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Going Healthy, Health, Life

Menopause Isn’t Just For Women: Here Is What Men Need To Know

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Menopause is often thought of as a woman’s issue, but men can experience changes with age that are similar to menopause. This phenomenon is known as andropause or male menopause. While not all men go through it, andropause affects roughly 30 percent of males between the ages of 40 and 59. Read on to learn more about male menopause and what it means for you.

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What Is Male Menopause?

Male menopause occurs when levels of the hormone testosterone decrease, typically in middle-aged or older males. Testosterone is responsible for maintaining muscle mass, bone density, libido, energy levels, and mental clarity—all characteristics that people associate with youthfulness and vitality. When testosterone levels drop, these functions often decrease as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Male Menopause

Manifestations of male menopause can differ from individual to individual; however, the most frequent ones include:

• Low libido or decreased sex drive 

• Muscle loss 

• Fatigue and/or lack of energy 

• Mood changes such as depression or irritability 

• Hot flashes and night sweats 

• Difficulty sleeping 

• Memory problems or mental fog 

• Erectile dysfunction or difficulty maintaining an erection 

It’s worth emphasizing that some of these signs can have alternative explanations, so if you believe you may be in the middle of male menopause, it’d be wise to consult with your physician.

Causes of Male Menopause

While the precise source of male menopause remains unknown, it is widely considered that progressing age has something to do with its development. As our bodies mature, testosterone production decreases which can be responsible for these sensations and signs. 

In addition, living habits such as obesity, inadequate nutrition, and lack of physical activity may lead to lower levels of testosterone, triggering a higher vulnerability for male menopause.

Treatment Options for Male Menopause

Although male menopause cannot be cured or reversed, there are several treatments available that can help manage the symptoms: 

1) Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): 

TRT consists of taking medications that replace the testosterone your body is no longer producing. This treatment has been proven to improve sex drive, muscle strength and mass, energy levels, and mood. Just make sure to find a reputable place of treatment like this TRT Clinic Simi Valley with a knowledgeable team of staff.

2) Lifestyle Changes: 

Making certain lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of male menopause. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, reducing stress levels, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking are all important steps toward improving overall health and well-being. 

3) Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy:

Bioidentical hormones, derived from natural sources and created to emulate the hormones produced by your body, have been proclaimed as a solution for alleviating symptoms of male menopause and balancing out hormone levels. Research has suggested that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy could be a powerful aid in improving one’s well-being.

4) Supplements:

If you’re experiencing the effects of male menopause, then certain natural supplements can be greatly beneficial. Minerals such as zinc and magnesium, along with vitamin D, have been known to restore hormone levels and promote overall health in males who are going through this stage of life.

Male menopause is a real phenomenon that affects many men as they age. While it’s not always easy to recognize the symptoms due to their similarity with other conditions, knowing what signs to look for can help you identify if you are experiencing this issue. 

Treatment options such as testosterone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and supplements can all be beneficial in managing the symptoms of male menopause. Talk to your doctor if you think you may be experiencing this condition so they can recommend the best treatment option for you.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

3 Top Anti-Aging Tips For Men

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Image Credit: Timokefoto from Pixabay.

Men are paying more and more attention to their looks, and this doesn’t stop as they get older. In many cases, they could put more effort into this as they age, and they’ll want to take advantage of a few anti-aging tips for men to do so.

If that rings a bell for you, you mightn’t know where to start. Using wrinkle creams and similar options would be relatively obvious, but you might want to do more than that. It simply mightn’t do as much as you’d like.

Thankfully, a few other tips can be quite helpful, with three of these standing out.

Anti-Aging Tips For Men: 3 Top Picks

1. Go Easy On Caffeine

Almost everyone knows the feeling of that first cup of coffee in the morning. Several more of these could be drunk throughout the day. You’ll need the energy boost they provide, after all. What you mightn’t have realized is this has a large impact on how you age. It affects your skin in ways you mightn’t have thought of.

One of the more notable ways it does this is by making your skin look dehydrated. That could happen even if you’re getting enough water. By going easy on the coffee, you minimize the effect it has on your skin.

2. Eat More Fruits & Vegetables

Your diet is one of the more important factors to consider in your lifestyle. As you get older, this might need to change somewhat. One of the larger areas to look at is getting enough fruits and vegetables every day. They contain key nutrients to keep your body working properly.

They’ll also have an impact on how you look. Fruits and vegetables support skin health and boost collagen levels, letting your skin look great as you get older. They could even improve your skin tone, letting you look better than you did before. Make sure you get enough of these.

3. Take Medications

Getting older often means needing to deal with a few health-related issues. To properly deal with these, you’ll need to make sure you’re taking the right medications and getting any treatment you need. The more effort you put into this, the better you’ll feel.

That doesn’t mean you need to have major health issues to do this. In some cases, it could be worth considering taking anti-aging medicine for men. These focus on helping you look and feel as great as possible as you get older. There’s no reason not to look into them.

Anti-Aging Tips For Men: Wrapping Up

Using the right anti-aging tips for men makes sure you’re looking great for as long as possible. While this might seem complicated, it doesn’t have to take as much time or work as you could think. It’s simply a matter of focusing on the right areas.

Going easy with caffeine, eating more fruits and vegetables, and taking medications are some of the more practical ways to do this. With a little time, you’ll see – and feel – yourself feeling better and better, even as you age.

Health, Life, Lifestyle, Tips

Effortless Ways You Can Help an Elderly Relative or Neighbor

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Old and young women having fun in kitchen – Image Courtesy of Pexels

Most of us know someone who is getting older. And it’s a socially responsible thing to help an elderly relative, friend, or neighbor when they need it. Here are some easy ways to do so.

Offer to Help Prepare Meals in Advance

Even basic tasks can become troublesome when an older person has trouble getting around. Examples include making dinner, cleaning the living space, and using the bathroom. Hiring in-home care assistants for more delicate tasks such as getting in and out of bed or dignified bathroom assistance is best. However, if you are in regular contact, you can offer to prepare meals in advance, so they always have something to eat. For instance, you can make sandwiches to last a couple of days. Or open stubborn food cans for people with arthritis.

Ask About Their Access To Healthcare

As people age, healthcare can become an important service that they need access to. Ensuring they are able to seek medical care when they need it is crucial. A great step toward this is helping them find affordable health insurance for seniors mn, or in the local area. Financial protection can be a large factor in looking at healthcare providers, and insurance coverage, as elderly people tend to be on a fixed income. Knowing they have good coverage and necessary medical expenses taken care of, can give you both peace of mind when the need to utilize healthcare services arrives.

Ask if they Need Anything When You Go Shopping

Loss of mobility is one of the most common obstacles to the elderly. Your older relatives may not be able to get out and about as they once did. Perhaps they have a bad back, weak knees, or can no longer drive. In that case, getting groceries and essentials becomes a bit less manageable. However, it’s no big deal to ask if they need something when you are doing your own shopping. A couple of extra bags and minutes won’t kill you. And you will get great peace of mind knowing that your senior family member or friend has what they need to get on with life.

Help an Elderly Relative Stay Active

It’s a common misconception that the elderly simply don’t move. Although it becomes harder to do some of the things you did when you were younger, getting old doesn’t make you infirm. There are many physical and mental benefits to staying active when older. So, consider these:

  • Take a walk around a local park with the kids and dogs. 
  • Play brain training or physical video games such as Switch Sports.
  • Attend local social events like dances, bake-offs, and festivals.

Getting out and about has many benefits, such as vitamin D from the sun, serotonin from exercise, and decreased stress from nature. Yet you can also help elderly relatives stay sharp with physical and mental exercise games such as those offered by Nintendo Switch.

Maintain any Required Aid Devices

The young and old alike often rely on devices for numerous things. For example, you might need glasses to see, hearing aids to hear, and frames for walking. Yet as excellent as aid devices are, they often become damaged, degrade or simply break. Some intricate devices, such as a hearing aid, might need a hearing instrument specialist to fix them. However, you can help prevent damage with maintenance. For instance, you can check hearing aids for dirt and debris and remove them with Q-Tips. And you can also check walking frames are safe to use.

Pop In, Call, or Text for Social Activity

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, social acceptance is as vital as food and water. And being deprived of this can have disastrous results, especially for the elderly. The young and old alike are at a massively increased risk of severe conditions when left isolated and alone. For example, you could see an increase in depression and anxiety. But you can also experience much higher blood pressure and accelerated weight gain. Additionally, isolated older adults are at a much greater risk of dementia-related illnesses such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Summary

You can help an elderly relative or neighbor when they need it most. Just a little spare time can help with meal preparation, staying physically active, and keeping up with social needs.