THE DOCTOR'S CORNER
Grumpy Old Man Syndrome
by Dr. Timothy Grondin

You've seen them, run into them from time to time. The old guy that just can't see the good in anything. Now I know there are a lot of reasons why some old guys can be grumpy. Geez, we all have our moments but sometimes it's about bad chemistry. And the problem I'm talking about happens to younger men also. Sometimes men in their 30s go from happy-go-lucky, to moody, to downright irritable.

Often what you see in this situation is low testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone that gives men drive and a zest for life. If it's low, you lose that zest. You feel fatigued, you can't get motivated. That's a bad place to be. Generally, testosterone reaches its peak at around age 19 and steadily declines at 1 to 2% a year. So by the age of 40 you can see a 40% reduction in levels. This can definitely affect the way you feel and think. By age 60, well...grumpy old man syndrome. And I don't think 60 is old by the way.

So, what do you do? In my office, we hand out "happy pills." Yea, I know how it sounds but they often do that for men and women also. We see low testosterone in women as often as men. It affects women differently. Women with low testosterone generally have the fatigue and failing libido like men but it can also produce hot flashes.

The "happy pills" I refer to are called b-vital and are produced by Biotics Research. This supplement is a combination of Peruvian Maca and deer antler from American elk. The Peruvian Maca comes from the Andes Mountains and has been used for centuries to promote balance and restore energy. The combination of these two compounds provides a rich and diverse nutrient base and will absolutely elevate testosterone. I have seen it work many times over the five years it's been available. You take one capsule twice daily. It can take 30 to 60 days to elevate testosterone levels but can happen more quickly.

One word of caution here. I generally don't prescribe b-vital without giving another supplement called chrysin-300. Here's why: Some men have too much of an enzyme called Aromatase. This enzyme converts testosterone into estrogen...the feminizing hormone. So, you can actually make the situation worse in some cases. Some men could even develop breasts. Now that would definitely be worse. The chrysin-300 prevents the Aromatase from doing that. You only need one per day as prevention. If you already know a man who has breasts, it's highly likely they have too much estrogen. For the guy who already has this problem, the chrysin-300 will stop it from getting any worse but more needs to be done to reverse this situation. Both the chrysin and b-vital are available at the office if you like.

Yours in health,

Dr. Grondin

If you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, feel free to e-mail Dr. Grondin at docgrondin@advnet.net.

Dr. Timothy Grondin started his career as a medic (corpsman) in the Navy where he examined, diagnosed and treated people for minor illnesses under the direction of an M.D. When Grondin left the military, he became a nurse and worked on the medical/surgical ward at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital for a number of years. Though he began taking pre-med courses at Oakland University, Grondin changed his mind, choosing to become a Chiropractor instead. Grondin graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988, and has been in practice in Port Huron since 1989.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to either directly or indirectly diagnose, give medical advice or prescribe treatment. Please consult with your physician or other licensed health care professional for medical diagnosis and treatment.