Imagine the stress of everyday life taking a toll not just on your mood, but on your body as well. Sounds alarming, right? From fatigue to disrupted sleep, anti-social behavior to decreased concentration, stress can have quite a negative impact. But, the fascinating part that most of us overlook is how stress physiologically impacts our bodies. Let's delve a little deeper.
What you might not know is that you have your own little superheroes, the adrenal glands, located on top of your kidneys. They are the primary warriors in our bodies that help us combat stress. Their weapons of choice during such times are glucocorticoids (like cortisol) and catecholamines (like epinephrine).
But what happens when stress is long-term? Well, that's where things take a significant turn. When our bodies are constantly under stress, these molecules instead start breaking us down, leading to numerous health issues ranging from increased infections and high cholesterol to insulin resistance and even dementia.
This is why sleep, recovery & stress are one of the 10 spokes on our Wheel of Health. Click below to learn more!
Here's a surprising twist! Chronic stress also has the potential to decrease testosterone levels in men. This hormone is so crucial that changes in testosterone levels can affect both brain function and body composition. Symptoms include everything from low libido and decreased energy to alterations in muscle mass and bone mineral density.
Now, the question arises, how does one measure testosterone levels? Enter stage: total testosterone and free testosterone. The former measures all testosterone frolicking in your bloodstream, while the latter quantifies unbound testosterone available for your body to readily use. Both together give a complete glimpse into why one might be experiencing low testosterone levels.
If you suspect your testosterone is plummeting due to relentless stress, manage that stress! Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, and acupuncture can tip the scales in your favor. Or, you may want to explore herbs believed to support testosterone like Ashwagandha, Epimedium, and Ginseng.
And now, the one you've been waiting for, the power player, the game-changer - hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For those craving instant results, HRT, particularly testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), can give your testosterone levels the boost they need. Available in forms like creams and injections, it could be just what your body requires.
Remember, life might be stressful, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can keep your hormones, particularly testosterone, in check!