Testosterone plays a crucial role in a man’s overall health, affecting his muscle mass, bone density, mood, and energy levels. However, as men age or develop medical conditions, testosterone levels can begin to decline, leading to a condition known as testosterone deficiency.
Causes
Aging
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are in charge of the amount of the testosterone that a man’s testicles produce and the release of this hormone. When the body senses that a man needs more testosterone, the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone or GnRH. The pituitary gland receives these messages and releases luteinizing hormone or LH. LH travels to the testicles to stimulate the Leydig cells to produce and release testosterone.
As men age, their Leydig cells and hypothalamic-pituitary functions begin to deteriorate, and they cannot produce as much testosterone as they used to.
Medical Conditions
Several medical conditions lead to low testosterone, including the following:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Obesity
- Poorly managed diabetes
- Alcohol use disorder
- HIV/AIDS
- Kidney failure
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Head or brain injury
- Hemochromatosis or iron overload
- Hyperprolactinemia or high levels of prolactin in the blood
- Hypopituitarism or a deficiency in the hormones that the pituitary gland produces
Lifestyle Factors
One reason men have low testosterone levels is that they consume a diet that does not include healthy amounts of all the necessary food groups. In one study, researchers found that being overweight, failing to exercise, and leading a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors for low testosterone levels.
Symptoms
Low Energy Levels and Persistent Fatigue
Testosterone regulates a man’s metabolism and increases his physical performance, but when his testosterone levels are low, the body does not perform as efficiently. When this occurs, a man begins to feel chronically fatigued.
Chronic fatigue is not tiredness that he can recover from with a good night’s sleep. Instead, he is constantly tired, and he may begin to experience memory lapses. He also may not be able to concentrate as well as he could in the past.
Loss of Muscle Mass and Increased Body Fat
Testosterone causes the muscles to grow, and it also suppresses the body’s tendency to accumulate fat. Therefore, low testosterone levels result in a loss of muscle mass and increased body fat. When you eat, your muscles burn more calories than fat does, but if you are losing muscle mass, you do not have as much muscle to burn your calories, and you begin to gain weight more easily. Obesity may even be the reason that your testosterone is lower.
Reduced Libido and Erectile Dysfunction
Low testosterone may reduce a man’s libido because low testosterone has a role in creating sexual desire.
With low testosterone, you do not have as much hormone to stimulate your central nervous system or CNS. Testosterone stimulates the CNS to release neurotransmitters, such as oxytocin, nitric oxide, and dopamine. These are the chemical messengers that make it possible for you to attain an erection. With lower levels of testosterone, you have less of a chance to maintain normal erectile function.
Testosterone also stimulates the spinal nerves, and this causes the blood vessels to obtain an erection and maintain it throughout a sexual experience.
Mood Swings and Depression
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for releasing neurotransmitters that produce pleasurable feelings. For example, testosterone causes the body to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that produces good feelings, and serotonin, which prevents depression.
Difficulty Concentrating and Memory Issues
Low testosterone is known to cause men to have difficulties concentrating. The fact that testosterone levels are low causes a man’s cortisol levels to increase, and this leads to a damaged hippocampus that leads to impaired memory and the inability to learn.
Treatment Options
In some cases, testosterone replacement therapy or TRT may be an option for you if you are experiencing low testosterone levels. You may have many questions about this, such as “How long does testosterone stay in your system before its effects wear off?” Always consult a professional specialist to learn all the answers to your questions and obtain the best results of TRT.
Eat Protein-Rich Foods, Healthy Fats and Zinc
The body needs foods rich in protein to produce hormones, including testosterone. Seeds, nuts, and fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, the healthy fats needed for hormone production. You also need to consume healthy doses of protein when you are on testosterone replacement therapy. Zinc is instrumental in producing testosterone, and if you eat eggs, fortified foods, and shellfish, you are increasing your consumption of these foods.
Exercise for Boosting Testosterone Levels
Exercise boosts testosterone levels for up to an hour after you have completed your activity. However, the most important thing about exercise is that it improves testosterone levels in overweight men. Obesity is one reason that testosterone levels are low in obese men, but losing weight through exercise can improve a man’s testosterone levels.
Quality Sleep
A man’s testosterone levels increase while he is asleep. The most important time for this is during REM sleep, when testosterone production occurs the most. REM sleep begins at the end of the sleep cycle, so if you fail to fall into REM sleep regularly, you are missing valuable opportunities to increase the testosterone levels in your blood.
If you believe that the issues you are currently having are related to low testosterone, contact us at Nexel Medical today. Fill out the short form on our website for a consultation.
