How Hormones Affect Aging
By Dr. Ann Watwood, NMD, Chief Medical Officer, Derma Health, Scottsdale LIVING WELL Magazine
Hormones have a huge impact on our health and a powerful influence in our bodies, beginning from the day we are born and continuing throughout our life. They control how things happen in our bodies, such as growth, development, and physical and mental functions. There are many different hormones throughout the body such as estrogen, testosterone, DHEA and progesterone. When one or more hormones become “unbalanced” it can create changes in our physical and mental well being.
Signs and Symptoms:
- The different symptoms that occur due to hormone imbalances vary depending on which or how many hormones are irregular. These are a few examples of symptoms that are common, but the list is not comprehensive:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Foggy thinking
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Stress
- Headaches
- Low libido
- Acne
- Mood imbalances
- Drier skin with increased wrinkles
- Loss of collagen production causing a decrease in skin’s elasticity
Risks of Hormone Deficiency:
- When hormones are unbalanced, not only do we feel bad and experience symptoms (like hot flashes and fatigue), but it can actually create an increased risk for future health problems. Well known risks of estrogen and androgen (testosterone and DHEA) deficiencies are:
- Increased vascular disease – hypertension, stroke and heart attack
- Mood and cognitive changes – risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Bone loss
- Weight gain – which if it leads to obesity, can cause insulin resistance and diabetes
- Loss of female functions – vaginal atrophy, decreased libido, bladder functions
- General unwanted symptoms – sleep disturbances, mood changes, hot flashes and bloating
- Loss of excitement for life
As We Age:
Female hormonal balance between the estrogen hormones and progesterone is essential in order for women to obtain and maintain health and wellness. By the time a woman reaches the age of 35, she is halfway through her menstrual life, and her ovarian functions begin to falter. The progesterone hormone production falls most dramatically over the last half of her menstrual life, between the ages of 35 and 50. When this happens, a woman will experience estrogen dominance, meaning her female hormones are imbalanced in favor of the estrogen hormones.
Just as the sex hormones decline in women over time, so too, aging in men leads to the gradual and steady decline in testosterone. This condition in men is called andropause, which is similar to menopause in women. Although testosterone production in men does not stop completely, it does gradually decline over their lifetime. By the age of 60, it will be a quarter or less what it was at its peak level.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement/Balancing:
Some of the benefits of hormone replacement/balancing are:
- Maintains normal structure of skin and blood vessels
- Decreases rate of bone loss
- Supports libido
- Decrease hot flashes
- Maintains normal sleep patterns
- Manages headaches and migraine headaches
- Manages mood swings and depression
Natural Hormone Therapy:
Natural hormone therapy, also known as “bio-identical hormone therapy” is used to treat hormonal imbalances. Natural hormones are derived from plant sources, such as soy or wild yam. They are identical in structure to our hormones, and even follow the same metabolic pathways in our bodies.
The best way to evaluate the different hormones in the body is with a saliva test. At Derma Health, I use a comprehensive saliva test that looks at estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol. The saliva tests are simple, non-invasive, stable and accurate. It is necessary to take a look at the complete picture in order to evaluate each patient properly.
Our philosophy is to treat naturally by using natural (bio-identical) hormones to reduce any possible side effects that may occur with hormonal therapy. Whether a man or woman is suffering from severe symptoms and has severe hormonal deficiencies, choosing to use natural hormone therapy may be the most important decision he or she makes to improve health and longevity.
