While most often women are associated with hormone fluctuations due to pregnancy, periods, or menopause, men are equally affected by these difficult-to-understand chemicals. Not only do they affect emotions, but hormones can also make a man feel and appear years older than he is. While it’s natural for hormones to fluctuate over periods of time, it isn’t typical to see significant premature drops. However, in today’s fast paced, high stress world, this is exactly what is happening to the male population.
Primary Male Hormones
Testosterone and cortisol are two of the primary hormones that affect the way men feel and function, both physically and mentally. When these are unbalanced, a man’s entire being is negatively affected. Fortunately, there are ways to regulate hormone levels naturally.
Unbalanced Testosterone
Testosterone is the hormone that, generally speaking, make men manly. It dictates sex drive, confidence level, and motivation. It’s typical for a man’s testosterone levels to drop minimally each year past the age of 30, after he marries, and once he becomes a dad. However, more men are experiencing huge drops in testosterone before any of these occurrences take place. The culprit is primarily leading an unbalanced, rat race lifestyle. Low testosterone has been linked to higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and sleep apnea, among other dangerous health conditions.
Unbalanced Cortisol
High cortisol levels are typically a result of high stress levels. Too much work, worry, and too little relaxation all lead to elevated cortisol numbers. Cortisol is directly linked to belly fat, which is one of the worst types of fat to carry. It’s linked to heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Men with elevated cortisol levels may work out just as fervently as a friend with balanced cortisol levels and see significantly less impressive results.
When to See a Doctor
When a man feels as though his sex drive is waning, his energy is gone, and he simply doesn’t feel his usual self, it’s time to head to the doctor for a hormone check. Professionals, like those at The Center for Discovery, know that this is simply done through blood testing. A doctor will be able to deduce if a man is experiencing any kind of significant hormone decline and give advice for its reversal.
Naturally Reversing Unbalanced Hormones
Diet, sleep habits, and exercise routine may all either help or hurt hormone levels. Men who maintain a balanced lifestyle, with a nutritious diet, plenty of rest, and regular activity tend to maintain a higher hormone level. Concurrently, those who indulge in a less healthy routine are more likely to see their energy, drive, and hormones take a nose dive. While there are times when medication is necessary to raise testosterone, taking steps towards a more balanced lifestyle often positively affects unbalanced hormones.
Ask your doctor to check your levels and evaluate the report with you. Many men suffer from low testosterone these days, with an accompanying increase in estrogen. Make sure to take care of your hormones, and they will in turn, take care of you.
