Recently I visited one of the leading hormone specialists in London. It is clear from the consultation that I need to make some changes to my lifestyle - mainly diet and exercise. But the best way to discover what is going on with your body is to take various tests - usually a combination of blood, urine and saliva.
So I start with a blood test to find out levels of various hormones in my body. Today I am going to focus on one of them - the thyroid hormone - this is the hormone responsible for regulating the body's metabolism amongst other things.
It appears that women are more likely to suffer a deficiency - medically known as: hypothyroidism - than men. There are various physicial symptoms - allergies, skin problems, fatigue, nervousness, gaining or losing weight, brittle nails, dry skin, constipation, infertility, mental sluggishness, depression and intolerence to cold. But since these symptoms can be associated with a catalogue of other illnesses the best way to verify this problem is by a blood test.
But there is confusion/controversy amongst medical professionals, particularly outside of anti-ageing medicine about what the exact parameters that constitutes a deficiency and what the drug treatment should be.
The thyroid gland measures just two inches across and is in the neck just below the Adam's apple. It actually secrets two hormones - mostly T4 (known as thyroxine) which converts into the active hormone (that actually used by the body) into T3 (triodothyronine). In healthy people most T4 Is converted into T3.
The regulation of the thyroid is controlled by a number of body functions - the hypothalamus, situated in the brain above the pituitary gland, triggers the pituitary to release a substance known as "thyroid stimulating hormone" (TSH). When levels of thyroid hormone reach optimum the amount of TSH decreases, conversly in people not producing enough there are higher amounts of TSH in the blood.
So when trying to determine thyroid function doctors will test for blood levels of TSH and also T4.
It should also be noted that dieting (lowering of calories) has the same effect of diminishing production of T3, which in turn lowers a person's resting metabolic weight, which can also lead to weight gain in the long term. Experts also tell me that many individuals have problem converting T4 into T3 which also leads to weight gain. This is music to my ears - can I blame my tendency to weight gain on this?
Of course its not as simple as this. A 54-year-old friend with absolutely no symptoms - no weightgain etc - was recently diagnosed by her GP as suffering from sub-clinical hypothryoidism. This simply means that the thyroid is not working 100% and may be a warning sign of further loss of function in the future. She was in disbelief and checked out her diagnosis with a private blood test which confirmed the result from her GP. She has been prescribed Levothyroxine - basically T4 - which is what most UK GPs prescribe - lets hope she doesn't have a conversion problem. This may well be because the UK Government's drug rationing body NICE may only allow doctors to prescribe this one.
Levothyroxine (thyroxine - T4) is a tiny tablet which should be taken on a empty stomach daily. Left untreated - aside from the weight gain issue - hypothyroidism can cause serious health problems including aenemia, low body temperature and heart failure.
I visit my GP and discovered that I too am sub-optimal on the thyroid hormone and get prescribed Levothyroxine, even though I point out the conversion problems. I will have a blood test to check that my body is converting this to the usable form T3.
So what are the other drug alternatives - one is Cytomel which is a synthetic form of T3 which is approved by the FDA in the US. A recent medical study showed that combining this with T4 had better results including for weightloss.
Armour Thyroid is one that contains dessicated thyroid derived from the thryoid gland of the pig but many doctors are reluctant to prescribe this, mainly because of dose inconsistency and contamination problems with its animal origins.
There are a myriad of side effects with drug thryoid hormone replacement, especially if you take other drugs particularly oestrogens, beta-blockers and anticoagulants.
Aborbtion is also impaired by iron sulfate, calcium pills and several other supplements.
So is there anything you can take naturally to help your body? The answer is yes - particularly the minerals magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc - deficiences of these can prevent the conversion of T4 to T3.
HIGH BAD CHOLESTEROL (LDL)
In my investigations into this subject I have discovered that high levels of LDL are also indicators of poor thyroid function. I wonder if this is my problem with high LDL - despite loads of exercise and eating good fats my levels of LDL were still too high? I will see from blood tests if this is my problem after two months of thyroid replacement So perhaps doctors should try testing for this more often?
THE PROBLEM WITH CURRENT REFERENCE RANGES OF TSH
The standard range used by most labs is 0.2-5.5(mU/L), A greater TSH number than 5.5alerts the doctor to a thyroid gland problem as it is over producing TSH.
Anti-ageing doctors believe that this range is too broad and that anyone with a TSH reading of more than 2.0 should be investigated with a view to possible health problems.
I would greatly appreciate hearing expert views on this..
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Sunday, 17 August 2008
RUNNING AND THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine recently published the results of an extremely lengthy study into the benefits of aerobic exercise, in particular jogging, for older people.
The study lasted for over two decades and tracked 500 runners aged 50 or over at the beginning of the study. 284 of the study participants were regular runners, while the remaining 156 healthy "controls" were non-runners.
At the start of the study, participants ran for an average of four hours per week. By the time the study wound up, these people were in their 70s or 80s and ran about 76 minutes a week.
The outcome of the research revealed just 15 percent of the regular runners had succumbed to the ravages of age and had died, while 34 percent of the non-runners had died during the same time.
The study's lead author is Dr. James Fries, an emeritus professor of medicine at Stanford said people who had regular exercise regimen would spend less time being disabled even as their days neared an end.
Dr Fries said exercise was by far the best thing to delay aging, "The health benefits of exercise are greater than we thought. If you had to pick one thing to make people healthier as they age, it would be aerobic exercise," he added.
Some 21 years after the study all participants experienced some amount of disability, but for the runners, the onset was delayed. Also deaths from heart disease, diabetes and neurological disease were also less in the running group.
This report confirms the obvious that you not only look and feel better if you take reasonable amounts of exercise but you will also look better. We are not talking marathon running here which is excessive and does cause damage to the joints of the body but a gentle three-mile run three to four times a week and some stretching.
One thing the research did not go into was the effect exercise has on hormones - it is scientifically proven that you produce more Human Growth Hormone as a result of exercise - this is one of the key hormones that declines with age.
Also you produce more of the feel good hormones such as a Seratonin after exercise.
So after a few months of neglecting my usual exercise regime - two hours cycling to work and back and a 45 minute jog - I have started to get back into regular exercise.
It is wise for those older individuals who have never exercised to seek doctors advice and get a checkup before embarking on anything too strenuous which might be a shock to the body.
I began my regime yesterday with two circuits round my local park. On the way back home I popped into my local shop for a bottle of water, covered in perspiration, where the young lad said: "Have you been running - you look really tired!" Hmmm - but 10 minutes later after a shower I felt better than I had in weeks. And no aches or pains.
So the best advice for older consumers appears to be to put on your running shoes and start going - this may delay aging in more ways than you know.
The study lasted for over two decades and tracked 500 runners aged 50 or over at the beginning of the study. 284 of the study participants were regular runners, while the remaining 156 healthy "controls" were non-runners.
At the start of the study, participants ran for an average of four hours per week. By the time the study wound up, these people were in their 70s or 80s and ran about 76 minutes a week.
The outcome of the research revealed just 15 percent of the regular runners had succumbed to the ravages of age and had died, while 34 percent of the non-runners had died during the same time.
The study's lead author is Dr. James Fries, an emeritus professor of medicine at Stanford said people who had regular exercise regimen would spend less time being disabled even as their days neared an end.
Dr Fries said exercise was by far the best thing to delay aging, "The health benefits of exercise are greater than we thought. If you had to pick one thing to make people healthier as they age, it would be aerobic exercise," he added.
Some 21 years after the study all participants experienced some amount of disability, but for the runners, the onset was delayed. Also deaths from heart disease, diabetes and neurological disease were also less in the running group.
This report confirms the obvious that you not only look and feel better if you take reasonable amounts of exercise but you will also look better. We are not talking marathon running here which is excessive and does cause damage to the joints of the body but a gentle three-mile run three to four times a week and some stretching.
One thing the research did not go into was the effect exercise has on hormones - it is scientifically proven that you produce more Human Growth Hormone as a result of exercise - this is one of the key hormones that declines with age.
Also you produce more of the feel good hormones such as a Seratonin after exercise.
So after a few months of neglecting my usual exercise regime - two hours cycling to work and back and a 45 minute jog - I have started to get back into regular exercise.
It is wise for those older individuals who have never exercised to seek doctors advice and get a checkup before embarking on anything too strenuous which might be a shock to the body.
I began my regime yesterday with two circuits round my local park. On the way back home I popped into my local shop for a bottle of water, covered in perspiration, where the young lad said: "Have you been running - you look really tired!" Hmmm - but 10 minutes later after a shower I felt better than I had in weeks. And no aches or pains.
So the best advice for older consumers appears to be to put on your running shoes and start going - this may delay aging in more ways than you know.
Friday, 15 August 2008
WHEN DO WOMEN START TO WORRY ABOUT AGEING?
Women start to worry about losing their looks at the age of 28, according to a survey by Olay Regenerist which polled the views of 4,000 women. So is this true, or does 28 sound too young?
Well I confess I began worrying about ageing even earlier than that. I was only 23 when I made my first visit to a health farm - determined to stem the ageing tide that might happen to my body.
That was followed not long after by a visit to Tyringham Naturapathic Clinic, near Olney in Buckinghamshire, where I was prepared to undergo colonic irrigation to turn back the clock. And that was a quarter of a century before Princess Diana tried it out at the Hale Clinic in London.
Always a women ahead of my time - my paranoia about ageing and getting wrinkles peaked at the age of 28. I recall that was when most of my friends were getting married and maybe that was the start of it - if I had wrinkles I would definitely not get a husband. I thought I already had one foot in the grave!
It was also the start of my interest in the more expensive anti-ageing wrinkle creams - I became a devotee of Clarins - I had the saggy bust cream, the craggy neck cream, the anti-cellulite cream etc etc. Sometimes I couldn't find enough bits of my face and body to put everything on. I would always carry Clarins Eye cream in my handbag and rub it into my non-existent crows feet several times a day just in case.
I recall going to department stores on wrinkle cream forays, determined to get the latest and best in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Over the years I have spend a small fortune on anti-ageing wrinkle creams.
And to cap it all I always wondered why those ladies selling the stuff looked like extras from the Night of the Living Dead with bright red hair, yellow teeth....and wrinkles.... And they frequently say - "don't use it round your eyes". Oh dear I have just spend £50 on a wrinkle cream for the only place I have wrinkles - around my eyes and I can't use it!
On one occasion I bought a wrinkle cream by Chanel that was aimed at the 50+ woman. I thought, well that must be good. I paid for it later that night when the sensitive skin around my age 35 eyes balloned up in an allergic reaction.
It does make you wonder about human psychology when we are prepared to spend thousands on anti-ageing creams when there is scanty evidence that they work. Hope springs eternal and its hope in a jar that we just keep buying.
Well I confess I began worrying about ageing even earlier than that. I was only 23 when I made my first visit to a health farm - determined to stem the ageing tide that might happen to my body.
That was followed not long after by a visit to Tyringham Naturapathic Clinic, near Olney in Buckinghamshire, where I was prepared to undergo colonic irrigation to turn back the clock. And that was a quarter of a century before Princess Diana tried it out at the Hale Clinic in London.
Always a women ahead of my time - my paranoia about ageing and getting wrinkles peaked at the age of 28. I recall that was when most of my friends were getting married and maybe that was the start of it - if I had wrinkles I would definitely not get a husband. I thought I already had one foot in the grave!
It was also the start of my interest in the more expensive anti-ageing wrinkle creams - I became a devotee of Clarins - I had the saggy bust cream, the craggy neck cream, the anti-cellulite cream etc etc. Sometimes I couldn't find enough bits of my face and body to put everything on. I would always carry Clarins Eye cream in my handbag and rub it into my non-existent crows feet several times a day just in case.
I recall going to department stores on wrinkle cream forays, determined to get the latest and best in Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. Over the years I have spend a small fortune on anti-ageing wrinkle creams.
And to cap it all I always wondered why those ladies selling the stuff looked like extras from the Night of the Living Dead with bright red hair, yellow teeth....and wrinkles.... And they frequently say - "don't use it round your eyes". Oh dear I have just spend £50 on a wrinkle cream for the only place I have wrinkles - around my eyes and I can't use it!
On one occasion I bought a wrinkle cream by Chanel that was aimed at the 50+ woman. I thought, well that must be good. I paid for it later that night when the sensitive skin around my age 35 eyes balloned up in an allergic reaction.
It does make you wonder about human psychology when we are prepared to spend thousands on anti-ageing creams when there is scanty evidence that they work. Hope springs eternal and its hope in a jar that we just keep buying.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
RESVERATROL, RED WINE AND LONGEVITY
New to the UK is a US range of skincare containing antioxidant vinotherapy called Le Vin. The use of grapes in anti-ageing skincare is very big in the US, especially in California - where most of the country's vineyards are established.
In Europe most of us know the French brand from Le Caudalie Spa in Bordeaux which is now quite widely available in department stores in the UK such as Selfridges and Debenhams.
Le Vin combines organic with scientific technology in a range that is limited to three products - eye and face serums and face cream. They smell delightful and are vitamin rich with an anti-oxidant complex of Chardonnay grape seed extract and certified organic essential oils, sets a new standard in high quality organic skincare, eliminating undesirables such as parabens and propylene glycol.
I try them on my sensitive skin and it soaks them up, leaving it dewy and lightly scented.
Le Vin has an interesting history. It was founded in New York in July 2007 by a former engineer, Ken Heng, who launched the successful spa product line Olavie.
Following numerous trips to the wine producing regions of Napa, California, Ken noticed that the people who tended the vines had radiant, young looking skin, years younger than their real age. Heng (after a childhood of problem skin) chose to research the powerful scientific beneficial effects of grape seed extract and utilise what is known as the ‘French Paradox’ and thus the brand was born.
The anti-ageing effects of the antioxidant in red wine, resveratrol, has made one big pharma sit up and make plans for the first anti-ageing pill. Grape seed extract also contains polyphenols which are used in Le Vin to stimulate skin renewal and fight stress and age-related damage.
After travelling the world seeking the finest ingredients, Ken worked closely with skin care labs and formulators to launch Olavieä, his first bodycare line in 2002 which uses the key active ingredient of Chardonnay grape seed extract (GSE), imported from Burgundy, France. Today, Le Vinä, Heng’s newest product collection combines cosmeceutical and organic ingredients offering a new approach to high quality skincare.
Vita-vino Actif: Unique anti-oxidant and anti-ageing ingredient technology
Combining grape seed extract with scientifically proven high dosage medical grade actives and vitamins, Vita-vino Actifä is a unique nutrient and anti-oxidant rich complex. Featuring Chardonnay GSE (grape seed extract), resveratrol and Vitamins A, B, C, D & E, this physician-grade, three-step skincare line combines strong anti-ageing and anti-oxidant properties.
Grape seed extract contains Polyphenols, a potent anti-oxidant that penetrates the epidermis to stimulate the renewal of skin cells and collagen by combating free radicals, which damage and age the skin. The seeds are extracted from the grape before fermentation to yield the highest percentage for anti-oxidants, seven times more potent that Vitamin E.
Product collection
Face Serum - £90.00, 50ml
This potent skin cocktail featuring GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid) that instantly inhibits the muscle contractions that contribute to wrinkles, Le Vinä Face Serum is the perfect alternative to Botox, dramatically reducing the appearance of fine lines. Vita-vino Actifä delivers powerful anti-oxidants and nutrients deep into the dermal layer, with anti-bacterial agents to keep pores clean and certified organic ingredients high in gamma linolenic acid, a proven anti-inflammatory can also help congested, acne prone skin. Skin feels smooth, pore-less and glowing.
Key ingredients:
Vita-vino Actif, MatrixylÒ, GABA, Panax Ginseng, Argeriline™, Portulaca Oleracea, Centella Asiatica, VLMW Hyaluronic Acid
Certified organic ingredients:
Chamomile, Sunflower Seed Oil, Rose Hip Oil, Borage Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Arnica, Lavender, White Tea, Calendula, Aloe
Face Cream - £77.00, 50ml
Ultra-fine hyaluronic acid combined with Vita-vino Actifä delivers moisture deep into the skin increasing anti-oxidant benefits and hydration and preventing damage by environmental aggressors. Tissue Respiratory Factors bring oxygen to the skin, ridding skin cells of toxins. Skin appears smooth and nourished whilst Borage oil and Flax seed oil restore balance for a beautiful complexion.
Key ingredients:
Vita-vino Actif, Matrixyl, GABA, Argeriline, VLMW Hyaluronic Acid, Tissue Respiratory Factors, Lycopene, Ceremide 3, Helioguard
Certified organic ingredients:
Chamomile, Sunflower Seed Oil, Rose Hip Oil, Borage Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Arnica, Lavender, White Tea, Calendula, Aloe
Eye Serum - £57.00, 15ml
GABA and purpose-specific peptides target dark circles, eye bags and fine lines for immediate and long lasting results and Vita-vino Actif fights free radicals from damaging the fragile eye area. A tiny drop of this lightweight serum delivers a silky finish without residue acting as a perfect base for concealer.
Key ingredients:
Vita-vino Actif, GABA, Eyeseryl, Haloxyl, Matrixyl, Argeriline, Super Oxide Dismutase, VLMW Hyaluronic Acid
Certified organic ingredients:
Arnica, Lavender, Chamomile, Calendula, White Tea
** Natural and certified organic botanicals ** Medical grade actives
GROWTH HORMONE - THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THIS ONE!
The medical controversy over Human Growth Hormone continues to rumble on.
On the one hand you have anti-ageing doctors who promote its use in advanced Hormone Replacement Therapy for ageing adults. And on the other you have the "Old fashioned" medical lobby who say its a dangerous hormone to play around with.
I personally know anti-aging doctors who take this hormone on a daily basis and prescribe it to patients. These doctors are not just in the US but also in the UK, Europe and elsewhere.
Most of them are keeping their heads below the parapit and precribe it discreetly even in London's Harley Street.
The reason for this is that Human Growth Hormone is manufactured synethetically by only three pharamaceutical companies and in most countries it only has approval as a treatment for children with severe growth problems, for some of the symptoms of AIDS and in adults with abnormally low levels - and the decline caused by ageing is not one.
Yet we still continue to hope that there will be some magical pill that can restore the physical and mental attributes of our youth.
Human Growth Hormone is made by the pituitary gland in the brain and helps build lean muscle. Like most of our hormones it declines with age - from about the age of 30.
I do know of actors and actresses and wealthy individuals who take this drug in the hope that it will turn back time...but at what cost literally? Sly Stallone pictured above working out his gymwas caught with some in his luggage while he was passing through Australian customs.
I have never taken this myself. I prefer using a combination of amino acids - Hgh is actually composed of a vast number of these - which help promote Hgh in the body. Its important to take the amino acids at the right time such as before exercise or at night when Hgh production peaks naturally.
There have not been any long-term trials of Hgh which is why everybody is so hesitant to support its use.
Dr Hau Liu, the associate chief of endocrinology and co-director of chronic care management at the Valley Medical Centre, San Jose, California was the lead author of data from randomized, controlled trials of growth hormone in healthy older adults.
In his conclusion published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last year, he concluded that there was an association between growth hormone use and slight changes in body composition, but no other important health changes.
Worryingly users of growth hormone had high rates of soft tissue swelling and joint pain, compared to people who didn't get these injections. There also was an increased risk of impaired blood sugar control or diabetes. This finding was not statistically significant, but still worrying given the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in developed countries.
Just like weightloss and getting a six-pack it looks as if there is no quick fix for turning back the clock...at least not yet
On the one hand you have anti-ageing doctors who promote its use in advanced Hormone Replacement Therapy for ageing adults. And on the other you have the "Old fashioned" medical lobby who say its a dangerous hormone to play around with.
I personally know anti-aging doctors who take this hormone on a daily basis and prescribe it to patients. These doctors are not just in the US but also in the UK, Europe and elsewhere.
Most of them are keeping their heads below the parapit and precribe it discreetly even in London's Harley Street.
The reason for this is that Human Growth Hormone is manufactured synethetically by only three pharamaceutical companies and in most countries it only has approval as a treatment for children with severe growth problems, for some of the symptoms of AIDS and in adults with abnormally low levels - and the decline caused by ageing is not one.
Yet we still continue to hope that there will be some magical pill that can restore the physical and mental attributes of our youth.
Human Growth Hormone is made by the pituitary gland in the brain and helps build lean muscle. Like most of our hormones it declines with age - from about the age of 30.
I do know of actors and actresses and wealthy individuals who take this drug in the hope that it will turn back time...but at what cost literally? Sly Stallone pictured above working out his gymwas caught with some in his luggage while he was passing through Australian customs.
I have never taken this myself. I prefer using a combination of amino acids - Hgh is actually composed of a vast number of these - which help promote Hgh in the body. Its important to take the amino acids at the right time such as before exercise or at night when Hgh production peaks naturally.
There have not been any long-term trials of Hgh which is why everybody is so hesitant to support its use.
Dr Hau Liu, the associate chief of endocrinology and co-director of chronic care management at the Valley Medical Centre, San Jose, California was the lead author of data from randomized, controlled trials of growth hormone in healthy older adults.
In his conclusion published in the Annals of Internal Medicine last year, he concluded that there was an association between growth hormone use and slight changes in body composition, but no other important health changes.
Worryingly users of growth hormone had high rates of soft tissue swelling and joint pain, compared to people who didn't get these injections. There also was an increased risk of impaired blood sugar control or diabetes. This finding was not statistically significant, but still worrying given the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in developed countries.
Just like weightloss and getting a six-pack it looks as if there is no quick fix for turning back the clock...at least not yet
Saturday, 9 August 2008
CARBOXY AND ANTI-AGEING SKIN DEVICES
Carboxy Therapy
I am fascinated by Carboxy Therapy. It was launched several months ago as a skin rejuvenation treatment. It uses carbon dioxide which is injected under the skin with a tiny needle.
This causes oxygen to rush to the area improving the metabolism in the tissues. This results in a tightening of the collagen.
I have seen flabby upper arms completely transformed after a course of these treatments. It also works wonders with stretch marks - they do not completely disappear but they are very much improved.
The beauty of this treatment is that it is non-toxic - carbon dioxide is found naturally in the body - and it really does work.
Try it out at http://www.beautyworkswest.com/ in London's Nottinghill. The expert there is Dr Daniel Sister who has a book of photographic case studies to show.
Ultratone
I have been asked to trial a new electronic device for the face by Ultratone called the Facial Plus.
Ultratone's research and development director Kirstin Schaefer tells me that it works through electrical stimulation.
This handheld device for home use is about the size of a TV remote control. It has fourprogrammes: Microcurrent - for deep penetration of moisturising creams, skin rejuvenation and fine line reduction ;Non-surgical facelift and tone - for exercising and lifting superficial medium and deep muscles; Lymphatic drainage & toxin release - for the reduction of puffiness and toxin elimination, to achieve a fresher and clear complexion and Anti-Ageing and maintenance - to enhance the results and ensure your face stays toned and looking good.
Each programme operates on a different frequency and within each programme there is a cocktail of currents that penetrate different depths and muscles via two metal contacts.
As with all the Ultratone devices, they also have uses in medical treatment. In the case of the Facial Plus it is used to treat Bell's Palsy.
Kirstin tells me that the microcurrent penetrates and rejuvenates the superficial layer of the skin, stimulating the fibroblasts that produce youth-promoting elastin and collagen.
The best results are obtained by using the unit little and often - say five minutes on each side of the face daily.
The anti-ageing programme gives the muscles of the face a thorough workout, moving everything upwards.
You have to follow a facial workout map - each muscle is worked on for about one minute - 25 impluses, then there is a beeb to indicate that you should now move to the next muscle area.
The lymphatic programme works for people who have facial puffiness - the current stimulates the lymph system and helps the skin to detox.
Ultratone has gathered medical evidence to support the efficacy of its devices, many of which are used in rehabilitative medicine.
Kirstin tells me that you don't need to use Botox if you use the Facial Plus regularly - I will let you know how I get on with it.
The Ultratone Facial Plus costs £149.00 and can be purchasd by phone 44 (0)207 935 0631. More information is online at www.ultratone.co.uk/
Thursday, 7 August 2008
BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES & ANTI-AGING REJUVENATION
For most women who want to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with the menopause the only option at the moment is to seek Hormone Replacement Therapy with Premarin, an artificial form of Hormone Replacement Therapy. This drug is made from synthesised estrogens from mares' urine and in the UK is prescribed by doctors to their NHS patients.
This kind of HRT has been the subject of much controversy, not least because it is an artificial hormone and also because it is a "one size fits all" solution, in a scenario where overstretched NHS doctors do not have the time or facilities to monitor each individual patient, indefinately and on an on-going basis.
Specialists in anti-ageing medicine, which is all about medical protocols to prevent or at least delay the onset of the diseases of ageing, prescribe bespoke HRT. This is because every individual will have a different hormonal profile and utilise HRT differently. So any replacement needs to be monitored on an on-going basis with regular blood testing and other health screens.
Bespoke HRT usually involves the prescribing of bioidentical hormones - these are made from plants such as yams and are bioidentical because they replicate human hormones exactly. They are prescribed for the symptoms of the menopause and also for deficiencies caused by ageing.
There is increasing evidence to suggest that our hormones offer protection from several ageing diseases - cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and some cancers. It therefore makes sense that replacing them to an optimum level for health may delay onset.
I recently tried bioidenticals. First I took a blood test to determine levels of my youth hormones including estrogen(of which there are three - estrodial,estriol and estrone), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) and thyroid. I was prescribed a course of bioidenticals: estrogen capsules, testosterone gel and pregnenolone sublingual drops.
In addition to a blood test it is also advised to have the endometrium (womb lining) measured as thickening may occur in response to any hormonal imbalances - for example if too much estrogen is given; a breast mammography for similar reasons and also a bone scan.
Over the six months I have been taking bioidentical hormones my night sweats have stopped, my quality of sleep is much improved and I have more energy. I would mention here that the male hormone testosterone, is also necessary for females - it helps energy and libido. Is it available in the form of patches on the NHS.
For those not able to afford expensive bespoke HRT there are alternatives: phyto-estrogens can be added via the diet. The French company Arkopharma makes a capsule which has been successfully trialled without negative side-affects and has been shown to reduce menopausal flushes.
DHEA is a master hormone that converts to testosterone and estrogen - it can be purchased over-the-counter in US health shops. But you must be careful with dosage so it is advisable to get a blood test from an anti-ageing doctor before and while taking this supplement.
In the US, the Government health watchdog, the Food & Drug Administration has banned estriol and other bio-identicals, apparently because of lobbying by the manufacturers of Premarin. Estriol is in fact the weakest of the estrogens and the FDA accepts there has been no instances of harm caused by bio-identical prescribing.
Millions of Americans are now lobbying their senators to get the FDA to reinstate bio-identicals.
All I can say is that it is a bizarre world where we can be sold/prescribed all kinds of drugs that have known and unknown side effects but a natural substance that has proven benefits to health is banned....
This kind of HRT has been the subject of much controversy, not least because it is an artificial hormone and also because it is a "one size fits all" solution, in a scenario where overstretched NHS doctors do not have the time or facilities to monitor each individual patient, indefinately and on an on-going basis.
Specialists in anti-ageing medicine, which is all about medical protocols to prevent or at least delay the onset of the diseases of ageing, prescribe bespoke HRT. This is because every individual will have a different hormonal profile and utilise HRT differently. So any replacement needs to be monitored on an on-going basis with regular blood testing and other health screens.
Bespoke HRT usually involves the prescribing of bioidentical hormones - these are made from plants such as yams and are bioidentical because they replicate human hormones exactly. They are prescribed for the symptoms of the menopause and also for deficiencies caused by ageing.
There is increasing evidence to suggest that our hormones offer protection from several ageing diseases - cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis and some cancers. It therefore makes sense that replacing them to an optimum level for health may delay onset.
I recently tried bioidenticals. First I took a blood test to determine levels of my youth hormones including estrogen(of which there are three - estrodial,estriol and estrone), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA) and thyroid. I was prescribed a course of bioidenticals: estrogen capsules, testosterone gel and pregnenolone sublingual drops.
In addition to a blood test it is also advised to have the endometrium (womb lining) measured as thickening may occur in response to any hormonal imbalances - for example if too much estrogen is given; a breast mammography for similar reasons and also a bone scan.
Over the six months I have been taking bioidentical hormones my night sweats have stopped, my quality of sleep is much improved and I have more energy. I would mention here that the male hormone testosterone, is also necessary for females - it helps energy and libido. Is it available in the form of patches on the NHS.
For those not able to afford expensive bespoke HRT there are alternatives: phyto-estrogens can be added via the diet. The French company Arkopharma makes a capsule which has been successfully trialled without negative side-affects and has been shown to reduce menopausal flushes.
DHEA is a master hormone that converts to testosterone and estrogen - it can be purchased over-the-counter in US health shops. But you must be careful with dosage so it is advisable to get a blood test from an anti-ageing doctor before and while taking this supplement.
In the US, the Government health watchdog, the Food & Drug Administration has banned estriol and other bio-identicals, apparently because of lobbying by the manufacturers of Premarin. Estriol is in fact the weakest of the estrogens and the FDA accepts there has been no instances of harm caused by bio-identical prescribing.
Millions of Americans are now lobbying their senators to get the FDA to reinstate bio-identicals.
All I can say is that it is a bizarre world where we can be sold/prescribed all kinds of drugs that have known and unknown side effects but a natural substance that has proven benefits to health is banned....
Friday, 1 August 2008
COSMETIC SURGERY & THE BOGUS BREAST BACKLASH
Novelist Tony Parsons's article in this month's GQ Magazine about his "fear of fake breasts" has put the rationale for having "gratuitous" cosmetic surgery under the microscope. And about time too.
Like most sensible people Parsons isn't that impressed by fake boobs - even if he admits they are fabulous to look at.
He writes that fake breasts are "like plastic fruit" - good to look at, but not good to touch.
Personally, I have always hated plastic fruit - on a par with plastic flowers and plants!
He said in GQ magazine: "They are not there to be fondled, kissed or felt, they are there to be admired, discussed, lusted after and photographed. The moment they are touched -- and I mean in the heat of passion, rather than out of curiosity or in the interests of scientific research -- then the spell is broken. And this is true of all fake breasts, no matter how much money has been spent on this act of female self-mutilation."
And Parsons asks: "Why aren't there armies of thinking women protesting about the grotesquely booming trade in bogus breasts?"
I think the answer might lie in the demographics of the customers ie who exactly is having this surgery....you only have to look at where the big cosmetic clinics are advertising...mainly in the mass circulation tabloids and populist glossy mags...to take a guess. This is probably why there are not hoards of women protesting...the others have got better things to do.
I know that you cannot always tell a book by its cover but a nice face and body doesn't mean a nice person.
I agree with the writer Joan Smith on this same subject: "I think that women considering breast surgery for cosmetic reasons should spend a month in Darfur and then decide if body image is really an important issue."
Please don't misunderstand me: I don't think there is anything wrong with cosmetic surgery in moderation. For example, a woman who has breasts that did not grow normally from puberty or women with overly large breasts who want a reduction. But...there appears to be a serious, misplaced, out-of-balance preoccupation with self in many of these people.
I recently met a woman who I concluded was suffering from body dysmphorphic disorder amongst other things. At the age of 38 she had had a boob enhancement, a nose job, her chin and thighs lipo-sucked and her ears pinned. She spent virtually every waking hour walking around with cosmetic whitening trays on her teeth. She also had Botox, and fillers in her wrinkles and had her lips pumped up with something or other.
Everyday she sought something new. On one occasion I saw her with extremely swollen lips - she had had "semi-permanent"(tatoo-ing) make-up.
This woman carried a toothbrush everywhere - disappearing after meals to clean her teeth. Sure guys looked at her boobs - she always went out in plunging tops and the shortest skirts.
What they didn't know was that the surgery was bankrolled by an ageing but wealthy married man in his 60s who she threatened and bullied with her tantrums; that she spent her days trawling for rich men on a national newspaper internet dating site, and she never got out bed before midday. And her only real friend was a Persian cat.
Like most sensible people Parsons isn't that impressed by fake boobs - even if he admits they are fabulous to look at.
He writes that fake breasts are "like plastic fruit" - good to look at, but not good to touch.
Personally, I have always hated plastic fruit - on a par with plastic flowers and plants!
He said in GQ magazine: "They are not there to be fondled, kissed or felt, they are there to be admired, discussed, lusted after and photographed. The moment they are touched -- and I mean in the heat of passion, rather than out of curiosity or in the interests of scientific research -- then the spell is broken. And this is true of all fake breasts, no matter how much money has been spent on this act of female self-mutilation."
And Parsons asks: "Why aren't there armies of thinking women protesting about the grotesquely booming trade in bogus breasts?"
I think the answer might lie in the demographics of the customers ie who exactly is having this surgery....you only have to look at where the big cosmetic clinics are advertising...mainly in the mass circulation tabloids and populist glossy mags...to take a guess. This is probably why there are not hoards of women protesting...the others have got better things to do.
I know that you cannot always tell a book by its cover but a nice face and body doesn't mean a nice person.
I agree with the writer Joan Smith on this same subject: "I think that women considering breast surgery for cosmetic reasons should spend a month in Darfur and then decide if body image is really an important issue."
Please don't misunderstand me: I don't think there is anything wrong with cosmetic surgery in moderation. For example, a woman who has breasts that did not grow normally from puberty or women with overly large breasts who want a reduction. But...there appears to be a serious, misplaced, out-of-balance preoccupation with self in many of these people.
I recently met a woman who I concluded was suffering from body dysmphorphic disorder amongst other things. At the age of 38 she had had a boob enhancement, a nose job, her chin and thighs lipo-sucked and her ears pinned. She spent virtually every waking hour walking around with cosmetic whitening trays on her teeth. She also had Botox, and fillers in her wrinkles and had her lips pumped up with something or other.
Everyday she sought something new. On one occasion I saw her with extremely swollen lips - she had had "semi-permanent"(tatoo-ing) make-up.
This woman carried a toothbrush everywhere - disappearing after meals to clean her teeth. Sure guys looked at her boobs - she always went out in plunging tops and the shortest skirts.
What they didn't know was that the surgery was bankrolled by an ageing but wealthy married man in his 60s who she threatened and bullied with her tantrums; that she spent her days trawling for rich men on a national newspaper internet dating site, and she never got out bed before midday. And her only real friend was a Persian cat.
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