Hormones and What They Do

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by various organs. In Greek, hormone means “set into motion” – and that is just what hormones do. Hormones arouse the body’s cells and organs and influence how a person looks, develops, feels, behaves and ages. Hormones also regulate metabolism, sexual function and they way the body uses food.

Major hormones common to both males and females and a brief summary of what they do are listed below.

• Estrogen:  a primarily female sex hormone that regulates reproduction and female characteristics.
• Progesterone:  a sex hormone that stimulates and regulates conception, pregnancy, and sexual desire.
• Testosterone:  a primary male sex hormone and steroid that regulates male characteristics, sexual desire, behavior and is even associated with osteoporosis. 
• DHEA:  the most abundant steroid and multi-functional hormone in the body and serves as precursor to male and female sex hormones (androgens and estrogens).  DHEA levels in the body begin to decrease after age 30.
• Thyroid Hormones:  control how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins, and affects the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body.

The Impact of Declining Hormone Levels and Aging

The downward spiral of physical and mental decline that we have come to accept as a natural part of growing older is becoming recognized as somewhat controllable and preventable. As the levels of hormones decline so do we decline both physically and mentally. We lose energy, vitality, and health, as well as longevity.

By restoring hormones to levels present in youth, it is possible to restore youthful zeal, energy and to strengthen and bolster the body and mind.  It is possible to improve many of the symptoms associated with aging and “old age”. The youthful resilience that enables individuals to cope gracefully with everyday stress can be restored. We are entering an era where mainstream medicine focuses on slowing down the aging process and thereby achieving prevention of both the illnesses of aging as well as the symptoms of aging.

The most effective solution of any disease process is prevention of that disease. One of the most important and successful treatments is optional hormone supplementation. Replacing deficient hormones- thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and growth hormones to levels in earlier years is beneficial to health and quality of life.

Conventional medicine has always held the belief that aging is inevitable and that the progressive deterioration that occurs in our adult years cannot be altered. This is simply not true. We have also been led to believe that the diseases of aging, such as heart disease, stoke, cancer and senility, are a part of the normal aging process.

Fortunately, there is an exciting revolution in science and medicine that identifies hormone replacement as preventive medicine. The most effective solution of any disease process is prevention of that disease. One of the most important and successful treatments is optional hormone supplementation/replacement.

Hormone Supplementation and Replacement Therapy
 
Hormones control virtually all of the functions of the body including our reproductive, immune and metabolic systems. Hormones can actually control overall physical and mental health. As the levels of hormones decline so does the body both physically and mentally. There is loss of energy, vitality, and health, as well as longevity. By restoring hormones to their youthful levels it is possible to restore youthful zeal, energy and to strengthen and bolster the body and mind.

Hormone replacement therapy is not a panacea. The purpose is to simply replenish the hormones that already occur naturally in our body and boost them back up to the appropriate medically sound levels necessary to maintain youthful health and vigor. It will not reverse aging. The body will continue to age and lose cells secondary to a process that is regulated genetically.  Hormone supplementation and replacement can slow the precipitous decline that occurs after midlife. There will be no sudden falling off in our physical and mental health. We will stay resilient. There will only be a gradual transition that will be much less noticeable than it would be without the hormone replenishment.

Again, the key is to replenish all of the deficient hormones back to a more youthful balance, thereby producing a synergistic effect between the hormones. Which hormones to replenish, how much to replenish and how to adjust the hormones so that they have a synergistic effect is the art and science of the new specialty of natural hormone replacement medicine. The preferred term is preventive medicine. Vitamins, diet and exercise are important, but hormone replacement and high dose omega are essential therapies capable of restoring energy, making patients feel and function well and providing long term therapeutic protection.

The amazing health – protective benefits of hormones are growing in understanding, acceptance and application. Research has shown that maintaining hormone levels in a youthful state can prevent the debility and illness that accompany the aging process. This will lead to increased longevity by preventing the illnesses that usually lead to our demise. However, most importantly is the fact that our quality of life in our later years will be significantly enhanced.