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Jamieson
Health Center
Newsletter
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November 30, 2011 |
Volume 3, Number 7 |
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Dear patients, dear friends, Our last newsletter talked
about women’s health, perimenopause and menopause.
It’s only fair that this time we spend some time discussing men’s health
issues. Yes, there is such a
condition called andropause in men. It’s male
menopause. Unlike the dramatic hormonal changes during menopause in women,
the age-related changes in reproductive hormones of men are subtle and occur
gradually throughout the years of their mature life. In contrast to women, andropause can happen at any age, when a man is 18 or 45
or 65. A man suffering from andropause typically
has no energy, no drive, no desire. He has lost his
passion and motivation. He is in a slow degrading decline. As a matter of
fact, his brain is affected first, not his libido. Erectile dysfunction is
not a dominant sign of andropause, but more of a
cardiovascular dysfunction. Patients with andropause find themselves in my office because their
wives bring them. They’d rather watch TV and feel miserable. They don’t want
to get better. They think nothing is wrong. They don’t want to do anything or
go anywhere. They ruin the life of their spouse and their relationship with
their kids. However, it is very important for the spouse to be supportive and
encouraging or else their husband won’t have a chance of getting better. What
I mean with this is that he needs his wife to be his best advocate and accountability
partner, so he makes his appointments, takes his supplements, does his tests,
eats healthy, etc. Andropause is not just about testosterone. It can manifest
itself as different conditions and that’s why it’s important to look at the
different symptoms and treat each of them separately. As mentioned above, the
first symptoms of andropause are related to the
brain. Unfortunately, most of the focus tends to be on other symptoms such as
chronic pain, gastric issues, erectile dysfunction, testosterone deficiency,
high cholesterol, hypertension. But without a
healthy brain, life cannot be enjoyed. Instead, depression and/or anxiety
start ruling your life. So it’s important to start with the brain first. The two underlying causes of
andropause are systemic inflammation and insulin
resistance. In 99% of the cases, they are directly related to diet. Eating a
standard American diet including transfats, gluten
and sugar causes inflammation and insulin
resistance. So the most important decision a man can make to stay healthy is
to eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein and vegetables, and to get rid
of the junk food, soda’s, pizza’s, sweets, etc. This
will not only help lower cholesterol and curtail cardiovascular issues, but
it is necessary for a healthy body and a healthy brain. Men can experience night
sweats, crying spells and real emotional episodes. Insulin resistance causes
a process called “aromatization”, which converts your testosterone into
estrogen and decreases free testosterone. Testosterone replacement therapy
will only make matters worse. I can help you or your
husband with integrative chiropractic treatments including supplements to
help dampen inflammation in your brain, heal your enteric and gastric system,
dampen aromatase, and any cardiovascular symptoms. Neurofeedback therapy can help curtail depression and anxiety,
especially if you are willing to change your lifestyle by eating a healthy
diet and taking the proper nutrition for a healthy brain. If you are currently taking
medication for chronic pain, hypertension, high cholesterol, anxiety and/or
depression, ulcers and/or acid reflux, or testosterone replacement therapy,
you are suffering from andropause. Medication is
NOT the answer. No, those drugs just alleviate symptoms but they don’t cure
because they don’t address the underlying causes. Stop the vicious cycle. Give
us a call for a free consultation. We can help. Yours in good health, Dr. Samuel Jamieson, D.C. |
Men’s Health: what is Andropause? Andropause is not testosterone deficiency, it’s a neuro-endocrine
immunological disorder. Andropause, otherwise known as “male
menopause”, is not a topic people commonly discuss. As a matter of fact, it
seems the only time it’s being referred to is in TV commercials encouraging
males to take testosterone increasing drugs. Unfortunately, as you will learn in this
newsletter, increasing testosterone levels may actually worsen your
condition. Andropause is not just an endocrine
dysfunction. It is much more complex than that. It’s truly a neuro-endocrine immunological disorder. That means we
need to look for and treat all the different causes and symptoms. Often those
include systemic inflammation, insulin and blood sugar imbalances, degeneration
in the brain, decreased testosterone, cardio-vascular and gastric issues. How do you recognize
andropause? As mentioned before, male menopause is properly
referred to as andropause. Let’s first describe
what most men will feel when they are experiencing andropause.
You know when you are suffering from andropause
when you answer yes to the following questions:
Unlike the dramatic changes that happen to women when
they are experiencing symptoms of menopause, the age related hormonal changes
in men occur gradually throughout many years and are not as obvious. I also want you to understand that andropause is not an “age thing”. Often men can be
experiencing andropause early in adulthood. There
really is not magic age of hormonal dysfunction for men as generally
recognized in women. It can happen when a man is 18 or 55. Ten most common causes of death in males related to andropause. Again, although andropause
is considered by most people as an endocrine dysfunction, studies show that
the most common causes of death related to andropause
are the following conditions. Also listed here are the 15 most commonly
prescribed drugs for andropause.
As a matter of fact, almost 60% of the 50 most often
prescribed drugs are to treat andropause symptoms. That’s amazing. From this you can tell how
many people are suffering from andropause symptoms.
And as you and I know, those drugs don’t cure, they don’t heal anything. They
only attempt to alleviate symptoms. So let’s have a look at what really causes andropause so you’ll know what can help you heal or
prevent it altogether. What causes andropause? According to numerous studies, the two main
underlying causes of andropause are: 1.
Systemic inflammation Several clinical
studies have proven that andropause is caused by
inflammation in the body. (Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2005 Jun 30;238(1-2):1-7; Andrologia.
2008 Dec;40(6):398-400; Andrologia, 2003
Feb;35(1):55-63; Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2004 Feb
27;215)1-2):135-141) Inflammation can
many times be easily diagnosed. Look
for swelling and pain. These are two easy ways to detect inflammation. But
not all inflammation causes easily seen swelling, especially if it’s at the
cellular level. Organ dysfunction can also be caused by inflammation. In most
patients, inflammation is caused by their unhealthy diet and to a lesser
degree by injuries. Unfortunately few people know that there is a direct
correlation between their diet and their health. Or they want to be in denial
about it. As a matter of fact, your diet directly relates to the amount of
suffering you experience. The standard American diet, including transfats, gluten and sugar, is enough to create systemic
inflammation and chronic pain. (Read more in our newsletters about gluten,
sugar
and transfats) 2.
Insulin resistance Secondly, andropause is also caused by insulin resistance. (Nat rev Endocrinol.
2009 Dec;5(12):673-681;Aging Male. 2008 Sep;11(3):107-117) Insulin
resistance happens when your cells become more resistant to the effects of
insulin. The more insulin your body produces in response to increased blood
sugar levels, the more resistant your cells become to insulin. The more sugar
(sucrose and fructose) containing foods and drinks you consume, the more your
blood sugar will be out of balance and therefore the more insulin your body will
produce. So again, insulin resistance is directly related to your diet. A
common sign of insulin resistance is when you are tired after meals. We offer
supplements that can help reverse insulin resistance. Aromatization converts testosterone into estrogen. Here is why insulin resistance is detrimental for
men’s health and I hope it will give men a wake-up call: Insulin resistance causes testosterone to convert into estrogen and
decrease free testosterone. (Reprod Biol. 2004 Mar;4(1):23-24; Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Oct;
11(8):327-332)) This process is called “aromatization”. Insullin resistance increases the enzyme “aromatase”, which causes testosterone to convert into
estrogen. I would expect that no man wants to increase his estrogen levels.
But this is much more common than you think. That’s why men can have very
real emotional phases, crying spells, night sweats and even look like they
are developing breasts. Studies show that insulin resistance, inflammation
and low testosterone is prevalent in diabetic men (again showing the insulin
resistance connection) (Diabetes. 1992
Oct;41 Suppl 2:97-101).
Fortunately, we can help dampen aromatization with
integrative treatments and supplements and/or gels. For
more information about andropause, insulin
resistance and systemic inflammation, call our office at 408-517-0706 or visit our website
at http://www.jamiesonhealthcenter.com. |
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Testosterone replacement therapy is NOT the answer. There are four hormonal patterns of male aging
caused by increased inflammation and insulin surges. Once you understand
those patterns, you will also understand that testosterone replacement
therapy is not the answer. On the contrary, it will make matters worse. The following four hormonal patterns cause a
decrease in testosterone in men. The first 3 are the most common, often occurring
at the same time and are the result of years of an unhealthy diet: 1. Aromatization of testosterone into
estrogen, caused by an increase of the enzyme aromatase.
Aromatase increases with increased inflammation and insulin surges, and there is a
direct correlation with the increase in body fat. That’s why testosterone
replacement therapy or gels don’t work. They don’t increase testosterone, but
estrogen. The more testosterone you take, the more testosterone gets
converted into estrogen. 2. Aromatization also increases the
production of a protein called SHBG (sex hormone
binding globulin) to which testosterone binds itself. This lowers the levels
of free testosterone, which is what men need for optimal health. Only free
testosterone can bind to receptors in the tissues and protect them. That’s
why lab tests need to measure both free and total testosterone. Using gels or
taking testosterone drugs decreases free testosterone. 3. Leydig cells in the gonads fail because of
increased inflammation in the body, causing an
increase of the LH hormone and decreased testosterone. Unfortunately, just
like the brain, the gonads have no anti-oxidant protection. And unlike the
skin, cells in the gonads and the brain don’t regenerate. Inflammation
attacks the tissues and causes hypo-gonadism as
well as brain degeneration. 4.
Increased production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone, a very potent form of testosterone),
caused by up-regulation of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase,
which converts testosterone into DHT. |
Andropause causes brain
degeneration. As the following studies show, there is a direct
correlation between andropause and brain
degeneration. It is therefore imperative to pay special attention to preserve
the health of the brain with good nutrition and supplements and to dampen
brain inflammation. Neurofeedback therapy can help balance asymmetry
issues in the brain, often seen in patients suffering from anxiety and
depression. Unfortunately, it is so common to focus on treating the other
causes of andropause like pain, cholesterol and
diabetes and to forget about the brain. But without a healthy brain, life
cannot be enjoyed, and relationships will suffer. ·
Studies show that low testosterone has
been found to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2000 Feb
1;97(3):1202-1205) ·
Andropause has been shown to alter mood, memory, the ability to concentrate, and
the overall sense of vigor and well-being. (Am J Ther. 2006
Mar-Apr;13(2):145-160) ·
Loss of testosterone in men related to
cognitive function and brain aging has been well reported in the literature. Symptoms
associated with a loss of testosterone include memory decline, poorer
cognitive function and dementia. (Ann
NY Acad Sci. 2005 Dec;1055:80-02) ·
More specific, andropause
can impair functional interactions that occur between the brain and the
immune system. Recent findings indicate that microglia cells and astrocytes (innate immune cells in the brain) become
activated, causing an exaggerated inflammatory response in the brain, which
may lead to severe long-lasting behavioral and cognitive deficits. (Immunol Allergy Clinic Nort Am. 2009 May;29(2):321-337) ·
The hippocampus in the brain is
saturated with Luteinizing Hormone (LH) receptors and therefore LH elevation
appears to be a promoter of hippocampal
degeneration. (Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005 Feb:62(3):257-270) ·
Decreased cerebral blood flow caused by andropause is associated with decreased cognitive
function, including a slowing of information processing, poorer working
memory, and division of attention. (Brain Res. 2009 Apr 24:1267:77-78) ·
Late-life depression is associated with
alterations in regional cerebral blood flow. (Int J Geriatr
Pyschiatry. 2009 Aug:24(8):809-819) Andropause causes gastro-intestinal
issues. As discussed in detail in our April 2011 newsletter, there is
a direct correlation between degeneration in the brain and degeneration in the
gut. The gut and brain are linked together. As a matter of fact, the gut is also
called the “enteric nervous system”, or the gut’s brain. The gut’s brain is
located in the sheaths of the tissue lining the esophagus, stomach, small
intestine and colon. ·
Inflammation in the brain causes inflammation in the gut. ·
Altered chemistry in the brain causes decreased activity in the vagus nerve, the main highway between the brain and the
gut. This can cause gastric ulcers, leaky gut syndrome and multiple enzyme
deficiencies. (Brain Res. 1997 Jul 4;761(2):203-204, Peptied.
1981;2 suppl 2:51-55) ·
Infections such as H. Pylori are very likely to occur frequently. (Dig Dis. 2007;25(2);112-117) ·
Testosterone protects the tissues in men. Low testosterone diminishes the
ability of intestinal cells to regenerate. For more details about our integrative protocol
for gastro-intestinal issues, please read our April 2011 newsletter. Andropause causes cardiovascular
issues. By now, you have come to understand that andropause is more complex than you originally thought.
The underlying causes are insulin resistance and system inflammation. Andropause causes the brain to degenerate, testosterone
to be depressed and gastric disorders to occur. Unfortunately, each one of these
factors also causes the hardening of your arteries and accelerates
atherosclerosis. Herein lies the connection of andropause with cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone is a very cardio-protective hormone
(similar to estrogen in women). A
man’s heart has many testosterone receptors which help protect it. Therefore,
as a man’s testosterone levels decrease, his heart protection decreases and
he is subject to all of the cardiovascular issues that make heart disease the
number one killer of men. It is commonly thought that testosterone levels
naturally decline with age. As you can read in the above studies, many
experts believe that they should not. Again, poor diet and also many years of
stress are causing testosterone levels to decrease. With proper nutrition and
handling of stress, testosterone levels should stay fairly constant
throughout a man’s life. Erectile dysfunction is not generally an endocrine
problem but rather vascular, neurologic and psychogenic in origin. It also
may be the first sign of systemic vascular disease. (Am j Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr;13(2):145-160) For
more information about andropause and how we can
treat it, call our office at 408-517-0706
or visit our website at http://www.jamiesonhealthcenter.com. |
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JAMIESON
HEALTH CENTER
Applied Kinesiology Nutrition Emotional Stress Relief Total Body Modification Advanced Neurofeedback 1175
Saratoga Ave, Ste 8 San Jose, CA
95129 Phone
408.517.0706 Email drjamieson@sbcglobal.net We’re on the Web! |
Seminars we’ve taken. Since I want to make a difference in
your lives and that of your children, I’m constantly trying to keep up with
the latest developments in healing practices, clinical research and new
discoveries in the area of integrative holistic medicine. To that end, I have
attended the following seminars and conferences over the last several months: ·
Functional
neurology – ongoing at the Carrick Institute of Neurology ·
Understanding
the complexity of gluten sensitivity ·
Breaking the
complex web of leaky gut ·
Neurochemistry
of childhood brain developmental disorders ·
The neuroendocrine immunology of andropause ·
The neuroendocrine immunology of perimenopause ·
The aging brain ·
The brain-gut
axis ·
Nutrition
Response Testing ·
NeuroIntegration therapy– Level
1 and Level 2 training ·
Deep States
training with neurofeedback ·
Level 2 advanced
neurofeedback training ·
Alpha-Theta
advanced training ·
Autoimmune
regulation ·
Functional Endocrinology ·
Metabolic
Biotransformation: an overview of detoxification and weight management ·
Restoring
Gastrointestinal Health ·
Practical Blood
Chemistry ·
Neurotransmitters
and Brain ·
The
Thyroid-Brain–Immuno Connection ·
Restorative
Endocrinology: Balancing Female Hormones in Menopausal Women ·
Restorative
Endocrinology: Balancing Hormones in Cycling Women ·
The Impacts of Estrogen
on the NeuroEndocrine-Immune Axis ·
Restorative
Endocrinology: Balancing Male Hormones ·
Advanced
Nutrition Therapeutics for Addictions and OCD Some
patients have asked about previous newsletters and they can be found on our
website at http://www.jamiesonhealthcenter.com/archive.htm |
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