The Top 10 on Antiaging

 10 Questions You Want to Know About Antiaging Medicine

1. IS ANTIAGING MEDICINE THE SAME AS AESTHETIC MEDICINE?

The term Antiaging has become one of the hottest buzzwords in marketing today. The consumer’s obsession with looks has created an unparallel market and billions of dollars are being spent in that quest for looking younger. Over 60% of all Americans age 65 and older are currently pursuing Antiaging interventions.

Although aesthetic procedures are very effective in reversing the superficial signs of aging of the skin, this specialty of medicine does little to address the deteriorating effects of aging that most of us deal with on an every day basis.  

In turn lies the newest revolution in health care. That is, Antiaging and Regenerative Medicine.  This field of medicine was specifically designed to address the need to lengthen and improve ones quality of life. To prevent, slow down and even reverse many of the destructive processes that cause us to age prematurely. 

2. IS ANTIAGING A RECOGNIZED SUBSPECIALTY OF MEDICINE?

 The entire movement can be traced back to two medical pioneers, whose dedication and vision created this medical revolution. Dr. Robert Goldman and Dr. Ronald Klatz established the new clinical science of Antiaging medicine in 1993. Together, they founded the American Academy of Antiaging Medicine (A4M). As chairman and president of the A4M, doctors Goldman and Klatz have grown this society of physicians and scientists from 12 members in 1993, to over 15,000 members in more than 80 countries from around the globe. The A4M is the largest non-for-profit medical society in the world. Dedicated to the advancement of technologies that can prevent, detect and treat age related diseases.  

3. IS THERE CERTIFICATION LIKE IN OTHER SPECIALTIES OF MEDICINE?

The A4M trains over 30,000 health care professionals per year in the science of Antiaging medicine and biomedical technologies. The A4M formed the Board of Antiaging & Regenerative Medicine, which is recognized around the world as “the” certification board for Antiaging Medicine. Currently, there are over 1,000 physicians in various stages of the certification process. Full Board Certification is only awarded to licensed medical doctors who pass both the written and oral examination.

4. CAN ANYONE PRACTICE ANTIAGING MEDICINE?

The practice of Antiaging Medicine as outline by the A4M is limited to medical doctors with formal training in one or more specialties of medicine that are also licensed to prescribe medicines.  This is because in its truest sense, the practice of Antiaging Medicine not only addresses nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and supplementation, but also strives to balance the complex symphony of hormones back to youthful levels. The word balance is the most important goal for establishing a state of equilibrium.  Establishing that perfect balance is challenging. It could almost seem daunting to those who take the time to learn the myriad functions of the various hormones that direct our daily activities.  

5. IS THERE ANY FORMAL TRAINING IN ANTIAGING MEDICINE?

In an effort to standardize this field, the Academy of Antiaging and Regenerative Medicine in conjunction with the Institute of Functional Medicine, developed a two-year post-graduate “Advanced Fellowship” program, which allows doctors the tools necessary to meet the daunting challenge.  

Currently, there are only 56 physicians worldwide who are graduates of this Advanced Fellowship program according to program director Pam W. Smith, MD, MPH. These physicians are amongst the elite in the field of Antiaging, Regenerative and Functional Medicine.

6. IS THIS TYPE OF MEDICINE COVERED BY INSURANCE?

Empathetic physicians interested in improving healthcare are frustrated because they are increasingly forced to spend less and less time with patients due to insurance company dictates. On an average, physicians can only spend 5.2 minutes with each patient.  

A typical consult with a well-trained Antiaging physician lasts a minimum of 45 minutes.  The physician will spend much time reviewing labs and asking specific questions that will unveil whether or not balanced is achieved.

For women, this reality is a well known fact as women pass through their years of menopause, which begins at age thirty-five and onward. Symptoms like anxiety, depression, weight gain, heart palpitations, fine lines and so on, begin to appear and are just the beginning of their bodies decline.

For men, these changes are less subtle but begin to manifest as erectile dysfunction, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, loss of confidence, change in body composition, etc.

Requesting that your doctor short-change your bio-individual care for the sake of taking insurance is not acceptable.

7. WHAT KINDS OF THERAPIES SHOULD I EXPECT?

In Antiaging Medicine we give the body back what it is missing.   Conventional medical wisdom dictates that if you are dehydrated, you give the patient water. If the patient has Scurvy, you give vitamin C. For Ricketts the remedy is to replace the missing ingredient- vitamin D.  Thus in Antiaging Medicine we follow the same reasoning by replacing the body with the hormones the body needs with biologically identical hormones other with known as bio-identical hormones. These hormones are derived from plants such as wild yams and are manipulated in a lab to have the exact chemical structure as the original molecule they are replacing.  

Buyers beware for those selling “wild yam” extracts in the belief that they will act in the same way as the hormones in your body. The body will not be able to utilize this chemical since it will not fit into the glove. These products are no more useful in balancing your hormone than the synthetic pharmaceutical versions given to millions of American women today. Drugs like Premarin, Provera, Yasmin and the likes are truly substitutes for the real thing that actually cause a disruption of the hormonal symphony, an imbalance of your hormonal environment. They are not replacements.

Bio-identical hormones have been around since the 1930’s and have been widely used in Europe for over 60 years. These are not the hormones that you hear or read about in the media, which have given the name hormone a bad name. The public needs to be informed of the difference in order to make a valid decision in considering hormone replacement therapy. 

8. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ANTIAGING THERAPIES?

By optimizing our body’s functions, Antiaging therapies can protect you from the effects of aging, which include; Heart Disease, Hypertension, Stroke, Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Cancer, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. Other benefits include: firmer skin, less wrinkles, increased sex drive, reduction or elimination of hot flashes and night sweats, improved erections, increased muscle mass, decreased fat, increased energy, and there are many more.

9. WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

The risks involved in Antiaging Medicine are quite minimal. In comparison to synthetic hormone replacement therapy, which has many dangerous and even fatal side effects, the most common complaints associated with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), are temporary and usually subside when proper physiologic levels are achieved. To avoid or minimize these effects it is important to work with a qualified physician, MD, who really understands the complete science behind balancing your hormones.

10.  WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?

If you are looking to learn more about Antiaging Medicine, the following websites are recommended; WorldHealth.net (the American Academy of Antiaging Medicine), NIA.NIH.gov (the National Institute on Aging), Health.Harvard.edu/Wellness and PubMed.gov. There are also some great books in circulation that can further your study of Antiaging.  They include: Antiaging Revolution by Dr. Ronald Klatz and Robert Goldman, Ageless by Suzanne Somers, and Forever Ageless by Dr. Ron Rothenberg.

There are virtually thousands of studies that have been done on Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, primarily by the major medical institutions and recorded in the top medical journals. I encourage you all to do your research and further your education and study of this life-changing field of Antiaging Medicine.