Is Hormone Therapy in Your Future?

As we age we endure many visual changes and others that occur internally. These changes start occurring from the moment we are born and continue as our life progresses. Many people find it hard to adapt to changes. The easiest way to accept change and make the necessary lifestyle choices necessary, is to become familiar with what to expect. Since our youth we are taught to get to know our bodies, a lesson that will serve us well for many years to come.

The Role Hormones Play

The production of hormones is affected as we age. Women fear the dreaded menopausal era, but men are often oblivious of their own upcoming hormonal changes. Hormones are chemicals that are naturally produced by the organs and tissues that make up the endocrine system. They are then extracted into the blood and help control some of our target organs and body systems. As we grow older, the level of control the hormones have changes, target organs become less responsive and the production levels may fluctuate.

The hypothalamus found in the brain produces hormones that controls part of the endocrine system. The amount being produced doesn’t change, but the target organs respond slower. The pituitary gland found in the brain reaches its maximum growth by the time we reach midlife and then begins to regress in size. It is located in the posterior portion of the brain which stores the hormones produced in the hypothalamus. The anterior portion produces hormones that affect the TSH levels produced by the thyroid gland, the adrenal cortex, ovaries, testes, and breasts.

How does this affect you? Men experience a slight decrease in testosterone levels and women experience a significant decrease in estrogen and prolactin levels (A.K.A. menopause). Aldosterone, Calcitonin, Somatotropin and Renin also decrease with time. Hormones that can barely change are: Cortisol, Insulin, TSH and Epinephrine. The hormone levels that tend to increase with age, are: FSH, LH, Parathyroid and Norepinephrine.

Now that you know what to expect, you need to understand how to maintain a hormonal balance. You may need to change your eating habits or make a few adjustments to your lifestyle. You can start by researching what’s most likely to happen in your case and if needed, using the right supplements that can help. The ‘About Hormones’ section has a lot of information that can get you started in the right direction. They offer guidance and, once you know what you need, you can even look for injections that will replace the hormone loss in both men and women.