Men's Health 3/17

Is Melatonin a Sleeping Pill?

3 min read

Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body. It helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. A synthetic form of melatonin is also available as a supplement. Some people use it as a natural remedy for insomnia and other sleep disorders.

So, does melatonin work as a sleeping pill? Let’s take a look at the science behind this popular supplement.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. It is involved in regulating the body's sleep-wake cycle. Levels of melatonin rise in the evening and fall in the morning.

Production of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. It is thought to play a role in resetting the body's internal clock, which helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin levels are also affected by age, with older people generally having lower levels than younger people.

Melatonin and sleep: does it work like a sleeping pill?

You’ve likely heard of melatonin as a sleep aid. However, melatonin is not a sleeping pill and doesn't act similarly like sleeping pill.

Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces. It’s sometimes called the “darkness hormone” because levels of it rise in the evening and fall in the morning. This rise and fall is linked to your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm.

Circadian rhythm helps regulate when for you to feel sleepy and when you feel awake. So, it makes sense that taking melatonin could help you sleep, right? Well, kind of. Melatonin supplements can help reset your internal clock if it’s out of whack (like if you’ve been jet-lagged or switched to a new work schedule).

So, is it good to take synthetic melatonin every night?

While most people consider short-term synthetic melatonin use to be safe, there is limited evidence that it is effective for promoting long-term sleep. It's important to remember that synthetic melatonin is also a hormone, and that using any hormone on a regular basis has the potential to suppress your own production of that hormone.

Furthermore, there are studies found that melatonin supplementation may impair the function of other hormones such as oestrogen and male growth hormone.

Better alternatives to synthetic melatonin

If you need help falling asleep and staying asleep at night, there are a few things you can do to help your body's natural ability to produce melatonin.

To begin, seek out sunlight during the day and keep your environment dark at night. Getting up and going to bed at the same time every day will also help to regulate your natural melatonin production.

There are a variety of other supplements that can help improve sleep that won't mess with your hormones. And, unlike the neurohormone melatonin, which only helps you fall asleep faster, these can actually improve your sleep quality and help you wake up feeling more rested and ready to go.

Magnesium - Magnesium is also used by the body naturally, but it is a mineral and more of a multitasker. This essential macromineral ("essential" in the sense that we must consume it on a daily basis) is involved in over 300 biological reactions. Magnesium has been found to help improve various sleep measures.
Maizinol™ corn leaf extract - Unlike synthetic melatonin, Maizinol™ is a natural sleep aid, stress, and mood health ingredient that contains proprietary standardized natural compounds known to bind to melatonin receptors and produce melatonin-like effects for better sleep quality. Maizinol™ is also clinically proven to reduce levels of a stress hormone, cortisol, and to improve mood health.

The takeaway

Melatonin is a hormone that controls your sleep cycle. It does not work like a sleeping. Taking it as a supplement can help you adjust your body clock, but experts agree it should not be done every night for long term.

To improve your overall sleep quality, you should instead support your body's natural production of melatonin by getting plenty of light during the day, seeking out darkness at night, and sticking to a consistent sleep schedule.

Anabolic Steroids and Gynecomastia: The Dark Side of Muscle Building

3 min read

Anabolic steroids are drugs that are taken to increase muscle mass and strength. They are commonly used by bodybuilders and athletes to improve their performance. However, anabolic steroids can also cause a condition known as gynecomastia, which is the development of breasts in males.

Do You Have Gynecomastia?

Men primarily produce testosterone, which is responsible for puberty and sexual development. They also produce a trace of oestrogen (a hormone that is abundantly found in females). These two hormones typically become imbalanced during puberty in adolescent boys or when mature men of a certain age naturally begin to produce less testosterone. Because of the high oestrogen content, the breast tissues are compelled to grow.

So, if you looked down at your chest and noticed that you have a lot of breast tissue? If so, you may have a condition known as gynecomastia. The common factors that could contribute to the development of gynecomastia include:

Hormone imbalance
Obesity
Puberty
Side effects of the medicine – such as anti-ulcer drugs or medicine for heart disease
Illegal drugs – such as cannabis or anabolic steroids
Alcohol misuse
Health conditions – such as kidney failure or liver disease
Klinefelter syndrome (a rare genetic disorder)
Lumps or infections in the testicles

Why Did Anabolic Steroids Cause Gynecomastia?

Bodybuilding is a highly competitive sport in which contestants strive for single-digit percentages of body fat, which accentuates their glandular breast tissue. When taking steroids, the body (often fat cells) converts this external hormone into oestrogen. This rise in oestrogen levels is what causes men to develop excess breast tissue.

It’s relatively common for athletes who use steroids to build muscle to develop gynecomastia, as their use is less likely to be well-monitored by a doctor.

There are numerous types of Gynecomastia caused by steroid use. Bodybuilders may experience one or more of the following symptoms: classic gynecomastia, puffy nipples, or enlarged areolas.

Does Gynecomastia Go Off Once Stop The Anabolic Steroids?

Early diagnosis of gynecomastia development can be helpful in preventing the condition from advancing.

Once the use of steroids is discontinued, gynecomastia may resolve on its own. However, if it continues in long term, the excess fatty tissue and breast development will most likely require surgical intervention.

Instead of using steroids to build muscle, it is generally safer to use supplements (sometimes referred to as “natural steroids”). Many people can gain muscle mass by taking supplements that increase protein, energy, or testosterone levels without risking unwanted or harmful side effects like gynecomastia.

What Procedure Involved in Gynecomastia Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is typically performed under general anaesthesia. Local anaesthesia with sedation may be used in some cases.

The operation usually involves:

Cutting around the nipple
Removing excess fatty tissue with a scalpel (surgical knife) or sucking it out with liposuction (a combination of both techniques may be used)
Repositioning the nipples if a large amount of tissue must be removed
Dressings will be applied.

The procedure takes about 1.5 hours. Typically, you must spend the night in the hospital.

Conclusion

Anabolic steroids can potentially cause gynecomastia, but this side effect is relatively rare. If you are into bodybuilding and wish to boost your anaesthetic look. You may consider for natural supplement or alternatively talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking anabolic steroids.

Is Viagra Not Working For You? Here Are Some Possible Reasons Why.

3 min read

If you have erectile dysfunction, you may be prescribed Viagra. But what if the medication doesn't work? Let's look at what Viagra is, why it may or may not work, and what to do if it doesn't improve your erections.

How Does Viagra Work?

Viagra is a well-known drug taken by men suffering from erectile dysfunction. The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil, which is a PDE5 inhibitor.

Viagra works by inhibiting the enzyme PDE5, which relaxes smooth muscles and increases blood flow to the penis. This increases blood flow and makes it easier to get and maintain an erection.

As a result, sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitors address blood flow issues that can result in erectile dysfunction.

Viagra May Not Be Effective for Everyone

While the majority of men who take Viagra experience improved erections, some men find that the drug does not have any effect on their erectile dysfunction. Sometimes, it can be due to Viagra may not be the right medication for some men. In other cases, another underlying condition may be interfering with the drug's effectiveness.

For example, if you have low testosterone or low androgen receptors density, you may also have a low sex drive, which can make achieving an erection difficult. If this is the case, you may require both testosterone therapy and medications to treat erectile dysfunction. There is a common misconception that taking sildenafil always results in an erection, but this is not the case. You must be in a good mood and be stimulated, whether physically, mentally, or visually. So, before you try Viagra, make sure you're aroused.

Diabetes-related nerve damage can also interfere with your erection response. Diabetic nerve damage is caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the nerves. This type of damage can affect any nerve in your body, but the nerves in your penis are especially vulnerable.

Clogged arteries could be a possible reason for Viagra's failure to work, which the condition can prevent sildenafil from increasing blood flow.

Another possible reason Viagra does not work for everyone has to do with anxiety and emotional health. This can make it difficult to get sexually excited from a neurotransmitter perspective.

When Viagra Doesn't Work: What's Next?

If you've tried Viagra more than five times and it hasn't worked, it's possible that it's not the right treatment for you. It could mean that the problem isn't vascular, in which case increasing blood flow won't help.

If Viagra isn't working for you, talk to your doctor about other options. Other medications may be more effective for you. It's also possible that you have an underlying health condition that's causing your erectile dysfunction, in which case you'll need to be evaluated further.

Make Lifestyle Modifications A Top Priority

In addition to medical interventions, it is critical to address lifestyle factors that contribute to ED. Some common factors that can lead to blood circulation problems include:

Absence of activity
Cigarette smoking habits
Alcohol consumption
Stress

The good news is that some of the most effective treatments for ED symptoms are nonprescription. Consider the following changes to help improve your overall health and ED symptoms such as circulation:

Stop smoking.
Reduce your daily stress.
Control your weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Exercise and physical activity should be done on a daily basis.
Reduce or eliminate your alcohol consumption.

Is Viagra Not Helping You? Don't be Disheartened.

If Viagra isn't working for you, don't give up hope! There are many possible reasons why it might not be effective, and fortunately, there are also many potential solutions. Talk to your doctor about what might be going on and explore all of your options. With a little bit of trial and error, you're sure to find a treatment that works for you.