiring earlier and living longer. Life expectancy for the average person has increased dramatically over the last several decades. At birth, life expectancy in the U.S. for the average female is 79 years, and for the average male is 72 years. Once reaching age 65, we can expect to live to 84 and 80 years, respectively, and if we make it to 75, the numbers increase to 87 and 85 years.

However, with living longer there are the serious issues of aging we must face. For one thing, our bodies aren’t what they used to be. There is a drop-off in our physical endurance with each succeeding decade of life. That 30-minute workout now takes 45 minutes. Our knees have shortened that 5K run to 3K. We don’t sleep as well as we once did. These are some of the changes that we notice.

But, there are changes taking place inside our bodies that we can’t see. At the cellular level, our hormone production begins to decline as we approach middle age. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, we begin to see the effects of this hormonal shift. We start to notice things like decreased energy, mood swings, memory trouble, decrease in sexual energy and desire, thinning hair, weight gain, and the list goes on.

In response to our concerns about how we age, the medical community has focused its attention on the link between the age-dependent decline of certain hormones and the quality of life we enjoy. Experts in anti-aging medicine believe that hormone supplementation significantly decreases the risk of many age-related diseases, therefore helping not only to extend our life, but also enhancing its quality.

Hormones play a critical role in our health and vitality. One of the best examples of this role is the diminishing levels of ovarian steroids at menopause which can lead not only to immediate symptoms such as hot flashes, but also to long term deleterious health effects such as osteoporosis and accelerated cardiovascular disease. More recently, it has been recognized that with age, men have decreasing amounts of testosterone and DHEA (important androgens) which may be associated with some of the debilitation that accompanies male aging. In response to increasing demands from an aging population and a great deal of scientific information, healthcare providers are recommending hormonal supplementation to help maintain vitality and quality of life.

The first step in anti-aging medicine: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
When it comes to hormone replacement dosages, one size does not fit all. The way each person responds to replacement hormones is unique. What works well for one may be too much or too little for another. If a decision to begin HRT is made, a saliva hormone test can be an important guide for determining how much hormone should be taken. Testing can indicate physiologic benefit. For example, if a healthcare provider has prescribed a particular estrogen preparation and dosage, it is important to know whether the dose is correct. Too little estrogen will not address short term symptoms or give long term protection. Excessive estrogen supplementation can lead to recurrent vaginal yeast infection and/or bleeding, breast tenderness, headaches, thinning hair, weight gain and depression.

A wide variety of HRT compounds, doses and delivery systems is currently available. Pharmaceutical companies recently added natural hormone supplements to their synthetic and animal-derived products. Compounding pharmacies (www.bpharmacysolutions.com, for example) specialize in customizing natural hormone prescriptions to accommodate each individual's unique hormonal needs. Some hormones such as progesterone, DHEA, melatonin and pregnenolone are available over-the-counter in health food stores, supermarkets and drug stores.