Propecia as an Anti-Aging Drug?
Let me state from the beginning that i have zero knowledge in this
area of things, so much of this will be a major shot in the dark, but
some things which have crossed my mind lately are the fact that many
aging issues which result in health complications are directly related
to the hormonal changes that occur when men hit that second "change of
life" in their mid 20's-30's. Their hair starts to thin, their
prostate health may begin a slow decline, their heart health may begin
a slow decline, their body weight may increase and the thickness of
their skin also seems to dramatically increase (in some cases) as they
get older.
As a personal and possibly completely UNRELATED issue, I know that
when I hit age 25, a major change occurred in my body. Actually
several:
1. Hair started thinning
2. Scalp skin started itching, tingling
3. Facial skin became more substantial whereas it was very thin prior
4. In a period of about 2 months I gained 35lbs whereas I had been
unable to gain a single pound despite massive meals for several years.
For the first time in my life I had a belly. Overall body fat
increased.
5. My ability to maintain an erection for the first time also started
to decrease. I found times with my girlfriend where I just plain
couldn't perform. This was a major change from being a 20 year old
who could have sex sometimes 7+ times a day without a problem (no
joke).
After about 6 months to a year of this, I began taking Propecia. The
hair loss had only started a couple months prior, but the rest of it
had been going for awhile, and it was like it was turned on like a
light switch. The change occurred that fast.
Upon taking Propecia (again potentially completely unrelated?)...
after about 3 months, my body fat returned to normal. It seemed that
my metabolism had once again increased and was staying that way. I
was slim and fit. The skin on my face and other parts seemed to be
thinner too (no way to measure this, just an odd "hunch"). Of course,
my hair stopped falling out, and my ability to maintain an erection -
although slightly altered by the Propecia - returned as well. There
were definite sexual changes going on prior to taking Propecia
however, that I'd never felt before.
Heart disease is known to relate to hormonal changes. Prostate cancer
is known to relate to similar hormonal changes. Hair loss is known to
relate to similar hormonal changes. Sexual performance changes in
your 20's-30's are known to relate to the same hormonal changes. That
"change of life" including increased body fat and everything else that
goes along with it are all related to many of the programmed hormonal
changes.
Would it not make sense then that many of these things related to
aging and related to hormones might be completely stopped by a
medication that has been shown to reverse or alter the natural
progression of the hormones responsible?
I would appreciate everyone's thoughts on this.
The antiaging properties of the sex hormones are well - known. Athletes
use hormones to build muscle mass and improve performance. Anabolic
steroids have actually been banned from the Olympic games. High - dose
testosterone has actually been used to stop sperm production in men. I
don't know what effect it has on the hair. Some people believe that a
breakdown product of testosterone, known as Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT,
is the cause of male pattern baldness. PropeciaŽ, known chemically as
finasteride, is claimed by its makers to stop this kind of hair loss, has
sexual side effects. Others who believe in the DHT theory of hair loss but
don't want to use finasteride take Saw Palmetto and get a similar result.
The only advice I can give you is this: Prescription drugs like
finasteride can damage the scalp and cause permanent, irreversible
baldness. A healthy diet, being careful sbout the pH of your blood, that
is, consuming the right foods for optimal blood pH - and various other
things, including an abstinence from sex have all been advocated in this
newsgroup. I have taken those things which work for me. I have hair
sprouting in my bald spot. Granted, it's very fine and doesn't make my
bald spot any less obvious - but it is smaller.Testosterone by injection
has been used to prolong lives.
Estrogen given to women is known to improve mental function and various
other ailments which come with aging like loss of bone mass. Thousands of
women are on Hormone Replacement Therapy.