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Stress can be thought of as the “spice of life,” the spark that animates and primes us for each day. The difference between stress we can handle, and stress that gets out of hand, stress vs. distress, is the difference between adrenal balance or imbalance. The latter occurs when multi-pressures of modern life call the adrenal glands to action too often. The struggle to keep up with high demand for cortisol eventually leads to adrenal fatigue.

Both high and low cortisol levels impact body systems and related hormones, particularly thyroid and testosterone. In times of high stress, the adrenals will also “steal” progesterone from its reproductive duties to make extra cortisol, contributing to estrogen/progesterone imbalances. Energy and mood, bone, muscle, and sex drive are the casualties of adrenal imbalance, making us feel old before our time.

“Distress is an integral component of 21^st century living. There’s no doubt it can cause wear and tear, both psychologically and physiologically. In the US, the economic toll of stress-related illness exceeds $200 billion annually by some estimates.”

 - The End of Stress as We Know It, Bruce McEwen

The Adrenal Glands and Cortisol

Small but Mighty

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys, two tiny pyramids releasing DHEA, adrenalin, and cortisol, the master stress hormone. Cortisol’s main role in the body is to enable us to take stress in stride and to build immunities against illness. Hundreds of times a day, the adrenal glands fine-tune our cortisol response to the stress and strain of everyday living.

Cortisol’s impact on the immune system is double-edged: acute stress pumps up the body defenses, sending white blood cells to their battle stations. But relentless stress weakens immune reserves, leaving us vulnerable to every cold and flu-bug that comes along.

When our lives are balanced by good nutrition, enough sleep and exercise, the adrenals perform for us 24-7. But if we habitually burn the candle at both ends, adrenal functions burn out, and so do we.

Corisol: Primary hormone secreted by the adrenals in response to stress. Involved in regulation of glucose, protein, fatty acids; immune cells and inflammation; blood vessels and blood pressure; maintenance of connective tissue e.g. bones, muscles, and skin; mood and wellbeing

Low Cortisol: Chronic fatigue, allergies, asthma, susceptible to illness and infection, arthritis, fibromyalgia

High Cortisol: Muscle and bone loss, abdominal fat, elevated blood sugar, sugar cravings, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, suppressed immune function; memory, mood, and sleep disturbances

Cortisol levels should be highest in the morning to energize us for the day and lowest at bedtime. Erratic and chronically elevated cortisol signals stress overload.

How Can I Restore Adrenal Balance?

Stress is often defined as how we feel when life’s demands exceed our ability to meet those demands. While we all have a different capacity to deal with stressors; the traffic, pollution, deadlines, etc., it’s how we equip ourselves to deal with the effects of stress that really matters.

We can restore health and energy by supporting our adrenal glands in daily ways:

• Engage in non-competitive, gentle exercise: walking, swimming, etc.
• Avoid caffeine “pick-me-ups”
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat mostly organic, hormone-free food
• Take anti-stress multivitamins (B-complex and C)
• Avoid toxic chemicals and pollutants
• Get enough sleep and take naps if needed
• Learn to meditate
• Be open to love and laughter!

How Do I Find Out if I’m at Risk for Adrenal Imbalance?

In the 21^st century, life in the fast lane makes us all candidates for adrenal imbalance, particularly single working mothers, police officers, middle executives and teachers.

To find out if you have symptoms of adrenal imbalance use the checklist below, and ask yourself:

• Am I unusually tired when I wake up, and too “wired” to fall asleep at night?
• Do I keep myself going all day with coffee and sweets?
• Is it hard for me to relax? To get exercise?
• Do I get sick often and take a long time to get well?

“Yes” answers may be warning signs of an adrenal imbalance waiting to happen.

Do you have symptoms of adrenal stress?

• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Headaches
• Depression
• Anxious
• Nervous
• Irritable
• Memory lapses
• Abdominal fat
• Decreased libido
• Cold body temperature
• Heart palpitations
• Elevated triglycerides
• Sugar cravings
• Lack of periods
• Stress
• Scalp hair loss
• Increased facial/body hair
• Chemical sensitivities
• Acne
• Thinning skin
• Allergies
• Aches and pains
• Decreased concentration
• Joint pain
• Decreased muscle mass
• Infertility

Testing for Adrenal Imbalance

The level of cortisol when measured in salivary hormone tests is a common indicator of stress. Cortisol is collected two to four times in a day to fully assess adrenal function.

The Technology

In the past 20-30 years a number of research studies have validated saliva as a diagnostic medium to measure the unbound, biologically-active fraction of steroid hormones in the bloodstream. Saliva is a natural ultra-filtrate of blood, and steroids not bound by carrier proteins in the blood freely diffuse into saliva. The majority (90-99%) of steroid hormones in the blood are bound tightly to carrier proteins (cortisol-binding globulin, sex-hormone binding globulin, albumin) rendering them unavailable to target tissues. Steroids are very small lipophilic (fat-loving) molecules that, when released from the binding proteins and red blood cells in the blood, freely diffuse into tissues, which include the salivary gland. The steroid hormones most extensively studied in saliva are: Estrogens (Estradiol, Estrone, and Estriol), Progesterone, Androgens (DHEAS, Testosterone) and Cortisol for assessment of adrenal function.

Advantages

• Saliva measures the free, “bioavailable” fraction of steroid hormones that have moved out of the bloodstream and into the tissue
  Note: blood and urine measure total levels
• Saliva is the most reliable measurement of tissue uptake with topical hormone supplementation
• Painless, noninvasive and needle-free (stress of conventional blood draw can alter test results)
• Private (home collection kit) convenient for both patient and doctor allows for optimal collection time
• Hormones are stable in saliva at room temperature up to three weeks allowing for worldwide shipment
• Transport of saliva samples to laboratory requires no special handling
• Less expensive than conventional blood testing
• Ease of collection allows for routine monitoring of hormone levels and adjustment of hormone supplementation as needed

Clinical Utility

Saliva Testing can help your doctor:

• Identify hidden hormonal imbalances (deficiency or excess) associated with patient symptoms of menopause and andropause as well as reproductive disorders, chronic illness, and diseases of aging
• Link clinical symptoms to specific hormone imbalance(s)
• Maintain health and prevent disease through early detection of hormonal imbalance(s)
• Restore hormonal balance and patient quality of life using test results as a rational basis for treatment
• Monitor patient hormonal levels for “individualized” hormone replacement
• Track patient progress with comparative history reports provided with follow-up testing

You should know that you are not alone: one out of every five women suffers from heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia. You should also know that there is now a simple, one-time treatment available to help control heavy bleeding.

Please read over the following questions. If you answer “yes” to any of them, you may be a candidate for Novasure, the quick and easy treatment that helps control heavy bleeding in just 90 seconds without hormones or hysterectomy.

• Do you regularly experience heavy menstrual bleeding?
• Does your bleeding last seven or more days per cycle?
• Does your bleeding affect your social, athletic, or sexual activities?
• Does your bleeding lead you to carry large quantities of feminine products or a change of clothes?
• Do you ever miss work or avoid leaving your home due to heavy bleeding?

I’m pleased to be able to offer my patients Novasure. This is a fast and minimally invasive outpatient procedure that requires no hormonal pre-treatment. The procedure requires no down time. You can return to normal activity the very next day. It can be performed in office, at any time during your cycle and is covered by most health insurance plans.

Excellent  results have led to very high satisfaction rates among patients treated with Novasure. Over 92% of patients treated were very satisfied. Most women see a significant reduction in their level of menstrual bleeding or complete cessation. In a clinical study of Novasure, a majority of patients had their bleeding reduced to light or moderate periods.

If you have any questions about heavy menstrual bleeding or are interested in the Novasure treatment, please call the office for more information or to schedule an appointment.

If you answered “yes” to any oth these questions and are sure you don’t want any children in the future, we’d like to talk to you about a great option in permanent birth control available in our practice.

We are excited to offer women the Essure procedure, an advancement in permanent birth control (also known as sterilization) used for years by women worldwide. In this simple procedure a soft, flexible micro-insert is placed into your fallopian tubes to create a barrier that prevents pregnancy. The Essure procedure offers women the following benefits:

• 99.80% effective (based on four years of clinical data)
• No cutting into the body
• Quick return to normal activities
• Hormone free
• Can be performed in the office with minimal anesthesia
• Follow-up test gives you peace of mind knowing that your tubes are blocked

Because the Essure procedure does not involve cutting or the need for general anesthesia, it can be performed safely and comfortably here in our office. This minimizes time out of your day and provides you with the ease and simplicity of a familiar setting.

Please contact our office to schedule a consultation to learn more about the Essure procedure.

What are Hormones?

• Hormones are the body’s messengers that transport information from the brain to the glands, from the glands to the cells and from the cells to the brain.
• Hormones rejuvenate, regenerate and restore our bodies.
• As doctors, we were taught that as we age, our hormones decline. It is now becoming clear that as our hormones decline, we age!
• Hormones are considered the strongest at from age 25-30 years, the same period when the body is at its strongest and healthiest.
• Diet and exercise will not be as effective if your hormones are not balanced correctly.

Why Hormones Decline

• Hormones decline as we age every year after the age of 30.
• The human body was never designed to live as long as we are living today. Advances in healthcare, vaccinations, sanitation and food preservatives have drastically increased life span. However, the glands that produce our hormones do not regenerate and continue to decline, producing fewer hormones with each passing year.
• As we age, it becomes increasingly important for both men and women to keep their hormones balanced to protect against fatigue, mood swings, disease, obesity and to enjoy an overall healthier sense of well being.

Natural Hormones vs. Synthetic Hormones

• Synthetic hormones, like Provera or Premarin, derived from plant progesterone and animal estrogens, are chemicals that act as toxins in the body. Because they are not natural to the human body, we can not metabolize them properly.
• Dr. Kelley only uses natural bioidentical hormones. Unlike synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones or natural hormones are replicas of the body’s own natural hormones. They’re made from soy, yams and other plant extracts, which are changed in a lab to be biologically identical to the same hormones your body makes.
• For optimal safety and results, Dr. Kelley’s supplements only hormones that are low, evaluates client’s symptoms and retests hormone levels regularly.

Hormones: what they mean and what they do

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE  the growth hormone

• Decreases body fat
• Increases muscle mass
• Improves tissue healing and protein synthesis
• Increases bone density
• Quicker illness recovery
• Increases capacity to exercise
• Increases skin hydration and elasticity
• Improves sense of well being
• Decreases incidence of illness

TESTOSTERONE  the male hormone

• Improves brain function
• Increases energy
• Increases strength
• Increases bone density
• Increases libido
• Improves sexual sensitivity
• Improves sexual function
• Improves HDL and LDL levels
• Improves cardiovascular health

DHEA  the mother of hormones

• Improves neurological function
• Increases sense of well being
• Improves immune function
• Improves stress tolerance
• Increases metabolism

ESTROGENS  the female hormone

• Protects against heart disease, stroke
• Decreases cholesterol
• Lowers incidence of Alzheimer’s
• Improves memory
• Alleviates symptoms of menopause: headaches, mood swings, bloating, hot flashes, fatigue, waning libido

PROGESTERONE  the hormone of pregnancy

• Protects against breast and uterine cancer
• Protects against fibrocystic disease
• Helps fat metabolism
• Helps normalize blood sugar
• Helps reverse osteoporosis
• Helps thyroid hormone function
• Acts as a natural antidepressant
• Protects against nervousness
• Protects against anxiety and irritability

PREGNENELONE  the gateway hormone

• Promotes formation of other hormones
• Repairs brain and nerve tissue
• Enhances many brain functions
• Reduces aging skin
• Improves sense of well being
• Increases energy and mobility
• Improves sleep quality
• Reduces harmful stress effects
• Reduces aging brain deficiencies

THYROID  the hormone of metabolism

• Increases energy
• Increases fat burning, and controls weight
• Increases your heart rate
• Increases your appetite

INSULIN  the hormone of storage

• Responsible for getting blood sugar into all cells
• Increases fat storage
• Increases risk of diabetes, hypertension and stroke

MELATONIN  the hormone of sleep

• Responsible for maintaining sleep
• Helps alleviate “jet-lag”
• Improves one mood
• Improves the immune system (by decreasing cortisol)

CORTISOL  the hormone of stress

• Responsible for responding to stress
• Helps protect you against your environment (allergens)
• Mobilizes energy, improves fatigue
• Increases your appetite for sugar
• Decreases bone mass, muscle mass, and slows down your metabolism

Summary:
Getting older can be brutal — women gain weight, lose their sex drive, experience hot flashes, suffer memory loss, become short-tempered, find it difficult to sleep, and on and on. It’s not so easy for men, either — they start to lose energy and stamina as they age, too (and they have to live with women going through menopause). After years of being thin and fit and full of energy, Suzanne herself encountered the “Seven Dwarfs of Menopause” — Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy, Bloated, Forgetful, and All-Dried-Up. Instead of living out the rest of her life cranky, sleep-deprived, and libido-less, Suzanne set out to discover how she could get her mind, body, and life back and banish those pesky dwarfs for good.

Suzanne has discovered that the second half of life has been more rewarding, fun, and purposeful than her younger years. The key to her happiness? Taking natural bioidentical hormones. Natural hormones, which mimic the hormones produced in our own bodies that are almost completely lost with aging, are the answer to the symptoms of menopause that plague women. Recent findings from the medical community show that synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be harmful to women — thus, thousands of women are looking for an alternative to alleviate their symptoms. In The Sexy Years, Suzanne comes to the rescue with a step-by-step plan and detailed information about how women can take control of their health, for themselves and for their men, including:

• What the differences are between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, and why bioidentical hormones help women lose weight, reinvigorate their sex lives, and fight the symptoms of aging
• How doctors do not receive adequate training about hormones and are slaves to the pharmaceutical industry, and what questions every woman must ask her physician about hormone replacement therapy and her health
• How Suzanne turned her life around, with information about how often she visits her doctor, blood work, what hormones she takes, how to get these hormones, and more
  What male menopause, or andropause, is and how men can also take bioidentical hormones and regain the energy they had in their youth
• What a variety of specialists think about natural hormones, health, and sexuality — Suzanne shares the best advice from these doctors and provides a resource list of physicians and pharmacies

In combination with her Somersize diet and fitness plan, which she also writes about here, Suzanne has never felt better. The beauty of growing older, she maintains, is that you can combine the wisdom of age with the vitality of youth. Suzanne makes it perfectly clear how women and men can regain their zest for life at any age. These really are the sexy years!

Summary:

“Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones” is the newest and most comprehensive book yet about bioidentical hormones by Suzanne Somers. Following her successful “The Sexy Years”, this book continues her extensive research with 16 leading experts on bioidentical hormone therapy explaining in terms that everyone can understand and enjoy the importance of Bioidentical Hormones, Fitness, Nutrition and Sleep. We highly recommend that you read this book cover to cover.

Dr. Paul Savage is one of the leading physicians that Suzanne Somers’ writes about, as he discusses with her the importance of proper Nutrition and Hormones. In this interview, Dr. Savage describes to Suzanne his own life’s journey to better fitness, nutrition, stress-reduction and the need for bioidentical hormone replacement for both men and women. Read as he discusses with her the experiences he has encountered from nearly a thousand patients, and the specific cases that touched his heart the most, and of his efforts to expand his work to physicians throughout the country.

Suzanne Somers has 16 interviews from cutting-edge experts on how to slow the aging process for men and women. She introduced millions of women to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and changed the way we look at menopause with her revolutionary book, “The Sexy Years”. Now, in “Ageless,” Ms. Somers introduces a medically validated approach against age-related diseases. “Ageless” is jam-packed with new, updated information on bioidentical hormone replacement and anti-aging. A definite read.

Boca Raton, FL - October, 2008 - When Suzanne Somers talks about bioidentical hormones, people listen. Suzanne Somers has released another book discussing her success with bioidentical hormones.

Somers says the cornerstone of breakthrough medicine is bioidentical hormone replacement. The key is to first understand what hormones your body produces and what happens when you lose them. She dedicates an entire chapter to the different minor and major hormones in the body. Some of the hormones listed include:

· Estrogen: Primarily a female hormone, estrogen is present and necessary in both the male and female body. Estrogen affects our organs and tissues including the brain, liver, bones, skin as well as blood vessels and female sex organs.

· Progesterone: Primarily a female hormone, progesterone is also needed in the male body. It is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and helps build and maintain bones, and prevents cancer.

· Testosterone: A critical hormone in both the male and female body, testosterone helps maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle mass and strength, red blood cell production and sex drive.

· DHEA: Referred to as the “mother hormone” of the body, DHEA is produced in the brain and is responsible for helping balance other hormones like testosterone.

· Thyroid: Responsible for our metabolism and control of the efficiency and speed of how fast our cells “work,” the thyroid hormone is one of the most vital hormones in the body and can cause severe reactions in the body if it is unbalanced.

· Cortisol: Known as the stress hormone, cortisol is vital to human life and if it occurs too low or too high, severe systemic complications can result.

· Melatonin: The melatonin hormone controls the body’s sleep function. When the body has low levels, deep and restful sleep is difficult.

Dr. Kelley recommends Suzanne Somer’s book, “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness” to all patients as an educational source of the latest information on hormone therapy. When coupled with the diagnostics of a qualified hormone therapy specialist, Somers’ book is an invaluable wellness tool,” said Stanton.

• Testosterone - The total amount in your system, including how much is actively available to your body
• Dihydrotestosterone - The total amount of used testosterone in your body
• Estrogen - To make sure it’s not too high
• PSA - Prostate specific antigens – your prostrate health

Adrenal Hormones - Your immune system, your energy level, and your ability to handle stress

• Cortisol – the stress hormone
• DHEA – the “mother of all hormones”

Thyroid Hormones - Your metabolism

• TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

Your Body’s System

• Prolactin and Luteinizing hormone
• Complete blood count, complete metabolic profile, Hemoglobin A1C, Insulin and Lipid Panel
• Zinc and Vitamin D

Other Hormone Tests - The physician may suggest other tests for you

Andropause, also known as the male menopause or MANopause, is the result of a gradual drop in testosterone. In many cases, bioidentical hormones can be part of the solution. Symptoms of low testosterone manifest in a number of ways including physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral changes. Men frequently notice male menopause symptoms as a gradual loss of energy, muscle, mental focus, stamina and libido. Experts directly relate low testosterone to causes of low sex drive. Although a decline in hormone levels will occur in virtually all men with age, there is no way of predicting whose male menopause symptoms will reach the severity of seeking medical help.

Top 10 Signs of Andropause - the male menopause:

Statistics on Andropause: The Male Menopause

Suffering from symptoms of low testosterone? According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4 -5 million men have low testosterone levels and only 5-10 percent of them will seek treatment.

According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 4-5 million men have symptoms of low testosterone levels and only 5-10% of these men will seek treatment.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report stated “male androgens progressively decline with age.” The report analyzed male hormones and found that the testosterone level in most 70 year old men was 10 percent of the level in males that are 25 years old. By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience symptoms similar to female menopause, which in men is known as the male menopause or andropause. The symptoms of andropause include changes in body mass, resulting in less muscle and more fat, changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy and sex drive, as well as physical agility.

Male menopause symptoms are also associated with stress levels, nutrition quality, fitness routine and the environmental toxins the body is exposed to on a daily basis.

Treating Andropause, the male menopause

Dr. Kelley’s physician-supervised programs use only natural bioidentical hormones, hormones, which are identical to the body’s own chemistry, integrated with nutrition and fitness programs. Bioidentical hormone therapy provides a natural treatment that helps men suffering the from male menopause symptoms and allows them to live the best life possible.

Your individualized treatment plan may include a combination of creams, gels, pills, self-injections or pellet therapy. Each treatment plan is customized to your individual needs.

Andropause Exams and Tests for Men

To determine your hormonal needs, Dr. Kelley’s anti aging physicians thoroughly evaluate your symptoms of low testosterone using state-of-the-art diagnostics including saliva, urine and/or blood labs to determine your hormone levels and your unique bioidentical hormone needs. After starting bioidentical hormone therapy, Dr. Kelley monitors and reevaluates your hormone levels to insure that they are maintained within optimum balance.