www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 91 C H A R L E S T ON CO U N T Y M E D I C A L S OC I E T Y HealthLinks Charleston is a proud partner of the Charleston County Medical Society. For more information on joining CCMS, contact Dana Holladay at [email protected]. community that it could be related to obesity and comorbidities related to obesity, such as diabetes. He also mentioned that this issue could be related to environmental exposures like the chemicals in plastic or cooking ware. He said there is speculation that it could be related to radiation levels from cellphones as well. “It’s a multifaceted issue, of course, and it could be related to many things,” he said. “There needs to be more studies done on the issue, but obesity definitely plays a major role.” Dr. Smith said the first step in treating low testosterone levels is recognizing the problem. “It may come as a surprise, but, with most men, once they start talking about the issue with their doctor, they feel comfortable talking about it. I think it is just starting that initial conversation. Most men don’t even realize it is happening to them,” he said. There are medications that can boost the signals to generate more testosterone, and there also is testosterone replacement therapy. Dr. Smith said that there isn’t a “cookie cutter” way of treating a drop in testosterone. “It’s different for every man, based on dosage estimates and the level of decline in testosterone that the individual man is suffering from,” he said. Dr. Smith noted that there has been resistance in the medical community to treat andropause due to safety concerns. “Many doctors believe that testosterone replacement therapy could lead to prostate cancer, but there have been no studies done to indicate that. Conversely, there have been studies that show that decreased levels of testosterone can lead to prostate cancer.” Lifestyle issues might also play a role in decreased levels of testosterone. Dr. Smith advised that men should make sure they get a good night’s sleep because testosterone is released at night during REM sleep. “Four to five hours isn’t going to be adequate for REM sleep,” he added. Finally, Dr. Smith reiterated that “Diet plays a role and stress can play a role as well.” He suggested weight lifting to boost testosterone levels. “In the end, if you are a male in your 20s and 30s, you need to be getting a good night’s sleep, have a clean diet, practice stress reduction and start a weight training routine,” Dr. Smith concluded. For more information on andropause or to get in touch with Dr. Smith, visit betterlifecarolinas.com. The cognitive effects of lower testosterone levels mean increased anxiety, stress and irritability. “ “
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