Dr. Mohsen Soofian, leading physician at Hortman Clinics shares how hormones can play a vital role in how we feel.
Talk us through your background and how you became interested in wellness and anti-aging?
I am an Osteopathic Physician with American Board Certification in Family Medicine. I have advanced training through the American Academy of Anti-Aging medicine through their Fellowship for Anti-Aging, Metabolic, and Functional Medicine and the Aesthetic Anti-Aging Fellowship. This reflects five state licenses (Alabama, California, Hawaii, Florida, and New York) and I have practiced all over the United States and established my clinic in Miami (The Renaissance Clinic). I have currently joined Hortman Clinics as their mindset and goal to bring elevated wellness and longevity to the UAE matched with my passion and professional goals.
What are the main symptoms or signs that indicate the need for hormone testing?
Hormone testing in women is typically indicated when there are symptoms or signs suggesting hormonal imbalances. These may involve reproductive, metabolic, or systemic functions. Here are some of the main symptoms and signs that warrant consideration for hormone testing: Irregular menstrual cycles, Amenorrhea (Absence of menstruation for more than three months), Heavy or prolonged periods,
Infertility, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Hot flashes and night sweats, Mood changes, Sleep disturbances, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Unexplained weight changes. Hormone testing in men, on the other side, is typically indicated when symptoms or signs suggest hormonal imbalances affecting reproductive, metabolic, or systemic health. Below are the main symptoms and signs that may encourage hormone testing in men: Low testosterone (Hypogonadism), Physical changes (Decreased muscle mass and strength), Energy and Performance, Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), Low cortisol (Adrenal Insufficiency), High cortisol, Cushing’s Syndrome), Estrogen imbalance, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome, Prolactin imbalance, Fertility issues, Bone, and joint symptoms. If an imbalance is found, what treatment options are available? Different treatments are offered to patients according to their imbalances. For instance, Low Estrogen Imbalance is treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy, while High Estrogen Balance is corrected through lifestyle changes or Progesterone Therapy. With Thyroid Hormone Imbalance, Iodine, and selenium-rich foods if deficient are added to the diet. For Hyperthyroidism, Methimazole or propylthiouracil (PTU) is used to suppress thyroid activity. To lower cortisol, medications such as ketoconazole and metyrapone are used. The treatment varies on the issue and can be personalised as per each client’s requirements.
How do lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and exercise affect hormone levels?
Of course, stress, diet, and sleep are so important. If these are not made optimal then your hormone levels will suffer. Stress management, good sleep, healthy food, minimising/eliminating alcohol will help greatly in keeping your body resilient and keep hormones at healthy levels.
How important is physical fitness when it comes to balancing your hormones?
This is everything. Physical fitness will improve your bodies resiliency and release optimal levels of hormones for men and women.
Testosterone has been shown to increase dramatically after exercise, also increasing endorphins in the brain, so your stress is reduced, and you have a sense of well-being. There is no shortcut or avoiding it, physical fitness is necessary to maintain health. All the studies show,
the more muscle you have and the more you exercise, the less risk of mental health issues, less risk of dying, and less cancer.
Are there natural or non-prescription approaches to balancing hormones?
While natural supplements are available (such as LJ 100 for boosting testosterone), there is nothing that can replace the efficacy and treatment response we get from pharmaceutical interventions. All my patients on pharmaceutical hormones are very happy and love the treatment response they get and how tremendously it benefits their well-being. We need to understand that hormonal dysfunction is a consequence of aging, so while it is natural to experience a decline in hormones, we do not need to tolerate the decades of suffering and the symptoms that come with the aging process and suboptimal hormone levels. We can directly intervene to keep you feeling good, functioning well, and performing at your best every day. As a testament to this, I can proudly say that all my patients who started
hormones have continued, and none have stopped.
What are the common causes of hormone imbalances in women in the UAE?
Hormone imbalances in both women and men can arise from a combination of genetic, lifestyle, environmental, and medical factors. In the UAE, specific cultural, environmental, and lifestyle influences may play a role. Below are the “common causes of hormone imbalances” in women and men, with a focus on factors prevalent in the UAE. In women, they include various elements such as lifestyle factors, dietary patterns, PCOS, stress, physical inactivity, Thyroid disorders, and other external factors such as Vitamin D deficiency and more can cause these imbalances. In men, various elements such as diet, stress, lack of sleep, Hypogonadism and environment factors such as pollution, toxins and vitamin D deficiency play a big role.
This is The Optimism Issue – how do you stay positive during testing times?
I’m a big believer in stoicism, but a positive approach to it. Life happens. Life is 10 per cent of things that happens to us and 90 percent
how we respond to them. “This too shall pass” is a very powerful concept, that we just accept what has happened and that it will move on, and we can work hard to overcome it. Losing hope is the biggest sin, because if you have accepted giving up, nothing can be done. The
phrase: “It’s always darkest before dawn” is very true, because when times are bad and it may seem there is no way out, we need to count
our blessings and find opportunity in every challenge that lies ahead.
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