Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments of Men’s Most Common Health Disorders

Book by Pamela Wartian Smith, MD
 $17.95, 248 pages, 6- x 9-inch paperback, ISBN 978-0-7570-0515-2

To a great degree, we are who we are because of the hormones produced in our body. From our sexuality to our physical and mental development to the state of our health—we are all greatly dependent on our hormones working properly. When there is an overproduction or under-production of any of our hormones, we can experience a host of serious health disorders. The problem is few of us ever connect these issues with our hormones. And while men may be familiar with the hormone testosterone, that’s about where it stops. Unfortunately, learning about our hormones is not a priority in our educational system. 

While hormones play a significant role in the development of the female body, for males, the word testosterone and sex will occasionally be mentioned together, but little attention is given to any other hormones. The point is, there are many other hormones that are just as important. To address this lack of information, bestselling author Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith has written Maximize Your Male Hormones. 

This book is an accessible guide, written for men, to understand, identify, and treat the many common sources of these many ailments. These conditions include fatigue, depression, sexual dysfunction, headaches, anger, cancer, nervousness, weight loss/gain, heart disease, male menopause, stress, mood swings, diabetes, sleep apnea, and so much more. The fact is that these are all serious disorders that, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. By first recognizing this problem and identifying the hormone most normally associated with it, the reader will learn there is a great deal that they can do to fix the problem. In her book, Dr. Smith not only provides the medical treatments available—she also includes the natural supplements that have proven to be helpful, as well as the lifestyle changes that can help bring a hormone back in balance.

If any of these problems sound familiar, maybe it’s time to do something about them. When left untreated hormone imbalance can play havoc with a person’s life. As you will see, Maximize Your Male Hormones is exceptionally well written, and clearly organized. With this book in hand, readers will learn that there is a good deal that they can do to help control or even eliminate many of these disorders.

About the author

Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, MPH, is a diplomat of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians and director of the master’s program in medical sciences, with a concentration in metabolic and nutritional medicine, at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. An authority on the subjects of wellness and anti-aging, Dr. Smith is also director of the Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine. Currently, she is the owner and director of the Center for Healthy Living, with locations in Michigan and Florida. Dr. Smith is also the best-selling author of  What You Must Know About Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & So Much More, 2^nd Edition

Introduction

How would you like to live to be a healthy 100 years of age? Well, perhaps you can. We now have the scientific means to help you live to be at least 100. However, to live to that age, requires you to be hormonally and nutritionally balanced. Yes, hormones are just as important for men as they are for women. My goal in writing this book is to provide you with hormonal and nutritional tips in order to stay healthy and prevent disease. The objective is also to help you maintain sexual interest and function throughout your lifetime.

All the hormones in the body are a symphony. Much like an orchestra they must play in tune throughout your life in order for you to have optimal health. Hormonal dysfunction can occur at any age—it is not exclusive to older people. In fact, we are now starting to see low testosterone levels in men at younger and younger ages. For example, if you have heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, or erectile dysfunction, it is likely that these diseases are related, in part, to hormonal dysfunction.

Treatments for these kinds of ailments (or any hormonal abnormality, for that matter) may involve hormone replacement therapy (HRT), change in diet, exercise, and/or nutritional therapies. In the past, no matter what your symptoms or hormonal levels were, every man would receive the same one-size-fits-all treatment. Today, medicine has changed, and science is here to customize and individualize your healthcare.

Medicine is at a crossroads. Now, instead of just treating the symptoms of a disease, a new model of medicine has emerged that looks at the underlying cause of the problem. For example: why might a person suffer from depression? Antidepressants are wonderful medications—if you need them. Their purpose is to treat the symptoms of depression—not to uncover the cause of depression. In the new specialty of Precision Medicine/Anti-Aging Medicine, the reason why a person has depression would be examined. Depression may be a symptom of hypothyroidism, which is low thyroid function. Perhaps, it may be the result of the sufferer’s body no longer making enough testosterone. A number of studies have reported a link between low testosterone and depression. In older men with low testosterone, raising testosterone levels can have an antidepressant effect. There may be a neurotransmitter imbalance or perhaps the GI tract is not functioning optimally. There are many different factors that can cause depression, and Precision/Anti-Aging Medicine aims to find and alleviate the cause instead of only treating the various symptoms. Just because two people are suffering the same problems does not mean they should receive the same treatment. This specialty recognizes this concept and treats patients accordingly. To find a Precision/Anti-Aging specialist, see the Resources section of this book.

The pages of this text will explore the intricate web of your body’s hormonal system which is relevant to men of all ages, whether you are 27, 47, or 77 years of age.

Part I of the book explores the different hormones in your body, their functions, and the various side effects that can occur if these hormones are not at optimal levels. Additionally, the importance of hormonal levels and the ratio between them will be revealed. You will also learn the different causes that can create hormonal imbalances, which may help you eliminate an issue before it becomes a problem. The perfect levels of all your hormones are needed for you to achieve optimal health. For example, too much testosterone is just as problematic as too little of this important hormone in your body.

Part I, The Hormones. I have organized this section in the order I felt would be most useful to you, the reader. While the order of importance for every man may be different, understanding each hormone is key.

Part II, Ailments and Problems, focuses on the most common ailments and problems that arise from hormonal imbalances, such as erectile dysfunction (ED), male infertility, diabetes, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and prostate cancer, to name a few. You’ll learn that even diseases that seemingly have nothing to do with hormones—like heart disease and osteoporosis (yes, men can lose bone structure at about the same rate as women once they lose hormonal function)—can be affected by a hormonal imbalance. Low testosterone does not just lead to loss of muscle strength and mass. Bones are affected as well. Consequently, keeping your hormones at optimal levels is beneficial in preventing a wide array of health disorders, even ones you wouldn’t suspect.

Part III focuses on hormone replacement therapy. Twelve reasons you should consider compounded hormone replacement therapy will be discussed. In addition, this section of the book examines, at length, the four big reasons you should consider HRT: 1. Hormones help to maintain cognitive function. In one study, men with low testosterone were on average 48% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with normal levels. 2. Hormones aid in preventing and are adjunct therapies for heart disease. Lower levels of testosterone are associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease. 3. Hormones are of benefit in keeping your blood sugar and weight optimal. Men with lower testosterone are more likely to have insulin resistance, diabetes, and abdominal obesity. 4. Hormones are important for sexual function and interest. Low testosterone contributes to erectile dysfunction and affects the brain which leads to loss of libido. Moreover, part III explores how to get started should you decide HRT is the option for you. Different ways to have your hormone levels measured are likewise discussed. Finally, you will learn how proper nutrition can benefit your health and boost the effects of hormone replacement therapy.

Fortunately, you do not have to suffer in silence like your fathers did! Science can help us. Not only can you have your symptoms improve or even resolve, but you now have a better chance of helping maintain your vision, memory, mobility, and sexual function. This is not “Star Trek” medicine. It is here and available now. You too can have individualized and customized care. This book will help you discover how.