- 10 signs your testosterone levels may be too low,
putting you at future risk.
(upbeat music)
When you think of testosterone, what comes to mind?
Steroids, macho man, rage.
There is a lot of misunderstanding out there
on what testosterone actually is
and how it plays a major role in men's bodies.
Issues like decreased muscle mass,
increased body fat, erectile dysfunction.
You may be experiencing some of these things
and not even realize it has to do
with your testosterone levels.
But should you turn to exogenous testosterone?
Is it bad for you?
Are there risks associated
with higher or lower levels in your body?
And are there any natural ways to boost it
without taking supplements?
Today, we are breaking down all the crucial facts
and questions that you might be wondering
about testosterone and its major role in your health.
Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Jordan Wagner.
I'm an emergency room doctor who treats everything
from COVID to gunshot wounds, burns, you name it.
I've created this video series to help answer
some of your medical questions and the questions
that I get from patients each and every day.
If you find this video helpful,
please do me a favor and subscribe.
Here's the deal.
Testosterone plays an important role in men's health
and can be linked to certain diseases
and issues that may just surprise you.
For example, did you know that testosterone
is a key player in prostate cancer?
Or that women need testosterone too?
Also, there's way more to testosterone
than just getting swole.
Plus 10 different signs that you may be dealing with
low testosterone levels.
We're going to go into all of this, but first things first.
What is testosterone?
Testosterone is the primary sex hormone
and anabolic steroid in males.
In male humans, testosterone plays a key role
in the development of male reproductive tissue,
such as testes and the prostate,
as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics,
such as increased muscle and bone mass,
the growth of body hair
and the deepening of the voice during puberty.
For women, testosterone comes in much smaller amounts.
Testosterone production in men increases
about 30 times more during adolescence and early adulthood.
After early adulthood, though,
it's natural for levels to drop slightly each year.
In fact, they may see a 1% decline after 30 years old.
How does the testosterone work in the body?
On a scientific level,
signals are sent from the brain to the pituitary gland.
This controls the production of testosterone in men.
The pituitary gland then relays the signal
to the testes to produce testosterone.
A feedback loop closely regulates
the amount of hormone in the blood.
Then, if and when testosterone levels rise too high,
the brain sends signals to the pituitary
to reduce production.
It's important to have the right amount
of testosterone levels in your body.
So how do you know if you have low testosterone levels
and when should you be concerned enough
to start seeking out medical advice?
Here are 10 signs that you may be dealing with
lower than ideal levels of testosterone.
Number one, sex drive dips.
Testosterone plays a key role in libido,
a.k.a. sex drive in men.
Although some men may experience
a decline in sex drive as they age,
men with low testosterone levels will likely
experience a more drastic drop in their desire to have sex.
Number two, difficulty with erection.
While testosterone stimulates a man's sex drive,
it also aids in achieving and maintaining an erection.
Even though testosterone alone doesn't cause an erection,
it does stimulate receptors in the brain
to produce nitric oxide.
It's a nitric oxide molecule that helps trigger
a series of chemical reactions
necessary for an erection to occur.
When testosterone levels are too low,
a man may have difficulty achieving an erection
prior to sex, but keep in mind,
there are many other factors at play as well.
Number three, low semen volume.
Testosterone plays a role in the production of semen,
The fluid that aids in the motility of sperm.
If your testosterone levels are low,
your volume of swimmers may in turn, be low as well.
Number four, hair loss.
Although balding is a natural part of aging for many men,
testosterone could be playing a role
in your thinning hair as well.
While there is an inherited component to balding,
many men on the other hand
may experience a loss of body and facial hair
when they have lower levels of testosterone.
Number five, fatigue.
If you find yourself tired all the time,
despite getting a full amount of sleep,
you may be dealing with low levels.
It's best to discuss this with your doctor.
Number six, loss of muscle mass.
because of the role testosterone plays in building muscle,
you may experience loss of mass in your muscles as well
if you're dealing with less than ideal
levels of testosterone.
Number seven, increased body fat.
Sometimes when there is a disruption or an imbalance
of testosterone and estrogen in men,
in particular, men can experience things like
gynecomastia or an enlarged breast tissue
or other areas of increased body fat.
Number eight, decreased bone mass.
Men with lower testosterone levels,
especially as they get older,
may have lower bone volume and are more susceptible
to bone fractures and osteoporosis.
Number nine, mood and mental capacity.
If you find yourself with out-of-the-normal depression,
irritability, or lack of focus,
this could be an issue with the levels
of testosterone in your body.
Additionally, both testosterone levels
and cognitive functions, particularly memory,
decline with age.
As a result, doctors have theorized
that lower testosterone levels
could contribute to the effected memory.
Number 10, lastly, low blood counts.
Doctors have linked to low testosterone
with increased risk for anemia.
According to a research article
in the Journal of American Medical Association,
some risks and symptoms associated with anemia
can include dizziness, light cramping, sleep disruption,
abnormal heart rate, and more.
When researchers gave testosterone gel
to the anemic men who had low testosterone levels,
they saw improvements in their blood counts
as opposed to men who only received a placebo.
So what in the world causes the low testosterone?
And should you be concerned about it?
As we age, we produce less.
It is a natural part of the aging process.
But there are several other causes
that can also result in lower testosterone as well.
Things like injury to your testicles
or pituitary disorders, cancer treatments,
HIV or aids, inflammatory diseases,
such as sarcoidosis or tuberculosis,
testicular tumors are just some of the causes
of low production of testosterone.
And low production of testosterone
can then sometimes lead to hypogonadism.
In men, complications of untreated hypogonadism
include loss of libido, failure to achieve
physical strength, osteoporosis, infertility,
and a range of other health complications.
Testosterone replacement therapy is usually used
to treat low levels and hypogonadism.
Are there any possible side effects
from taking testosterone therapy?
Yes, like other supplements and medications,
testosterone therapy comes with risk
and possible side effects as well.
This is particularly true if you try to take it
for normal aging rather than treating a condition.
Short-term complications include sleep apnea, acne flares,
enlarged breasts, testicular shrinkage, and more.
Whereas men on long-term forms of testosterone therapy
appear to have a higher risk of cardiovascular problems,
such as heart attacks, strokes,
and deaths from heart disease.
There is a lingering concern that testosterone therapy
could also stimulate growth of prostate cancer cells.
As always, talk to your healthcare provider
first and foremost so you can go over things
like testosterone testing to determine
whether supplementation is the best option for you.
Lastly, are there natural remedies
for increasing testosterone?
Well testosterone therapy isn't for everyone.
There are also natural remedies available
that you can try as well to boost
your natural testosterone level.
Number one, zinc.
Studies have found zinc to be essential
in helping to regulate serum testosterone levels in men.
You can add zinc to your diet by eating whole grains
and shellfish or through additional supplementation.
Number two, potassium.
Potassium aides in testosterone synthesis.
Add potassium-rich food into your meals like bananas,
beets and spinach if you want
a little natural boost of testosterone.
And number three, lifestyle changes.
Things like getting more physical activity,
more sleep and managing your stress
are all things that can lead to increasing
your natural testosterone levels.
All right, that's been a testosterone breakdown
with me, Dr. Wagner.
Have you ever taken testosterone boosters?
What was your experience like?
Let me know in the comments below.
Also let me know if you'd like me
to make a follow-up video on how testosterone levels
can affect women as well.
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Thank you so much for watching and stay healthy, my friends.
(bright, upbeat music)