Posted in Health & Wellness
The 411 on Anti-Aging Medicine
I found the information for this blog post from the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery website www.surgery.org and although, not an indepth review, it has very important information that you might find useful.
Aging can be a progressive
decline in mental and physical ability,
accompanied by an increase in susceptibility
to chronic disease. Humankind has long sought
ways to slow or retard the aging process.
Given the vast number of aging baby boomers
in our society, the relevance of anti-aging
medicine looms ever larger. Are the effects
of aging inevitable? Taken in the broadest
and most positive light, anti-aging medicine
is an extension of preventive health care.Technique:
Anti-aging medicine incorporates the realms
of biochemistry, biology and physiology,
and utilizes elements from the fields of
sports medicine, molecular genetics, nutrition
and mind/body medicine. Hormone levels begin
to decrease by the mid-thirties, and hormone
replacement therapy is a popular, though
controversial anti-aging technique, specifically
human growth hormone (HGH), DHEA, testosterone,
progesterone, estrogen and melatonin. Oxidative
stress reduction is another technique: Natural
metabolic processes as well as environmental
toxins lead to the formation of free radicals,
electrically unstable molecules that damage
DNA and protein; antioxidant formulas are
prescribed to combat free radicals, creating
a healthier balance between free radical
production and antioxidant defense. Other
primary natural tools against aging are
rest, exercise, and stress control techniques.
Plastic surgery is the surgical arm of the
field of anti-aging medicine.
Benefits:
- Anti-oxidant vitamins
have few negative side effects and have
shown a wide range of health benefits. - 10 million American
women are undergoing estrogen replacement
therapy—a form of “anti-aging”
therapy that is widely accepted and substantially
effective. - Emphasizes tried and
true approaches such as good nutrition
and exercise. - Metabolic typing is
also useful—the process of profiling
an individual’s unique metabolism
in order to prescribe maximally effective
supplementation and other treatments.
Other Considerations:
- Magic elixirs do not
exist. There is not much science behind
much so-called anti-aging medicine. There
has been no dramatic new breakthrough
in anti-aging medicine. Most drugs and
approaches have been in clinical practice
for at least 10 to 30 years. - The Institute on Aging
of the National Institute of Health urges
caution in the use of “anti-aging”
hormone supplements. - All substances should
be taken only under the guidance of a
physician who is properly grounded in
traditional medicine. - Beware of anti-aging
organizations with specific products to
sell. “Immunity boosters” and
“glandulars” may be without
known therapeutic benefits. - ok for current scientific
information in peer-reviewed journals.
Currently, anti-aging is not a recognized
medical specialty, so beware of self-designated
experts or organizations.