BLOOD SCREENING AND YOUTH HORMONES: KEY TO HEALTHY AGEING
An anti-ageing programme begins with an initial consultation to find out what a patient's needs are and to assess the impact ageing is having on your body.A number of detailed tests are required to determine a patient's biological age compared to chronological age including blood, urine, saliva, blood pressure, weight/body mass index, flexibility, strength, skin elasticity and vision. A full body scan may also be advisable and this can help detect some specific diseases of ageing, such as cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis in early stages.
Annual blood screening is the key component for preventing degenerative disease. TThis works by provding a comprehensive snapshot of your current state of health and can catch potential health problems in their early stages so they can be treated more effectively.In addition, regular testing can help you prevent and treat conditions associated with hormone imbalances, including fatigue, erectile dysfunction, memory impairment, bone loss, weight gain and depression. Armed with the results you can take timely and critical steps to prevent many of the diseases associated with ageing.
Unfortunately, many doctors carry out a minimal number of tests for their patients. As a result, many deadly diseases ranging from heart disease to cancer silently progress undetected until it is too late. Regular blood testing is the single most important tool available to prevent degenerative disease through early detection and intervention.
Blood screening assesses the status of numerous systems in the body, including cardiovascular risk factors, blood sugar levels, liver and kidney function, immune system wellness, and optimal hormone balance. Regular testing also monitors electrolyte levels, mineral balance, and red blood cell size and number.
Conventional medicine tends to neglect age-related hormone imbalances, detectable by blood testing, that develop in both men and women. As a result many people suffer discomforts and diseases that are correctable and preventable by making simple hormone level adjustments. However, there are an increasing number of doctors, specialists in healthy ageing medicine - in other words preventative medicine, who tailor treatments to the individual. Hormone replacement helps make you younger from the inside out.
A yearly blood test is a relatively inexpensive investment when compared to the cost of disease-related health care and prescription drugs, with tremendous potential to protect your health and increase your quality of life.
While many of the tests for men and women overlap, there are specific tests for men or women. Tests for men, for example, should include measurement of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker of enlarged prostate or prostate cancer, while the women's test should assess progesterone levels, an important female hormone related to a host of menopausal and post-menopausal disorders.
Both male and female tests include the Complete Blood Count/Chemistry Profile, which measures many different blood components, including cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood glucose, iron and mineral levels, kidney and liver function, and blood cell components.
The male and female tests also examine levels of total and free testosterone, DHEA-S (an indicator of adrenal cortical function), estradiol, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Both homocysteine and CRP, along with LDL (bad choelsterol), are powerful predictors of cardiovascular disease.
ANTI-AGEING BLOOD TESTS-FOR MEN AND WOMEN UNLESS MARKED OTHERWISE
Chemistry Profile - a battery of tests that determines cardiovascular risk, liver and kidney function, blood protein, blood count/red and white blood cell profile and blood mineral panel
DHEA - low levels of this hormone can be associated with obesity and a lack of sex drive in both sexes
hgH - low levels are associated with loss of muscle and libido
PSA (prostate-specific antigen)- men - high levels of this are an early-warning sign for prostate disorders and possible cancer
Homocysteine - elevated levels can indicate the potential of a heart attack or stroke. High levels of this protein in the blood are also an indicator of Alzheimer's and bone fractures.
Cardio c-reactive protein - high levels are an indicator of inflammation in the arteries which may predict risk of heart attack and stroke
Testosterone – determines whether replacement should be considered for depression, obesity, low energy, poor mental performance or loss of libido. In women it assists lean muscle mass and libido.
Oestrogen - too much in men causes loss of libido
Estradiol - evaluates pituitary function
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) measures the number, variety, percentage, concentration, and quality of blood cells. It is useful in screening for infections, anemias, and hematological abnormalities. The CBC includes red blood cells (RBCs), hematocrit, hemoglobin levels, red blood cell indices, platelet count, and white blood cells (WBCs) and their components.
Progesterone - women
Progesterone, a steroid hormone produced in men and women, is synthesized in a biochemical pathway leading from cholesterol to pregnenolone to progesterone, which in turn is a precursor to other steroid hormones, including cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone.
YOUTH HORMONES - THE KEY TO HEALTHY AGEING
Hormones are life-sustaining chemical messengers that regulate growth and development, sexual function, metabolism, and well-being. Blood levels of these crucial hormones diminish with age, contributing to age-related disease and decline.
Many conventional doctors do not consider the restoring of youthful hormone levels of importance in their ageing patients and accept diminishing hormone levels as an inevitable consequence of ageing. However, it is now recognised by longevity experts that low hormone levels contribute to many conditions of ageing such as osteoporosis, depression, diabetes, excess weight,and heart disease.
Optimizing hormone levels can therefore benefit these and other conditions, including migraine headaches and menopausal symptoms.
Fortunately, individuals who want to retain optimal health and prevent the common diseases of ageing now have access to cutting-edge hormone-testing technology. The restoration of bioidentical hormones is one of the cornerstones in promoting optimal health and longevity.
Among the most important hormones to monitor and balance are free testosterone, estradiol, and DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), as well as progesterone in women. Additionally, testing should often include pregnenolone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as total estrogens in women and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in men.
GENERAL SCREENING TESTS
DHEA-S
DHEA, is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. Levels of DHEA-S peak in our twenties and then decline dramatically with age.
DHEA may support immune function, which diminishes with age and puts older adults at increased risk for infections such as pneumonia and influenza. It is also shown to have mood-elevating effects and may help optimize bone mineral density. DHEA-S may also influence libido levels in women. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that DHEA supplementation may help reduce abdominal fat, which is associated with insulin resistance. Finally, recent animal studies suggest that DHEA has neuroprotective properties.
Free and Total Testosterone
Testosterone is produced in the testes in men, in the ovaries in women, and in the adrenal glands of both men and women. Testosterone promotes the building of tissue and is considered an anabolic steroid hormone.
In men, the levels of free testosterone levels may be used to evaluate whether sufficient bioactive testosterone is available to protect against abdominal obesity, mental depression, osteoporosis, and heart disease. In women, high levels of free testosterone may indicate hirsuitism, which causes excessive growth of hair on the face and chest, and is often indicative of polycystic ovaries. Increased testosterone in women also may indicate low estrogen levels.
Importance of testosterone in men
Testosterone levels normally decline with age, contributing to the physiological changes seen in ageing men. Low testosterone is associated with many adverse health conditions, including diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle tone, increased abdominal fat, low bone density, depression, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and diabetes.
A recent report in the journal Neurology found that older men with lower levels of free (unbound) testosterone may be at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. For each 50% increase in the free testosterone index, the risk of developing Alzheimer's decreased by approximately 26%. The study, which began following subjects in 1958, showed that men diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease had approximately half the levels of free testosterone as men who did not develop disease.
Importance of testosterone in women
Although women produce only small quantities of testosterone, mounting evidence indicates that this important hormone helps women maintain muscle strength, bone mass, and sexual function. Testosterone levels decrease following menopause, and restoring testosterone levels may help improve well-being and libido.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined the effects of transdermal testosterone patches on 75 women, aged 31-56, with diminished testosterone levels due to hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries. Researchers found a significant improvement in sexual function, mood, and general well-being in the women who received the 300-mcg patch compared to those using the 150-mcg patch or placebo.
Estradiol
Estradiol is the primary circulating form of estrogen in men and women, and is an indicator of hypothalamic and pituitary function. Men produce lesser amounts of estradiol than do women, with a fraction of estradiol produced directly by the testes and most from testosterone and adrenal steroid hormones. In women, estradiol is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and peripheral tissues.
In men, high estradiol levels are associated with feminisation syndromes. In women, estradiol helps in evaluating menopausal status and sexual maturity. Estradiol levels play a role in healthy bone density in both men and women.
Importance of estradiol in men
At the University of California at San Diego, researchers showed that low levels of estradiol increased the risk of vertebral fractures in older men. Among 352 men with a median age of 66, “age-adjusted hormone levels differed by fracture status only for total and bioavailable estradiol.” The researchers concluded, “oestrogen plays a critical role in the skeletal health of older men.”
Other scientists also found an association between suboptimal estradiol levels in men and osteoporosis risk. Researchers measured total testosterone, total estradiol, and luteinizing hormone in 405 men aged 68-96. The study results linked decreases in bone mineral density with declining levels of estradiol.
Importance of estradiol in women
In a recent US study researchers observed that in women aged 65-75, low levels of serum total and bioavailable estradiol correlate with low levels of bone mineral density in the femur, spine, and total body. Women with low levels of bioavailable estradiol also experienced an increased rate of bone loss in the spine and throughout the body. The researchers concluded that women with low serum estradiol levels are optimal candidates for estrogen therapy to help prevent osteoporosis.
Estradiol may improve quality of life in menopausal women.In an Italian study eighty percent of the treated with transdermal estradiol women reported improvement of hot flashes, insomnia, and irritability, and 61% reported an improved sense of well-being
Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone, is a substance released by the pituitary gland that spurs growth and development in children and adolscents. It is also produced naturally when we exercise but declines with age. The Rudman Study mention
Progesterone (women)
Progesterone, a hormone that is synthesized in a biochemical pathway from cholesterol, is a precursor to other hormones, including cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. In women, progesterone is produced in the ovary, in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands, and in copious amounts by the placenta during pregnancy. Progesterone levels, which decline with increasing age. Progesterone may boost fat metabolism in women.
Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone functions mainly as a hormone intermediate in the body. Made directly from cholesterol, pregnenolone is the precursor for DHEA and other hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and aldosterone. The body produces pregnenolone primarily in the adrenal glands, liver, testes (in men), and ovaries (in women), as well as in the brain. Pregnenolone levels tend to diminish with age, leading to a decline in the “downstream” hormones for which it acts as a precursor. Testing one’s blood to measure pregnenolone levels is becoming very popular, as low pregnenolone can cause a wide range of hormone imbalances.
Total Oestrogens (women)
The total oestrogens test measures the sum of three oestrogens: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Women produce estrogens mainly in the ovaries (and in the placenta during pregnancy). The adrenal glands also produce small amounts. These hormones shift over the course of a woman’s life, strongly influencing her health and well-being.
Estradiol is the most commonly measured type of oestrogen. Its level varies throughout the menstrual cycle and falls to a low but constant level after menopause. Increased levels of estradiol in woman suggest an increased risk of breast or endometrial cancer. Low levels may increase risk for bone fractures.
Estriol is considered the “weakest” of the three primary estrogens, yet women with higher levels of estriol may have far lower risks of breast cancer. European doctors routinely prescribe estriol to menopausal and postmenopausal women in place of more potent estrone and estradiol drugs.
Doctors use the total oestrogen laboratory assessment to evaluate fertility problems, menstrual disorders, menopausal status, and sexual maturity in women.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test assesses thyroid gland status. Thyroid hormones plays a crucial role in regulating growth, development, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones increase oxygen consumption and heat production, which are measured as resting metabolic rate. Elevated TSH is associated with hypothyroidism, a condition marked by lethargy, weakness, slow speech, constipation, dry skin, and weight gain. Low TSH suggests hyperthyroidism, a condition characterized by increased heart rate, hyperactivity, nervousness, palpitations, and heat intolerance.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
DHT is an activated form of testosterone. Scientists estimate that DHT is 2-10 times more potent than testosterone.DHT is responsible for the development and maintenance of the male external genitalia and the prostate gland. Elevated DHT levels may indicate hypergonadism or hirsutism. Additionally, elevated DHT may increase the risk of prostate enlargement or cancer.
Conclusion
Men and women no longer need suffer the effects of diminished hormone levels and the accompanying onset of degenerative decline and disease. Blood testing is a powerful tool for assessing hormone status and implementing appropriate therapeutics. By restoring optimal hormone levels, you can reduce your risk for many of the most common diseases of aging, including life-threatening conditions such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and depression.
For information on practitioners who can advise on what tests you might need contact service@thevitalityshopuk.com
