Low Testosterone
Key symptoms of low testosterone can include:
- Reduced muscle mass
- Reduced bone density/ thinner bones
- Reduced red blood cells
- Lower sex drive/ libido
- Trouble getting an erection
- Changes in the testicles
- Drop-in energy levels/ less energy
- Decreased sense of well being
- Difficulty sleeping in some people
- Lack of focus, irritability, and depression/ moodiness
- Increased body fat/ weight gain
- Less body hair
- Breast development
None of these are inspiring to us, and we assumed most old bulls would agree. Read more detail on the total testosterone in this article by Rochester University Medical Centre.
So what are some of the key causes of low testosterone?
Once you hit thirty, testosterone production starts to decrease naturally. But lifestyle factors that can decrease testosterone include. In the United States, it is estimated 4-5 million men have low testosterone.
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Stress or anxiety
- Alcohol consumption
- Drug use
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
and then there are the areas harder to control, the key one being age, but also :
- injury or trauma
- disfunction of the pituitary gland
- hormone disorders
- some medications
- kidney failure
- various inflammatory conditions
- some genetic conditions
Chronic health conditions can also affect testosterone production, including AIDS, kidney disease, and cirrhosis of the liver.
Key Takeaways
Testosterone is most commonly associated with sex drive in men but also affects mental health, bone and muscle mass, fat storage, and blood cell production. Abnormally high or low levels can also affect mental and physical health.
Read more on what's causing low testosterone in this detailed article.