• 23Jan

  Erectile Dysfunction from a Medical Perspective

  Andropause, Bioidentical Hormones, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Medical Care, Relationships, Research, Sexuality, Symptoms, Testosterone 1 Comment

  What causes Erectile Dysfunction in men? The first of a three part series.

  

  Today is the first of a three part series that Brett and I are doing on the topic of ED in men. Erectile Dysfunction is very common. Most men at some point in their lives experience problems with getting or maintaining a satisfactory erection. Generally it is thought that if this is happening at least 25% of the time, then you have a problem and need to seek treatment.

  Brett and I talk about what causes Ed, and the physical symptoms and manifestations of various problems that lead to the inability to have or maintain an erection strong enough for a fulfilling sexual encounter. Erections are made possible by blood flow to the penis. When there is restriction of blood flow in the pelvic girdle, it becomes difficult to impossible for men to get erections. This restriction can be caused by many things. The most immediate causes are inflammation and cholesterol. The problem does not really start there, it starts for most men when they begin to loose their testosterone. If they replace their lost testosterone with a bio identical replacement (shots or pellets) then it will help by not only improving the blood flow to the penis, but also by increasing the oxytocin. This helps with arousal and emotional focusing on sexual matters as well as by helping the mechanics of the erection work better.

  If the problem is not solved with testosterone then we have to look more at other interventions. The next issue we consider is plaque build up in the vessels of the pelvic area, and that comes from high blood pressure and cholesterol. When there is plaque in the vessels the blood cannot flow properly and there will not be enough volume to maintain an erection.

  Brett and I talk about things that men do that lead to these problems. The first of course, is that by aging they lose their testosterone. But beyond that, they smoke, gain weight, eat poorly (beef, saturated fats, animal fats, etc.) and they don’t exercise. All of these are contributors to the problem of ED.

  One of the interesting things that we hit on is that men often are told that they will have heart attacks and die sooner if they live this way, and they laugh it off. If they are told that they will loose their erectile function and not have sex, they get serious and promise to do anything to be better!

  Finally, we discuss the mechanics of erectile functioning and how procedures like a fem-pop surgery might help, or medicines like beta blockers such as Benicar rather than linisopril, or the use of drugs such as Viagra. We even discuss the issue of dehydration and its impact on erections and sex. Diabetes, which is becoming an epidemic among the aging population of the United States is also a major contributor to ED problems in men.

  If you are a male, and you are having concerns about ED, you will find this podcast of interest and importance. Please listen to it, and come back for the next two weeks as we discuss more about how to treat or deal with ED problems.
• 15Jan

  Diet Soda is Bad For You

  Anti-aging, Medical Care, Research No Comments

  Consider drinking less soda!

  

  Today Brett and I are talking about the shocking statistic that the average American drinks two diet sodas a day! Drinking diet soda increases your chance of being obese. It increases your chance of having kidney disease. It also contributes to being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and depending on their storage and delivery method, it may contribute to heavy metal poisoning.

  We were looking at an article that summarized medical research being done at Universities from Minnesota to Texas, from Massachusetts to England. These various Universities were publishing data that identified a 34% risk of kidney disease if you drink the average American consumption amount of diet soda (2 a day). There are other studies that say if you drink 2 or more diet sodas a day you have a 500% higher risk of being obese.

  Research shows that you should not drink alcohol and diet soda together. The sugar used in regular soda feeds the cells and lessens the absorption of alcohol by your body. If you drink diet soda, you will hot have the alcohol blocked by the absorption of the sugar because the artificial sweetener is not sugar and does not feed the cell. Therefore you will consume larger quantities of alcohol than you think and get drunker faster and with more risks.

  Sometimes physicians will recommend that someone drink a diet soda. We do this because in limited amounts a diet soda can reduce nausea and decrease the impact of an acidic stomach. Doctors will suggest diet sodas as a treatment and will expect that you keep consumption secluded as part of your treatment.

  Other risk factors in diet soda are the preservatives. There are preservatives used in diet sodas that are not used in sugared or regular sodas. These preservatives themselves can cause damage to your cells.

  Diet sodas increase your risk of developing what is called metabolic syndrome, a cluster of issues ranging from high blood pressure to obesity to insulin resistance and heart disease. I really do not find any redeeming qualities of diet sodas in volume and strongly encourage you not to drink them. Before you say “Doctor you don’t understand” please listen to today’s podcast. Then make up your own mind.
• 15Jul

  Obesity, Diabetes and the Harvard Food Pyramid

  Anti-aging, Bioidentical Hormones, Insulin Resistance, Medical Care, Menopause, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone, Thyroid, Treatment, Weight Loss and Fat Reduction No Comments

  Obesity, Diabetes and the Harvard Food Pyramid

  

  This podcast talks about the importance of leading a healthy life so that we can avoid conditions that are common in older people that are overweight and practice bad eating habits.
• 27Jun

  Orgasm and Hormones

  Andropause, Bioidentical Hormones, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Orgasm, Pellets, Relationships, Research, Sexuality, Symptoms, Testosterone, Treatment No Comments

  How Our Hormones Effect our Orgasms.

  

  How our hormones operate plays an important role in our libido, ability to climax and overall sense of sexuality. This podcast goes into detail of the in’s and out’s of male and female hormones and how it determines ones ability to reach orgasm.
• 24May

  Arousal and Orgasm

  Andropause, Bioidentical Hormones, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Menopause, Orgasm, Progesterone, Relationships, Research, Sexuality, Testosterone No Comments

  Bad health and addictions often cause low sexual function.

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  This episode of the BioBalance Healthcast focuses on how people with chronic health problems or complicated medical histories are harder to treat with testosterone replacement therapy. This difficulty leads to a patients struggle to become aroused and then ultimately reach orgasm.
• 18May

  The Thyroid

  Andropause, Anti-aging, Bioidentical Hormones, Estradiol, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Menopause, Progesterone, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone, Thyroid, Treatment No Comments

  How the Thyroid effects the aging process.

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  This episode of the Biobalance Healthcast discusses what the thyroid is and how it effects men and women as they age. Defined terms are Hypo-thyroidism which is a low thyroid and causes conditions such as swelling, constipation, a low basal temperature and infertility. Hyper-thyroidism is the opposite, and causes conditions like rapid weight gain, anxiety, nervousness, and increased heart rate. These both play an important role in diagnosing and treating the aging process in men and women.
• 13Apr

  Progesterone and the Cascade of Aging

  Andropause, Anti-aging, Bioidentical Hormones, Depression, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Menopause, Pellets, Progesterone, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone, Treatment No Comments

  How the loss of progesterone can affect your health.

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  As women age, hormone levels—including progesterone—begins to decrease. In this episode of the BioBalance Healthcast we talk about this decrease which causes an imbalance in the estrogen levels. Without progesterone, estrogen increases and leads to fibroid tumors. These tumors lead to heavy bleeding and often, hysterectomies in peri-menopausal women. Progesterone is not needed by our bodies post-menopause with the drop of estrogen levels. We cover the role progesterone plays in our body and how it effects us when it begins to decrease.
• 30Mar

  Research and the Aging Process

  Bioidentical Hormones, Medical Care, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone No Comments

  Research and the Aging Process

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  This podcast discusses the proper way to sort through the enormous amount of information available to consumers. It’s important to know how to determine whether or not a study is reliable. In the world of medicine, research yields reports that are then publicized. Quite often, consumers can’t tell what should and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

  The steps to investigating research information begin with making sure you’re looking at it retrospectively; understanding that you are often looking at data that has already been created. Many published studies are using information that has been collected for an entirely different study and applying it to meet their own hypothesis.

  A common term in research is “data mining”. This is when a source working to create a study, searches data that has already been created. A database that is commonly used is the census bureau. Scientists create a thesis based on information that they collect. This doesn’t make a study less reliable. It does however mean you need to be careful and read closely. Usually when health studies are published, the results apply to a very small window of people. There are many factors that cancel out individuals and change the results.

  An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study about men getting mild cognitive impairment during middle age. The article stated that men are more likely to get it than women. I however don’t agree with this as I have research that says 62% of midlife women have this condition. In investigating this study further I saw that the women they studied were 70 years old and had no cognitive impairment. The problem is that by 70, women have already had MCI 30-40 years prior, so of course in testing, almost all of their subjects are going to present as not having MCI. The study is working with the wrong age group of women.

  Situations like this are why it’s important to have a skeptic mind when taking studies at face value. It’s important to ask questions and find all the facts before you assume that what you’re reading not only applies to you and your health but is even accurate information for anyone.
• 19Jan

  Current topics in Anti-aging Medicine, Part 2

  Andropause, Anti-aging, Bioidentical Hormones, FDA Regulation, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Medical Care, Menopause, Pellets, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone, Treatment No Comments

  Discussion of a CNN Health article that says anti-aging medicine is risky.

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  In episode 62 of the BioBalance Healthcast we continue the discussion we started in the previous episode that reviewed an article  titled “The risks of anti-aging medicine” that was published on the CNN Health website on Wednesday December 28, 2011.

  The author states that anti-aging doctors are generally not as well trained as other medical specialist. I am an excellent example of the many anti-aging doctors who are well trained and qualified to offer these services that include advancements that make it possible for us to live longer lives. Anti-aging treatments—especially bioidentical pellet therapy that we offer her at BioBalance Health—let’s us enjoy better health and mobility for many years past the onset of menopause in women and andropause in men.

  Dr. Thomas Pearl, quoted in the article, was referring to treating geriatric patients, which is not what I focus on. Instead, I normally start hormone therapy long before patients reach that age, and not when they too old for the therapy to make a difference. By offering this therapy, doctors can prevent many diseases that are secondary to hormone loss. Many diseases can be offset for 10-20 years with bioidentical hormone pellets.

  HRT is a treatment for a syndrome, not symptoms, and often save money and time. Chelation therapy for heavy metal toxicity is not offered at BioBalance Health. Chelation has risks of renal and liver problems. There are alternative supplements to rid patient of heavy metals. Baby boomers have higher chance of heavy metal toxicity due to lead, mercury, and other harmful substances in food and the environment.

  Compounding pharmacies used to be popular 70 years ago before drugs were made by pharmaceutical companies. Current compounding pharmacists have the ability to compound drugs prescribed by a physician. I supervise the use of compounding pharmacies for my patients. My estradiol and testosterone pellets are made at a compounding pharmacy that is reputable and trusted. If your physician writes a prescription for a drug and sends you to a compounding pharmacy, be certain he/she has a relationship with the pharmacy they use. The FDA does oversee compounding pharmacies.

  The article sites information based on the Women’s Health Initiative study which since released has been discredited. Dr. Goldstein is using a bad argument, a bad study, bad information and miss-representing the use of bioidentical hormone therapy.

  To wrap up our podcast, we discuss the term “the standard of care,” which means the least amount of medical treatment that is acceptable by a physician. It’s the lowest standard of care you can give and not get sued.
• 10Jan

  Current topics in Anti-aging Medicine, Part 1

  Anti-aging, Bioidentical Hormones, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Medical Care, Menopause, Pellets, Research, Symptoms, Testosterone, Treatment No Comments

  Base your health decisions on reliable information, not just media resources.

  

  Download the transcription of this podcast.

  People are often influenced by the news media, and sometimes make medical decisions based only on what they read on the internet. A recent article published December 28, 2011 by CNN Health made some statements and quoted some experts that would lead readers to the conclusion that anti-aging medicine is generally unsafe.

  In the article, titled The risks of anti-aging medicine, CNN Health reported that a 56 year old California woman injected human growth hormone into her thighs six times a week. Six months after starting the treatment, she died of liver cancer.

  The problem with this report is that it allows the reader to confuse correlation with causation, inferring or implying that the treatment is responsible for the patient’s death. The experts quoted do not say conclusively that the HGH treatment caused this women’a death.

  In this episode of the BioBalance Healthcast Brett Newcomb and I walk through the article and explain why it may not be totally accurate or objective, and how you might think about medical-related articles you in the future, especially when you are considering healthcare issues.

  Episode 62 will continue this discussion.

  Visit BBH.com for more info about bioidentical hormones/anti-aging/skin care.

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