How the law of averages can hurt us. All medical testing is based on statistical averages. How you fit into those averages is critically important. Because test results do not determine how you feel or the symptoms you have, a doctor who will take the time to evaluate how your critical system functions work together, in addition to analyzing the test results, is vital for your overall well-being.
Hormone optimization located in greater Triangle area Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill is focused on helping you look and feel more youthful and energetic. Services include hormone optimization, testosterone and chelation therapy, hair transplantation and restoration, doctor assisted weight loss, treatment for nutrition deficiency, adrenal fatigue, thyroid and aesthetic dermal fillers
Optimizing your hormonal balance is not a quick fix. Having an anti aging physician who will fully understand your results and how they impact you personally, now and over time, is the key to feeling better.
It is important that your hormone levels to be optimized. Simply falling into a normal range for your age group might not be sufficient for you to feel and be your best. The problem is that traditional medicine aims for your hormonal levels to fall within usual or “normal” limits for your age group. At AAFM we optimize your hormonal levels. Over treatment is NOT our goal at Anti Aging & Functional Medicine.
Other areas of Hormone Optimization include:
THYROID:
We will completely evaluate your thyroid by measuring levels of TSH, T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Antibodies. We also measure and treat supporting nutrients (Selenium, Iodine, Zinc, etc.). <<learn more about your Thyroid>>
ESTROGENS:
Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), 16 OH Estrone, 4 OH Estrone, 2 OH Estrone Estrogen is responsible for keeping the female body healthy in too many ways to mention here. However, most notably, it maintains bones and muscle mass, keeps the skin and vaginal mucosa healthy and minimizes breast droopiness. If a woman or man has a family or personal history of breast cancer, their estrogen metabolism should be evaluated and treated if needed. <<learn more about Estrogens>>
TESTOSTERONE:
Testosterone is responsible for keeping both the male and female body healthy. Testosterone is a hormone made from cholesterol. It has important function in both males and females. Most notably, it enhances sex drive, builds muscles and bones, helps maintain self-confidence, enhances a feeling of well being, minimizes anxiety/depression, enhances exercise performance, supports the immune system, etc. Unfortunately, many cholesterol lowering medications such as Statins can decrease your production of cholesterol and thus can lower your testosterone production/level.<<learn more about Testosterone>>
PROGESTERONE:
Progesterone deficiency will cause insomnia and poor superficial sleep which results in chronic sleepiness and fatigue. A deficiency can also result in anxiety and mood swings. This is why post-menopausal women frequently have poor superficial sleep and anxiety disorders. Frequently traditional medicine doctors prescribe Estrogen without Progesterone in women who have hysterectomies since almost every cell in the human body has progesterone receptors, the entire body responds to this estrogen dominant arrangement resulting in an increase in belly fat, weight gain, irritability, insomnia, non restful sleep, etc. Whenever possible, progesterone should be given whenever estrogen is given. <<learn more about Progesterone>>
GROWTH HORMONE (GH OR HGH)
Many consider growth hormone to be one of the most important hormones of the human body. Most of us are familiar with the effects of growth hormone on children, it makes them grow. If a deficiency is left untreated, it can result in short stature adults. Many times, those same adults have growth hormone deficiencies that are life long. AAFM treats these individuals once they become adults as well as Adult Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency. <<learn more about Growth Hormones>>
DHEA:
DHEA is the most abundant hormone in your body. Production of DHEA peaks at around the age of 20. From that point on, as we age, the level of DHEA decreases. DHEA can be considered a parent hormone of all other sex hormones (Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, etc.). So if DHEA is low, so can the hormones that result from its production. Many cholesterol medications, can result in this deficiency.
DHEA replacement therapy can in some cases:
- Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease
- Defend Against Some Cancers
- Decrease the Risk of Diabetes
- Prevent and sometimes Reverse Osteoporosis
CORTISOL:
Cortisol levels are often overlooked. Low cortisol levels will cause you to suffer from Adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue, exhaustion, insomnia, sleepiness, hair loss, mood swings, and more. Adrenal Fatigue is a situation where Cortisol levels are chronically low. When your adrenal glands aren’t able to keep up with chronic demands, the result is that they get fatigued and can’t produce enough Cortisol. << Learn more about Cortisol>>
Adrenal Fatigue
Because symptoms for Adrenal Fatigue are so common, most believe that it’s just caused by everyday life and not actually a health problem. Which is why it is often over looked. Cortisol levels that are too high will cause: Weight gain (around abdomen area), insomnia, mood swings, sugar and salt cravings, low libido, erectile dysfunction, and many others. Adrenal glands being over worked initially results in elevated Cortisol levels but eventually in time, the Adrenal glands become fatigued, called Adrenal Fatigue, and the levels diminish resulting in additional symptoms. <<learn more about Adrenal Fatigue>>
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:
- Fatigue
- Mood Swings
- Decreased Libido/Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Depression/Sadness
- Body Aches
- Digestive Problems
- Anxiety/Nervousness
- Sugar and Salt Cravings
- Low Blood Pressure
- Light-Headedness
- Loss of Body Hair
- Sleep Disturbances
- Exercise Intolerance
