Reports have shown that approximately 4 out of 10 men over age 45 have low testosterone. This condition affects your s3x life, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. It can also increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. A lot of men avoid warning signs that they have low testosterone, which can be really disastrous. Here are 10 warning signs to keep an eye on and talk about with your doctor.
1. Low libido
Low libido is common to some men as they get older, the most significant and obvious sign of low testosterone is a sudden decline in s3x drive. No one thing causes low libido. So it’s crucial to talk to your doctor if you’re worried your s3x drive has dropped.
2. Extra weight
Carrying extra pounds can affect testosterone because fat cells convert testosterone to estrogen, which decreases circulating testosterone. Although men who are overweight or obese can have low testosterone, it’s not clear whether they gain weight because their testosterone is low or if their testosterone is low because they’re overweight. Either way, eating healthy, exercising and losing weight is often enough for them to feel better.
3. Erectile dysfunction
As many as 30 million men have erectile dysfunction and low testosterone could be to blame. In order to get and keep a strong erection, it’s necessary to have adequate blood flow, circulation, functioning valves, normal sensations and s3x drive and testosterone is responsible for all of it.
4. Fatigue
If you are always exhausted, crash on the couch after work and find it challenging to get motivated to do anything, low testosterone could be zapping your energy.
5. Sleep problems
If you are having trouble sleeping, low testosterone can be the problem. Men with low testosterone can experience insomnia but it’s also associated with obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder which affects a lot of people. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and problems with mood and memory.
Although there is no proof that low testosterone causes obstructive sleep apnea, but many many who have sleep apnea are also overweight, which can lead to low testosterone. The bottom line: If your partner says you snore, or you feel tired after sleeping all night, see your doctor.
6. Lack of concentration
Low testosterone can affect your focus since testosterone is responsible for focus. , if the hormone is low, you can experience brain fog, have trouble concentrating and even have memory problems.
7. Depression
A lot of men who have low testosterone are either depressed, showing significant symptoms of depression or were already diagnosed with depression and/or were taking antidepressant medication.
When men receive testosterone replacement therapy, they often see an improvement in their depression, and it’s more effective than the anti-depressants they were taking.
8. Breast growth
Since low testosterone causes the ratio of estrogen and testosterone in the body to become unbalanced, some men may grow breast tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia.
9. Aches and pains
Low testosterone can decrease muscle mass and strength so some men may experience joint pain, muscle aches and be more prone to injury.
10. Bone problems
Although osteoporosis is usually thought to affect women only, it can be a problem for men with low testosterone because it decreases bone density.
If you suspect you have low testosterone, make an appointment with your doctor who can diagnose it with a simple blood test and suggest several types of testosterone replacement therapy.
