Most men after the age of 50 may find maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle a challenge. For some, 'living it up' equals to meeting friends of similar ages to brag about their colorful lives, their female conquests and the fast cars they drive.
Unwilling to let go of their youth, many men will try to ignore the inevitable fact that as they age, their health, memory and strength will fail. Men would like to believe that they are somehow immune to the ravages of old age. In fact, there is an old adage that for men, 'Life begins at 40'. Women, on the other hand, tend to be more realistic.
Women of all ages are aware of the term menopause and what it brings. 'When they realize that age has caught up with them, they do not hesitate to be more open about their failing health, their ailing body and the number of trips they have to make to see their personal doctors and personal beauticians for makeovers.
In women, their reproductive function cease as they reach menopause. The productions of female hormones slows dramatically following symptoms of menopause like hot flushes, mood swings, panic attacks, insomnia, palpitation, anxiety, loss of libido and depression. This slowdown of hormone production could lead a higher risk to contract chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and coronary diseases.
Men, like women, experience a similar aging process as they go through their golden years. After 50, their fertility wane but it does not cease completely. The male reproductive organs will not only produce less sperms and also sperms of poorer quality, they may encounter problems with their sexual prowess especially if they contract diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and coronary diseases. More than a third of men at this age, will suffer from prostate problems such as the enlargement of the prostate which may influence their sexual function.
Having a low testosterone level does not just affect a man's libido. Testosterone is important for men. It is this hormone that gives them the male characteristics, strength, lean body mass, muscle bulk, bone strength, and, of course, the libido. It is this very hormone that maintains sperm production and sensitize the sex centre to respond to sexual desire. When this hormone level dwindles down, a man will experience andropause or sometimes known as male menopause.
A man who goes through andropause may look frail with little muscle on the body and feel fatigue. He may appear grumpy and quarrelsome. He will experience similar symptoms to those of menopausal women like flushes, night sweating, insomnia, loss of memory and palpitations. Men suffering from andropause will experience the loss of nocturnal erections.
Like menopause, andropause is now being recognised as a health issue in men. Men with 'late onset hypogonadism' (LOH) can be treated by Testosterone Replacement Therppy. Before testosterone is instituted, the aging male needs to go for a medical assessment to evaluate his health status. His medical condition, if he has any, needs to be treated first. His prostate will be examined prior to commencing therapy.
Since this therapy can be a lifelong process, the male needs to go for regular check-ups to monitor his prostate and general health. There is also an alternative therapy in the form of herbal supplementation. Certain herbs like Tribulus terrestis and Eurycoma longifolia, or better known as Tongkat Ali, have been found to stimulate the adrenals and testicles in producing natural testosterone. The water soluble extract have been found to be useful with less side effects. If a man has problems with his prowess, medication that can improve blood flow to his genital organs can help if the medication is suitable for him. Men need not suffer in silent. They just need to emulate the women by taking charge of their health. Putting up a 'Men No Pause' sign will not help. The signage should be called 'Men Do Pause'.
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