Men over 40 will also experience menopause, and the main reason is the decline in testosterone levels

A man in his 40s told Huazi that he felt his health was getting worse and worse. He suffered from insomnia and night sweats at night. His temper was getting worse and worse. He also felt powerless when he was with his wife... But when he went to the hospital for a check-up, he found that he had no disease. His wife said he was in "menopause."

Hua Zi said that menopause usually refers to the period when women's gonads lose their function and estrogen levels drop, causing a series of syndromes. Men actually have a similar stage, because of insufficient gonadal secretion, which leads to various symptoms in the body. So from this perspective, men also experience "menopause".

1. Men over 40 "Menopause" Men's "menopause" actually has a formal name, called late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). This is an age-related clinical and biochemical syndrome that mainly occurs in men over 40 years old. The reason for this is the decline in the level of male hormones in men.

Androgens include testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone, of which testosterone is the main component, which can maintain muscle strength and quality, maintain bone density and strength, refresh and improve physical fitness. Testosterone also affects hematopoietic function, calcium balance, bone mineralization, lipid and sugar metabolism, prostate growth and many other functions.

Therefore, when testosterone levels drop, it will cause imbalances in the regulation of multiple systems in the body and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

2. Two reasons for testosterone reduction In relevant surveys, male testosterone levels will decrease by about 19% after the age of 40, by about 38% after the age of 50, and by 56% after the age of 60. There are two reasons for the decrease in testosterone levels. One is pituitary lesions, which cause insufficient secretion of gonadotropin, which secondary causes a decrease in testosterone secretion.

The second is the problem of the testicles themselves. If they are affected by trauma, disease, surgery and other factors, they will lead to loss of testicular function. With age, testicular function will gradually decline, and the synthesis and secretion of testosterone will decrease. The decline in testicular function caused by aging is the main reason for the decline in testosterone levels in middle-aged and elderly men.

3. What effects does testosterone deficiency have on the body? When men lack testosterone, they will easily feel tired, in poor spirits, and their work status will deteriorate; their emotional control will decrease, and they will be easily angry or depressed; their sleep will be disturbed and they will often suffer from insomnia; their muscle capacity will decrease, their strength will weaken, and their body fat rate will increase; they will lose bone mass and develop osteoporosis; they will experience hot flashes and night sweats; their desire will decrease and they will develop erectile dysfunction (ED) and other symptoms.

A study on testosterone levels in veterans in the United States found that the more severe the decline in testosterone levels, the higher the all-cause mortality rate. And those with reduced testosterone levels are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

4. How can men increase their testosterone? 1. Ensure balanced nutrition: eat more vegetables and fruits, more fish, shellfish and skinless poultry, and less red meat; choose whole grains and beans as staple foods, and eat less refined rice and refined noodles; do not eat added sugar (do not eat sweets and sugary drinks); eat a small handful of nuts every day; try to drink more water.

2. Reasonably control your weight: Excessive fat will produce anti-androgen effects, and obese people need to lose weight. Eat when you feel hungry, don't eat snacks, and reduce calorie intake; but don't do a "hell diet". Excessive dieting will further worsen the decrease in testosterone. It is more reasonable to lose 1 catties of weight per week.

3. Do strength training: Do weight-bearing and resistance training to promote muscle growth. Do strength training twice a week. Do at least 5 aerobic exercises a week, each time for more than 30 minutes. While ensuring a balanced diet, regular exercise is the most effective way to increase testosterone levels. If you stick to it for 3 months, you can increase testosterone levels by 20%.

4. Take medication to supplement: Those with low androgen levels should pay attention to supplementing vitamin D and zinc, which can promote the production of testosterone. You can also use androgen supplements for treatment under the guidance of a doctor, but do not take medication without authorization to avoid adverse drug reactions.

In summary, men over 40 will also experience "menopause" because aging leads to a decline in testicular function and a decrease in testosterone secretion, which in turn leads to a series of uncomfortable symptoms. Not only does it affect daily life, it also makes chronic diseases more likely and increases the national mortality rate. Middle-aged male friends should beware of entering "menopause" and should maintain a reasonable weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain normal testosterone levels.

If the testosterone deficiency is serious, you need to use drugs to supplement under the guidance of a doctor. Do not take drugs without authorization. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.