We’re all getting older and as we get old it sometimes feels like we’re just tired all day long. After age 40, the weight seems to go up every year and interest in sex seems to drop. Does this sound like you? Maybe the problem isn’t just getting older, maybe the problem is low levels of testosterone, commonly known as Low T.
Low testosterone is a much more common problem among men than most people realize. Millions of men experience it, but most don’t know that there’s a difference between the natural decrease in testosterone that normally happens with age and an abnormally low level of testosterone that can cause some serious health problems.
According to a survey done by the Alliance For Aging Research (AAR) almost 40% of men in their 40s report two or more symptoms of Low T. These symptoms can include reduced muscle strength, decreased energy, increase in body fat and mood swings. Low T can be difficult to detect because the normal range of testosterone levels for men can be quite wide and there is a lot of variation between individual people. Also, because testosterone is secreted in pulses all through the day you could be measuring either the highest or lowest point depending on when the test is done.
The study conducted by the AAR reveals that there is not a lot of knowledge among American men about Low T and most men just assume that their physical decline is simply the result of aging and not Low T. This can cause them not to seek out treatment for the problem as they assume that there is nothing that they can do about it.
According to Dr. Andre T. Guay, a clinical assistant professor at Harvard medical school and Director of The Center For Sexual Function/Endocrinology at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Massachusetts, ignoring Low T can be a serious health concern because of the link between Low T and other health risks such as osteoporosis, depression and diabetes. According to Dr. Guay, there is also mounting evidence that links low testosterone levels to such serious medical conditions as metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and coronary heart disease.
Diagnosing Low T. requires a simple blood test, most commonly the total testosterone test. This test isn’t usually included with the annual physical exam so if you feel that you are experiencing the symptoms of low testosterone, talk with your doctor about your concerns. Together you can determine if a test for Low T is right for you.
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