Dr. Curtis McElroy

Category: Health

  • The Health Benefits of Fall Weather

    Healthy Benefits of Fall Weather

    Everyone knows there are health benefits to the summer months because of the sunshine and all the fresh produce. But did you know there are also healthy benefits of fall weather, as well? You may be surprised to find that, even though there may be more allergens from weeds, autumn is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the outdoors and start new eating habits which lead to an improved lifestyle. Here are a few reasons why experts agree the autumn weather has healthy benefits, too.

    Cooler weather brings about higher levels of the hormone norepinephrine, or noradrenaline, in your body. Norepinephrine is associated with pain suppression as well as the fight or flight reflex which provides much needed energy during times of stress.

    You’ll also recognize the benefit of having fewer disease-carrying insects in the cooler temperatures. Mosquitoes and ticks will be dying out and you won’t have to deal with flies as often. With fewer insects, you can actually enjoy being outdoors without the use of harsh chemical sprays to keep them away.

    Did you know that people who work outdoors in the cooler temperatures have more brown fat than those who work indoors? What difference does it make what color fat is, you ask? Brown fat produces heat and, therefore, burns more calories than other fat. So, while you’re enjoying a brisk walk or playing outdoor games with the family, take comfort in knowing you’re using the brown fat and burning more calories.

    Being outdoors in the cooler weather can also help bring mental clarity. There’s something special about the crisp air of a fall morning. It wakes you up, invigorates you and makes you feel like you can take on the world. Use the early morning hours to exercise outdoors and you’ll have the benefit of calories and clearing your mind to help you have a great day!

    While some plants make people feel miserable due to allergies, they don’t have to keep you indoors. There are fewer allergens in the fall because there are fewer plants blooming. Most fall allergies are related to ragweed, pollen or mold. In most cases these can be treated with over-the-counter medications and shouldn’t keep you from spending time outdoors.

    You will also notice the array of fruits and vegetables that are available in the fall. Think about the different varieties of apples that you may not find during other times of the year. You will also find carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and seeds of all kinds available at either the farmer’s market or grocery store. It makes sense to stock up on root vegetables which are chock full of concentrated energy.

    There are plenty of reasons to enjoy the autumn months. There are fewer bugs to contend with, the weather is considerably cooler and there is a wide variety of great fall foods. If you haven’t found the perfect fall activity yet, there’s still time. You can spend time outdoors and enjoy the healthy benefits of fall weather.

  • The Annual Checkup

    Annual Checkups You Shouldn’t Skip

    There is no denying that prevention is superior to treatment when it comes to healthcare. Heading off disease and illness is preferential to treating it whenever possible. Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent unwanted and unnecessary illnesses and diseases through annual checkups, exams, and screenings.

    Depending on age, there are recommended tests and screenings for men and women throughout their lives. While some are less of an issue in younger years, additional tests come into play as we age.

    Let’s take a look:

    Women ages 18-39
    ? Blood pressure
    ? Cholesterol
    ? Diabetes
    ? Pelvic and breast exams, including STD screenings
    ? Skin exams

    Women ages 50-above
    ? Blood pressure
    ? Cholesterol
    ? Diabetes
    ? Pelvic and breast exams, including mammograms
    ? Skin exams
    ? Colon cancer screenings
    ? Osteoporosis screenings
    ? Lung Cancer screenings
    ? Hormone screenings

    Men ages 18-49
    ? Blood pressure
    ? Cholesterol
    ? Diabetes
    ? STD screenings
    ? Skin exams
    ? Testicular screenings

    Men ages 50-above
    ? Blood pressure
    ? Cholesterol
    ? Diabetes
    ? Skin exams
    ? Colon cancer screenings
    ? Osteoporosis screenings
    ? Lung cancer screenings
    ? Prostate cancer screenings

    As you can see, there aren’t many differences in the sort of and type of screenings men and women should be having. Other than reproductive organ differences, men and women have virtually the same systems that are at risk as they age. Screening and looking for changes or alerts of potential issues can make aging easier and catch anything that may be a health threat.

    While this list is general, there may be more specialized tests that are recommended based on the individual needs of each person. From hormone testing to genetic issues, every person is unique and deserves a highly personalized well-care plan.

    In addition to cancer screenings and other tests, here are some additional tests that should be done every year at a minimum, unless your physician directs you otherwise:

    ? Eye exams
    ? Hearing tests
    ? Dental screenings

    These are equally important for great health and remaining independent as we grow older. Issue such as cataracts, hearing loss, and dental diseases can dramatically affect health and quality of life.

    Managing health is a lifelong commitment. Many of the checkups taken in younger years can prevent illness, injury, and disease in later years. Consistent and routine medical checkups can make life easier and healthier for you and your family. Schedule your checkups and encourage those you love to do the same.

  • Aging and Testosterone Levels

    How to Keep Your Testosterone Levels Higher As You Age

    Testosterone is the male sex hormone and is responsible for many of the traits that we consider to be typically masculine. That includes muscle mass, low body fat, a big jaw, thick brow, aggression, confidence, body hair and a deep voice.

    Testosterone also makes us feel great. The top athletes produce lots of testosterone because it makes them stronger, more energetic and better at recovering.

    It also makes us happier (low testosterone is associated with depression), more virile, better in bed and generally more alpha.

    But a huge proportion of men in the Western world have chronically low testosterone. And this only gets worse and worse, the older we get.

    The question is: how can you slow down the effects of old age by keeping testosterone where it should be?

    Why is Testosterone Low?

    This is not just a problem for the elderly male population. It is just as much an issue for guys in their 40s and 50s and it’s a MUCH bigger problem now than it was even 30 years ago.

    Several reasons why:

    * We spend less time outdoors
    * We spend more time on the computer
    * Our water and many of our products contain estrogenic compounds
    * We are often encouraged to pursue less classically ‘manly’ activities
    * We are less active
    * We are malnourished

    This highlights some of the things we can do to get our T levels back to normal. Spend more time outside, exercise more (using compound movements), drink water from a filter and avoid shampoos filled with chemicals and make sure you eat well.

    Some Powerful Tips

    There are also a few powerful tips you can employ to give yourself an instant testosterone boost.

    For example, eating more saturated fats will make a big difference.

    That’s because these contain cholesterol and cholesterol is what the body actually uses to make testosterone. Eat this just before bed because you produce maximum testosterone at 4am in the morning.

    Another tip is to get more sleep. Deeper sleep leads to more testosterone, so make sure you do everything you can to make sleep a priority.

    Get more vitamin D. Vitamin D is the reason that time outdoors may affect your  testosterone level.  Vitamin D acts like a master controller for your hormones and we produce more when we get exposure to sunlight. If you can’t be outside more, then consider taking a supplement.

Copyright @ 2017 DrCurtisMcElroy