Physiological Equilibrium: Hormonal Changes in Humans Equilibrium and change occ
ID: 3474728 • Letter: P
Question
Physiological Equilibrium: Hormonal Changes in Humans
Equilibrium and change occur in living and non-living systems. When cats become too warm, they pant to immediately release heat and to cool down their core. Changes also occur on a longer time scale in living beings. One such change is to the hormonal balance that ebbs and flows in most creatures - a balance that regulates appearance, reproduction, temperature, and mood. In humans, these changes are most obvious during the onset of adult hormonal changes; also called puberty, and the onset of post-reproductive life; known as menopause (in women) and andropause (in men). Though a natural part of the aging process, it is one that impacts individuals differently. As described in your Reading this week, aging may be a combined effect of the body’s planned obsolescence, where our bodies progress through a natural sequence of changes and accumulated accidental injuries, where the challenges of life lead to irreversible damage.
Menopause is a natural part of the aging process and is due to changes in levels of a woman’s reproductive hormones. These changes require re-equilibration, which often results in the symptoms that women may experience when they are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Though most frequently discussed with females, it is not limited to women only. Hormonal changes and therefore re-equilibration occur in males as part of the aging process as well.
Write and submit a short paper. In a 400-word paper, discuss the questions posed in the Seminar description above.
** A friend of yours has complained of the following symptoms:
weight gain
difficulty sleeping
low sex drive
lack of energy
depression/mood changes
1. Could these symptoms be due to menopause or andropause? Why or why not?
2. What questions would you ask your friend in order to confirm that menopause or andropause is the likely cause? Think of it as an investigation, where you are applying the scientific method.
3. Hormone therapies are an option for treating these symptoms. Describe a person most appropriate for this type of treatment.
4. What are some of the risks associated with this treatment? How do they compare with other forms of hormone therapy, like the use of human growth hormone?
5. Are there alternatives to hormone therapies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives?
6. How would the following conditions impact any advice you would give your friend:
Your friend smokes cigarettes
Your friend is male
Your friend is between the ages of 25 and 35
Your friend had a hysterectomy
Explanation / Answer
1.Yes, above symptoms are due to menopause or andropause.
In female it occurs due to drop in oestrogen level and in male due to drop in testosterone levels.
2. List of questions to confirm menopause or andropause:
Low sex drive, lack of energy, depression, irratability & mood swings, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, hot flushes, sleeping difficulty and forgetfulness .
3. Candidate for hormone therapy: biochemical evidence of low testosterone levels with some or all the symptoms as above described .
4. Risk associated with hormone replacement: Prostatic diseases as benign Prostatic hyperplasia and Prostatic carcinoma.
Growth hormone is relatively safe.
5.Alternatives to hormone therapies:
Get moving( exercise) improve mood, reducing stress and preventing cognitive decline.
Keep cool cotroll hot flushes.
Avoid certain foods as caffeine to improve sleep.
Black cohosh is most common over the counter herbs helps in relieving hot flushes and mood swings.
Antidepressants to relieve anxiety and mood swings.
6. Smoker friends - Quit smoking
Male friend- take testosterone replacement therapy.
25-35 yrs old friend -do regular exercise and take proper diet.
Hysterectomised friend- take oestrogen replacement therapy.