The following information is from “Grow Young With HGH”, written by Dr Ronald Klatz,  President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and world expert in anti-aging medicine.

When seeking an anti-aging physician one should ask the following questions:

Do you think we can delay aging or the diseases associated with aging?

While there is some dispute about what aging actually is, a physician who practices anti-aging medicine believes that we can postpone or reverse many of the biochemical changes associated with later life disease, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.  Beware if your physician something like:

‘Well, you’re just getting old, what can you expect?
People at your age get aches and pain, start slowing down, having trouble getting it up, etc.
I know a lot of people who are sixty and can’t get out of the bed in the morning.’

My advice, get out of that person’s office while you’re still able to move.

What do you do for your own health?

Physicians who have an anti-aging orientation practice what they preach – exercising regularly, taking high-quality multivitamin and mineral formulas along with supplements of antioxidants and other compounds that reflect their own research and that of others.  It is interesting to note that every doctor who prescribes human growth hormone replacement uses either HGH or GH-releasers on himself or herself if the IGF-1 levels indicate a deficiency.  Look for a doctor who spends money and time on a personal anti-aging program and is proud of the fact.

How many patients are you actively treating in anti-aging regimens?

You don’t want someone who sees anti-aging medicine as a passing fad but someone who is actively practicing it.  While a doctor’s practice is made up mostly of people who come in when they’re in extreme discomfort, a physician who does anti-aging medicine should have at least 30 or 40 patients who are committed to a program of optimal health.

How do you keep up with latest advances?

Medical knowledge increases exponentially, doubling every 3.5 years.  Nowhere is this more true than in the high-technology arena of anti-aging medicine, where there have been tens of thousands of scientific articles on growth hormone, melatonin and DHEA just in the past few years. Doctors should subscribe to periodical that inform of the latest anti-aging advances.

Do you see your patient as an active partner or a passive recipient?

Your role in anti-aging medicine does not stop with having a prescription filled or taking a drug.  As you become more involved in your personal life extension program, you will find that you will want to read everything on the subject, subscribe to magazines yourself.  Sometimes it can be the patient who brings findings to the doctors’ attention.

Do you believe in regular follow-up?

It is essential that you see your doctor every 3 to 6 months to make sure that there are no adverse side effects, to adjust your dosage if needed and to determine if the treatment is working.  Your IGF-1 levels should be tested to see if they are at youthful levels.  You don’t want to go to a growth hormone mill where the doctor hands you some medications and says ‘good luck.’

Remember it is your job to interview your doctor and evaluate their qualifications to be your personal anti-aging physician!