Regenerative Medicine

It is likely that you have heard the recent buzz about hormones and hormone imbalances, as even Oprah is raving about the dramatic changes she experienced thanks to this revolutionary type of healthcare. Researchers have become more aware of evidence showing that these hormone imbalances may be the root cause of many chronic health issues you could be experiencing.

Your hormones should exist in harmony with each other. When levels of each hormone are in the right proportions, body systems are stable. When balance is lost, hormone deficiencies and excesses can cause chronic symptoms and disorders, and raise risks for disease.

A whole host of symptoms may signify an imbalance, including:

Fatigue
Headaches
Weight gain
Irritability
Anxiety
Infertility
Mood swings
Loss of libido (sex drive)
Depression
Insomnia
Aches & Pains ("Fibromyalgia")
Chronic Illness
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Allergic Conditions
Headaches
Bone Loss
Elevated Triglycerides
Thyroid Deficiency
Autoimmune Illness (Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, Endometriosis, Hashimoto's Disease, Psoriasis, etc)

The symptoms of hormonal shifts occurring in our bodies can be very strong and can even make you feel out of control at times. If you have tried to figure out what is happening or perhaps treated your symptoms in ways that don't seem to work, testing your hormones may be the first step to feeling better.

Balance
The Specifics of Menopause in Women
The Specifics of Andropause in Men
Lab Testing with ZRT
Lifestyle Tips
About the A4M
Recommended Reading
Oprah on Hormone Therapy
8 Steps To Hormone Assessment At Myrtle Beach Diet

Balance

A delicate hormone balance is deeply connected to our stress level, the food we eat, the exercise we get, and the toxins we absorb. These factors critically impact our overall hormone picture, particularly at midlife as reproductive functions diminish over time, when significant hormone production is taken over by the adrenals.

Hormones not only regulate our immune system and response to stress, but also help to maintain bone and muscle mass, libido and energy levels.

The importance of hormone balance to our health cannot be understated. It starts with the everyday decisions we make. Lifestyle choices and appropriate nutrition and supplementation are critical for achieving optimal health. Although these practical tips may keep your hormones and health in balance, testing your hormone levels is the only way to clearly understand what is happening inside your body.

The Specifics of Menopause in Women

The right balance of hormones is vital to a woman's health, but in menopause when levels are dropping, a deficiency of one hormone can actually appear as a relative excess of another, resulting in symptoms of hormone imbalances.

The official start of menopause typically occurs around the age of fifty. But it is not uncommon to see symptoms much sooner, even as early as mid to late 30s. Menopause can also be surgically induced through removal of ovaries, and can be precipitated by hysterectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy.

When taking a test it is important to remember that the results are merely an indication that you might be entering into a stage of menopause, but cannot determine if you are actually in menopause, as abnormal hormone levels may be a sign of other problems.

Understanding the impact of menopause - by testing and monitoring hormone levels - can help women work with their health care providers to find appropriate solutions that will lead to hormonal wellness.

"Hormone therapy has changed my life! I feel and look 20 years younger. After 10 years of being tested and repeatedly told, "There is nothing wrong with you," and feeling on the brink of insanity, I finally have my body, mind, and spirit back! Thank you, thank you, thank you Dr. Norman, you are changing women's lives for the better! Keep up the good work, I love you guys!"

Anita, 40 years old

The Specifics of Andropause in Men

Men also experience issues related to hormone imbalance. The natural decline of testosterone contributes to problems with sexual dysfunction as well as muscle weakness, depression, bone loss and other symptoms associated with andropause (also called "male menopause").

This condition signifies the midlife retreat of the hormones known as androgens: DHEA and testosterone. In contrast to the "roller coaster" effect so common to women in menopause, the symptoms of andropause appear gradually and can be much less obvious.

Two of the first signs that a man may be experiencing this change are:

A subtle downward shift of energy
Loss of enthusiasm for the challenge of work, competition and sexual activity.

Along with the aging process - excessive stress, weight gain, and lack of exercise can further lower testosterone, which will impact stamina, drive and virility.

Through hormone testing and working with a professional qualified to treat imbalance, a man can help address the effect of andropause as well as hidden and/or related deficiencies.

8 Steps To Hormone Assessment At Myrtle Beach Diet

Click here to learn about our assessment

Lab Testing with ZRT

ZRT makes testing simple. Blood and saliva samples are collected in only a few minutes. You may choose to do this in the comfort of your home, or you can let us do it for you at Myrtle Beach Diet! The most accurate and convenient forms of testing available today are offered through ZRT, primarily through a network of trained healthcare providers.

Once you ship a sample to ZRT, it will be processed as fast as possible and the results sent back to us at Myrtle Beach Diet, usually 1-2 weeks after it is received. The moment we receive your test, Nan will notify you of the results via phone or email. She will schedule you an appointment to discuss your results with Dr. Norman, and the most appropriate treatment options for your situation.

As you continue to monitor your levels with periodic testing, ZRT keeps your results available so that we can see the trends of hormonal ranges matched up with your customized therapy and other variables. You can actually track your progress...and we will help you!

ZRT Laboratory has been a pioneer in hormone testing since 1988. With one of the largest databases of hormone test results, you benefit from the analysis of more than one million people who also have dealt with hormone imbalances. Of course, the confidentiality of your report is always our top priority.

If you are interested in testing, please call or stop by Dr. Norman's Myrtle Beach Diet for more information today!

Lifestyle Tips

Get adequate sleep
Limit exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals (ex: the chemical estrogen Premarin is a carcinogen!!!)
Drink plenty of water
Limit alcohol and don't smoke
Be active--move about every day
Enjoy fresh food, eat a rainbow of colored vegetables every day, limit processed foods and those high in simple carbohydrates, and work to maintain a stable, good body weight.

About the A4M

(From www.worldhealth.net)

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) is among the fastest growing medical societies in the world today. Founded in 1992, the A4M serves as an advocate for the new clinical specialty of anti-aging medical science and acts as a conduit to physicians, scientists, and the educated public who wish to benefit from the almost daily breakthroughs in biotechnology which promise both a greater quality as well as quantity of life.

With the founding of A4M in 1992, the A4M created the anti-aging medical movement. Anti-aging medicine is founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases. It is a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy lifespan in humans. As such, anti-aging medicine is based on principles of sound and responsible medical care that are consistent with those applied in other preventive health specialties. The phrase "anti-aging," as such, relates to the application of advanced biomedical technologies focused on the early detection, prevention, and treatment of aging-related disease. The goal of anti-aging medicine is not to merely prolong the total years of an individual's life, but to ensure that those years are enjoyed in a productive and vital fashion.

The A4M is comprised of 22,000 members from 105 nations worldwide, as follows:

85% of our membership are physicians (MD, DO, MBBS)
12% are scientists, researchers, and health practitioners; and
3% are governmental officials, members of the working press and general public

The disciplines of our physician members are roughly as follows:

Family Practice, 23%
General Medicine, 15%
Endocrinology, 11%
Internal Medicine, 8%
Dermatology, 8%
Plastic Surgery, 6%
Cardiology, 8%
Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.), 6%
OB-GYN, 5%
Sports Medicine, 4%
Orthopedics, 2%
Emergency Medicine, 2%
Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.), 2%

As far as the global culture of adoption of anti-aging medicine, the A4M has been a major force in advancing the medical specialty worldwide. The A4M has been responsible for positioning the anti-aging clinical medical specialty as a leading innovative paradigm for healthcare in the aging nations around the world. Anti-aging medicine is now practiced by thousands of physicians in private medical offices, as well as at some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals around the world. Universally, those involved in healthcare, or those whose fields of expertise intersect with healthcare issues, support anti-aging medicine as a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy human lifespan. Public policy organizations and government agencies are now embracing anti-aging medicine as a viable solution to alleviate the mounting social, economic, and medical woes otherwise anticipated to arrive with the aging of nearly every nation on the planet.

What is Anti-Aging Medicine?

(From www.worldhealth.net)

Anti-aging medicine, an extension of preventive health care, is the next great model of health care for the new millennium.

If you have had your cholesterol tested, taken a lipid-lowering drug, had a mammogram, or taken HRT with thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, melatonin, or DHEA, you have experienced anti-aging medicine. This form of medicine is based on the very early detection, prevention, and reversal of age-related disease. 90% of all adult illness is due to the degenerative processes of aging. This includes heart disease, most cancers, adult-onset diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune disease, glaucoma, and Alzheimer's.

With early detection and appropriate intervention, most of these diseases can be prevented, cured, or have their downward course reversed. Anti-aging medicine is the newest clinical medical specialty, the "optimum" of wellness and longevity, and employs extensive therapies and treatment in the preventative health care field far beyond just cholesterol testing and mammograms. A profound paradigm shift in the way the medical establishment views aging and age-related disease is now underway.