WHAT IS ANTI-AGING MEDICINE?

Medicine is consistently changing as we learn more about the body and its processes.  How medicine was practiced 100 years ago is clearly different to 1000 years ago and to now.  Even medicine of 20 years ago is vastly different.  Science continues to update us on the pros and cons of various medications and therapies.  One thing is for certain, and that is that medicine of today will not be that of tomorrow.  For some medical practitioners the vastness of relearning their medicine seems extreme and pointless since current therapies seem to work okay for most. This attitude is supported by powerful and rich pharmaceutical companies which would be disadvantaged by returning to basic concepts of physiology to correct illness through nutrition and lifestyle changes.  For other doctors to not relearn their medicine is a failure of the science of medicine and a betrayal of the oath “to do no harm”.

Consequently, anti-aging doctors (or functional medicine practitioners) are dedicating themselves worldwide to finding the most up to date, scientifically backed medicine to help their patients.  They are all medically qualified doctors in conventional medicine and use the knowledge to provide the most complete and safest of medical care, often choosing proven natural medicines over conventional.

Why natural?  Not just because our bodies were genetically designed over thousands of years to function in the environment but because these medicines have advantages with better side-effect profiles than their conventional counterparts.  For example, did you know that your anti-cholesterol drug may lower your cholesterol but at the expense of the energy and muscle systems of the body leading to muscle cramps and fatigue.

Anti-aging doctors strive constantly to learn more, and if they don’t have the answers, will look to find them. Anti-aging uses advance testing to accurately diagnose and adjust treatments.  The body with it’s thousands of processes is the most complex piece of machinery on earth.  As one system alters, it can affect another.

To have the body functioning perfectly, it often takes many visits.  The amount depends upon the state that the body originally presents in.  After all “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, and certainly regaining balance can take months to years.  Fortunately along the way you feel better.

This is different to conventional medicine which aims to patch symptoms rather that resolve the complete underlying problem and restore health balance and well being.

Consequently many basic physiological and biochemical concepts are used lending to corrections in nutrition, hormones and lifestyle to lead to better health.  Once again, anti-aging dedicated doctors will always use a scientific basis for doing so.  If ever in doubt, just ask them for the scientific evidence.  But be prepared if they present you with a long list of scientific references to read.

The only down side to anti-aging medicine at this point is the fact that there are so few properly trained Anti-aging practitioners, (although many will claim to be so), and that at this stage the government does not provide rebates for such care.  In addition the cost of natural medicines is not similarly subsidised (despite in many cases being safer and more effective than conventional medicine).

I use the term ‘at this stage’ because the medicine of tomorrow will see the virtue in functional medicine and all medical students will one day be taught it in schools around the world.  This image of medical UTOPIA is some time away and will first require regaining the financial power held by governments and drug companies.

Functional medicine also puts the onus back on the patient to take charge of their health.  To ‘repair’ rather than ‘patch’, patients must make lifestyle changes.  They must choose to eat better, to increase sleep, to exercise and to attempt stress reduction by re-ordering their lives.  I emphasize this because most illnesses of today could be prevented completely be such changes.  No health practitioner can offer true wellness without first addressing these issues, so beware of false promises.  The trained anti-aging doctor is then able to fine tune and restore balance and hence wellness. 

HOW DOES ANTI-AGING MEDICINE WORK?

Anti-Aging Medicine (or Functional Medicine) is the cutting edge of medical science.  It focuses on the latest research to improve and maintain our standard of living as we grow older by prevention and repair of disease processes that are occurring in the body.  Everyone can benefit from Anti-Aging Medicine no matter how old they are.  The aim is not only to live longer but to remain active into our later years.  As more of society lives into the hundreds, Anti-Aging Medicine allows people to maintain their mental, physical and sexual function.  It makes it possible for a 70 year old to feel like a 30 year old.

How is this done?

Science knows that as we grow older it is due to 3 factors.

1. Insulin resistance.  Normally the body produces insulin in response to the food we take in.  This tells the cells to use the glucose to make energy. Glucose which is not converted into energy is stored as fat. In insulin resistance, the cells no longer recognize the insulin and consequently blood sugar rises and more glucose is stored. The body tries to make more insulin in response to the high blood sugars. The process continues to repeat itself and the eventual result is diabetes with all of its complications.
   Insulin resistance is the result of poor nutrition i.e. too much refined carbohydrate, skipping meals and large portion sizes.
2. Our decline in hormones.
3. Inadequate minerals/nutrients in foods due to toxins and pollutants in the environment.  This prevents our body systems from running efficiently.

So how can we fix it?

Firstly, we need to asses and improve nutrition with the aim to correct insulin resistance and prevent diabetes. A great secondary effect from this is weight loss. To do so we need to eat small meals regularly through the day, rich in protein and low in fat and refined carbohydrates. We need to exercise cardio-vascularly and with resistance training for at least 20 - 40 minutes 3 to 5 times per week.

Secondly, we correct hormonal imbalances.  The body functions due to its ability to send signals between cells. It does this with small molecules called hormones.  These include sex hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA and pregnenalone, and the thyroid hormones, cortisol from the adrenal gland, melatonin, and human growth hormone.
If hormones are in excess or deficiency they will cause a variety of symptoms as tabled.

                                   

Estrogen Deficiency (females)

• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Bladder infections
• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Incontinence
• Insomnia
• Decreased sexual response
• Foggy thinking
• Low bone density
• Heart palpitations

Excess Estrogen

Females Puffiness and bloating Weight gain in hips Mood swings Anxiety and irritability Depression Frequent thrush Weepiness Carbohydrate craving (sugar/bread) Diminishes sex drive Breast tenderness Foggy thinking Fibroids Fibrocystic breasts Premenstrual headaches and migraines Heavy bleeding

Males Hair loss Headaches Breast enlargement Weight gain Irritability Bloating/puffiness

Progesterone Deficiency (females)

• PMS
• Irregular periods
• Night sweats
• Low bone density
• Early miscarriage
• Weepiness
• Insomnia
• Sore or swollen breasts
• Headaches associated with your period
• Infertility
• Anxiety

Excess Testosterone (females) Acne Excessive hair on face and arms Thinning hair on head Ovarian cysts Infertility Pain when ovulating Unstable blood sugar Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Irritability Deepened voice Elevated cholesterol High blood pressure

Testosterone Deficiency (males) Weight loss Muscle loss Decreased sex drive Enlarged breasts Lower stamina Weaker erections Fatigue Depression Gall bladder problems Stiff muscles and joints Decreased motivation Insomonia

Thyroxine is produced by the thyroid gland and is responsible for metabolism.

Thyroid Deficiency (females and males)

• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Low body temperature
• Fluid retention
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• Puffiness in face, hands and feet
• Depression, anxiety
• Irritability
• Intolerance to cold or heat
• Stiffness of the joints

Melatonin is often a forgotten hormone that is essential for sleeping. It is released around midnight in response to the lack of stimuli from lights. When we turn the light on to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, melatonin production is switched off. Consequently, we may feel unrested in the morning. Melatonin is always always reduced in shiftworkers and in jet lag.

Probably the most important hormone the body produces is Human Growth Hormone (HGH).  When we are young growth hormone causes a child to develop into an adult.  At the age of 25 to 30 growth hormone has peaked, after this age it starts to decline and as it does so our bodies begin to age more rapidly.  Low growth hormone results in a large range of symptoms and I encourage you to read the separate information on HGH as you might be well surprised.

Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, is produce by the adrenal gland.  It can

cause people to loose and gain weight.  When people have been stressed for a long period of time the adrenal gland can begin to fail and we see a condition known as Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. This may result in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Cortisol Deficiency (females & males)

• Difficulty getting up in the morning
• Fatigue not relieved by sleep
• Craving for salty foods
• Decreased sex drive
• Decreased ability to handle stress
• Increased time to recover from illness,
• stress or trauma
• Light headed if standing quickly
• Mild depression
• Less enjoyment of life
• Loss of memory
• Symptoms worse if tired

At Argera Anti Aging Centre we assess a patient’s symptoms and organize specialized laboratory testing at the world’s premier laboratory in Melbourne. Once we have this information we are able to recommend and prescribe hormone replacement that is derived from a natural source.  This is known as Bio-identical Hormone Replacement, that is, it has the same molecular structure as the body itself makes.  Conventional hormone replacement is synthetic with a similar chemical structure but not exact. This has lead to the theory that conventional hormone replacement may be linked with cancers when used over a long period of time.  There has not been substantial evidence to date that natural hormone replacement has the same risks as conventional.  It is important to note that we are talking about replacement of hormones not giving excess hormone to the body.  The aim is to put a person’s hormones into a range of a younger age group suitable to the individual.  In other words we tailor the therapy to suit the patient.  The hormone replacement is usually made up by a compounding chemist especially trained in this area.  By monitoring the patient’s symptoms and further testing we are able to perfect the formula for the patient to function at their peak. 

So, if natural HRT is so good why don’t all GPs prescribe it?  Basically it is because it is not taught at medical school as it combines some of the theories of naturopathy as well as a scientific data, Medicare does not subsidize it or the testing for it.  But just ask anyone on natural HRT how they feel and I guarantee that most will give you a positive response.

Finally, the third factor to correct is vitamin and mineral imbalances resulting from inappropriate diet and poor nutrients in soils, pesticides and over harvesting.  For example a healthy individual requires 5 grams of omega 3 fish oil per day which may prevent heart disease and the need for cholesterol lowering medication.  Unfortunately even health stores may not stock the most pure and efficient health supplements available on the market, fortunately Argera has access to these purer and more efficient health supplements.  Our aim is not to have patients on every health product available but rather to have the most suitable for that patients needs.  We understand that people have different financial circumstances and we aim to maximize a patient's therapy for their income.

Argera Anti-Aging Centre has dedicated itself to bringing you the latest information in anti aging medicine.  The clinical staff are constantly involved in ongoing training and education and are regularly in contact with the Australian and American Academies of Anti-Aging. 

What does the future hold?

As medicine advances we have become able to tell a patient of their genetic predisposition to certain diseases and how to avoid them, if they have had exposure to various infections such as Herpes or other STDs previously not able to be tested  and even what skin care is most suited to that individual based on their genetics.  Argera is already as able to offer these advances to our patients with DNA tests that are as simple as obtaining two drops of blood, or a skin or hair sample.

In the future we will even be able to vaccinate to stop the diseased genes from switching on and thus prevent some of the terrible debilitating and life threatening diseases that affect so many people every day.

Recommended Reading

Grow Young with HGH, Dr Ronald Klatz, 1997 Harper Collins, ISBN 0060186828

Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, Dr James Wilson, Smart Publications 2006, ISBN 1890572152

HRT: The Answers, Dr Pamela W Smith, Healthy Living Books 2003, ISBN 0972976736

Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat, Rudy Rivera Three Rivers Press 2002, ISBN 0761537600