About Testosterone
Testosterone is the male hormone that gives men lower voices, facial hair, and sexual interest. Testosterone does been to decline gradually in men after the age of 30, but a sharp decline in testosterone is not normal, and can be a precursor to some more serious illnesses.It can also be hard to diagnose or for men to even recognize as a problem because the symptoms closely mirror the symptoms of things like depression and high blood pressure.
Symptoms
As previously stated, there are many symptoms of low Testosterone, and they can indicate other things such as depression or high blood pressure. However, if a man is experiencing several of these symptoms together, it is very important that he consult his doctor for further testing:- Lowered libido – Although a man’s sex drive will decrease as he becomes older, a marked disinterest in sex can be an indicator of low testosterone.
- Lack of energy – Low testosterone has also been linked to lower energy and becoming tired more quickly than normal.
- Depression – Depression is another symptom of low testosterone. A man who has low testosterone is four times more likely to experience depression than a man who has normal levels of testosterone.
- Decreased strength and height – If a man feels like he’s shorter than normal, it may not be in his head. Low testosterone contributes to low bone density, which can cause a man to lose height. It’s also related to muscle strength, so a man with low testosterone may be feeling weaker than normal.
Medications
There are certain medications that can lower a man’s testosterone, or can mimic symptoms of low testosterone. A patient who is experiencing symptoms of low testosterone should consult his physician to be tested and to see if medication is causing the symptoms or if it is actually low testosterone.Side Effects
The long term lasting side effects of low testosterone are serious. Because testosterone contributes to bone and muscle strength, a man can become injured or even permanently disabled as the result of untreated low testosterone.This can cause a permanent stooped posture as well. It can cause increased abdominal body fat, and even a decreased sense of well-being that can contribute to life-threatening depression and anxiety.
Treatments
There are some treatments for low testosterone, including gels and testosterone boosters designed to replace the missing hormone in the man’s body.Some doctors, however, do not feel that this is a viable treatment, especially for men who are older and are losing testosterone anyway. For these men, it may be more practical to treat the symptoms that the low testosterone has caused rather than to actually replace the hormone. This means treating the depression and decreased strength, and keeping an eye on the loss of bone density.
Losing testosterone can make a man feel like he’s not as much of a man as he used to be, but for older men it’s simply a part of life. It can be treated if it’s simply unbearable or if the man is young enough to be severely affected, but some care and thought should be put into the decision. Sometimes it’s enough to treat the symptoms than replace the hormone all together.
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