Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"In Men’s Fight Against Aging, How Much Risk to Take?"

"More than 2.3 million American men used testosterone gels, patches, pellets and injections last year—twice the number as in 2008. Some experts say these men may be increasing their chances of having a heart attack."
It isn’t clear what the FDA will do. But whatever the agency decides, doctors will still be able to prescribe the drugs “off-label.” And for many men, the benefits of boosting testosterone levels, a condition often referred to as low-T, are worth the risk.

“Men all want to feel younger and more virile, and they somehow have come to believe that low-T medication is the fountain of youth. But we don’t know whether it’s safe,” says Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

Testosterone is a male steroid hormone that rises sharply when boys hit puberty. It affects the entire body—voices deepen, shoulders broaden, sperm production begins, and height, strength and sex drive all increase. Levels peak in the early 30s and decline gradually, about 1% a year, as men age. (read the whole thing)


38 comments:

Trooper York said...

Wait a minute. Is that Michael Haz tuning up some hapless lib on Turley's blog?

ricpic said...

Use it or lose it!

Chip Ahoy said...

I suddenly understand the meaning of right/left "hook."

POW right to the head.

edutcher said...

The bigger danger is prostate cancer.

Aridog said...

Lacking a better place to stop by, I just want to say thank you to all those who actually "got it" on the guest post Lem put up 22 Oct - 24 Oct. Truth be told, I wrote an email to a few people and Lem asked if he could put it up as a "post." I said, "okay." I did not ask for it. But I appreciated it.

On the topic of "risk"...there is no risk in admitting a problem, only in denying it. You all are one damn good crowd, and I am pleased to part of you. Thanks once again.

"Ray Gun" radiation (focused beam) starts Monday and lasts through the following Monday...body cast is already molded and I am ready for it. My tattoos (the aiming points in a triangulation pattern) are quite pretty, and more colorful than the last time. The hardest part is not moving a millimeter for an hour...hence the enclosing body cast. I am very lucky, others fair much worse in the form of treatment.

I think I have admitted "fear"per se this time around. Last time I went macho, etc...non-sense, this stuff scares the crap out of you and it if doesn't something is wrong in your head. Fear is hard for me to admit, but you all have made it easier by far to accept it.

Thank you all.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Happy to hear from you Aridog.

AllenS said...

God bless, Aridog.

AllenS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Two blessings are better than one.

AllenS said...

Lem, I deleted too fast!

Michael Haz said...

Nice to hear from you Aridog. You're quite a man - not even a ray gun will do you in.

Testosterone - I've been using it for years with positive effect on muscle retention. But - it isn't eh crap you see advertised on television. That stuff will kill you. My MD specializes in hormone treatments (among other things) and put me on T after heart surgery in order to protect my heart muscles.

I use a bio-identical cream formulated by a local compounding pharmacy. I have the various levels, T1, T3, T4, etc. checked annually.

The thing for men when you hit 55 is to get your hormones balanced. You need ti to remain energetic and strong. Also, get you thyroid level checked, and supplement that if needed.

Take advantage of what's available. It makes a big change in your well being.

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

"Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared."

-- Eddie Rickenbacker

Meade said...

"The bigger danger is prostate cancer."

Not according to the linked article which you apparently did not read.

KCFleming said...

Shit, they wanna ban e-cigarettes and vaping because a kid might smoke a real cigarette if they see it.
For realz.
Happened in my stupid little town.

KCFleming said...

So they'll ban anything that causes their palms to itch.

ndspinelli said...

Trooper, EVERYONE is the left of you.

ndspinelli said...

Aridog, Thanks for the update. You are in my daily prayers. God Bless.

Trooper York said...

I can't help it if you love commies Nick.

Trooper York said...

I used to think that Genghis Kahn was politically sound but he disappointed me.

Michael Haz said...

Speaking of wood -

I need three or four cords at my cabin. As in the last twenty years, I call my wood guy only to hear that he is all out of supply. He gives me the name of another guy. I call guy two, and he's out. Ditto guy three and guy four.

Last winter's propane shortage apparently caused people to buy plenty and buy early this heating season. Crap.

Guy three calls back and asks if I'd like to get on his list for delivery next summer. I said yes. I have enough wood in the shed for this winter, and locked in my propane price and supply.

Sheesh. Who'd imagine a firewood shortage in the deep north woods?

rcocean said...

Good luck Aridog!

KCFleming said...

Best, Aridog.

KCFleming said...

It's better to burn out than it is to rust.

My my, hey hey.

chickelit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chickelit said...

@Haz: Does it matter if it's hardwood or softwood?

Pines pack BTU's in Packerland according to TY.

Michael Haz said...

It makes a very big difference. Burning softwood in a fireplace causes creosote to be deposited in the flue. When the accumulated creosote ignites, the ensuing chimney fire is likely to ignite the rest of the building.

Michael Haz said...

Softwood or hardwood, you never want a flue lined with creosote.

deborah said...

Haz, my old wood supplier, since retired, said pine is fine, just occasionally burn aluminum cans to keep the creosote from building up.

chickelit said...

I burn redwood, cedar and pine outdoors in the fire pit but prefer eucalyptus for indoor fires.

I have a huge supply of wood this year. I'm ready for a cold winter. Believe it or not, it gets chilly here in Dec-March at night and we don't heat much with the furnace.

Michael Haz said...

Do you have any idea how much a cord of aluminum costs? That stuff ain't cheap!

ndspinelli said...

chick, I burn avocado wood in San Diego. Hardly any smoke and burns easily. I'm told eucalyptus is similar? I learned the San Diego newspaper must have some fire retardant in it because it is horseshit for staring fires, it just smolders.

chickelit said...

I've never tried avocado. Eucalyptus is hard to ignite but it burns like coal -- lots of heat. Pine lights easily and has lots of snap, crackle, pop but makes a big mess.

deborah said...

lol Haz.

Chick, can you give a chemical equation to support my wood guy's claim?

bagoh20 said...

My girlfriend has Low T (low taint). I had to buy her one of those girl's bikes with the low bar in the middle so she wouldn't crack her cooter bone.

deborah said...

Bago, you ASS.

chickelit said...

Chick, can you give a chemical equation to support my wood guy's claim?

MnO4- + creosote --> MnO2 + CO2

Heating aluminum cans releases 1% manganese. Manganese is oxidized in the fire to permanganate. Permanganate is a powerful catalyst for breaking down creosote in CO2.

This contributes to global warming and so I cannot endorse it.

chickelit said...

The manganese is added to aluminum cans to increase "stiffness" which fits the topic nicely.

deborah said...

lol I can feel the oceans receding as I type.