Take charge
In all the family road trips we took growing up, I don't remember my father ever stopping for directions. Not even once -- no matter how lost we got. My husband is only slightly less stubborn: stopping to ask only when the tension inside the car has started to smother us both and is only one sharp word away from detonating us into our own personal mushroom cloud. After years of these observations, I've come to the conclusion that, to most men, asking for help is the same as admitting failure -- and the loss of pride involved in that is too great of a sacrifice for even the most "progressive" of males. So I can't say I was all that surprised when I read about a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, which stated that the majority of men with low testosterone levels aren't receiving treatment. Researchers studied the records of almost 1,500 men and found that 88 percent of those who had low testosterone levels (technically classified as "androgen deficiency") weren't being treated for it, despite having many of the classic -- and uncomfortable -- symptoms, including low libido, erectile dysfunction, insomnia, depression, and fatigue. The study's authors stated that the men all had adequate access to treatment, so they weren't entirely sure what was causing the lack of intervention. They theorized that it could be due to lack of awareness of the symptoms of androgen deficiency (which seems rather unlikely, since most men I know notice right away when things "down there" aren't operating up to par) or an unwillingness of physicians to prescribe testosterone therapy (a more feasible explanation, particularly when you consider the threats los Federales have been making to BHRT). But they didn't take the pride-factor into account. Just like asking for directions, many men feel that, unless a physical problem is so bad that they can't carry out normal functions, they should "be a man" about it and just accept any minor discomfort that comes their way. And the fact that the problems accompanying low testosterone levels are often embarrassing ones that make men feel emasculated anyway certainly doesn't further the cause of asking for help. But if the embarrassing symptoms and minor discomfort aren't enough to get you -- or the man in your life -- to seek treatment, consider that there's also a much darker, and riskier side to testosterone deficiency. This hormone does much more than fuel your libido. It also helps keep your brain and heart operating at peak performance, so when your levels dip too low it's not just your sex life that takes a hit. You're also risking Alzheimer's disease, heart attack, stroke, and many other problems that not only destroy your health, but could potentially kill you. So if you have any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment to have your testosterone levels tested. If your levels are low, get treatment (with bio-identical testosterone). And don't think of it as asking for help: Think of it as taking charge of your health and your future. Sources:
"Many men with low testosterone levels do not receive treatment," Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com), 5/28/08
"Treatment of symptomatic androgen deficiency: Results from the Boston area community health survey," Archives of Internal Medicine 2008; 168(10): 1,070-1,076 |
