|
 As
we all know, Ponce De Leon never did find that Fountain of Youth.
However, today some physicians are labeling themselves as modern-day
"Dr. Ponce De Leons" known as anti-aging specialists, and the Fountain
has now taken the form of nutrition, exercise, and a variety of
drug therapies.
Anti-aging
medicine is relatively new phenomena, and one that has certainly
risen in popularity. As over seventy million baby-boomers enter
retirement age, the demand to slow or even reverse the aging process
has come full steam ahead.
Books
with titles like "The Anti-Aging Zone" and "Real Age" are frequent
visitors to the New York Times Best Seller lists. Last December,
anti-aging medicine became a medical specialty, with 150 physicians
becoming board certified (although not yet approved by the American
Board of Medical Specialties), and the American Academy of Anti-Aging
Medicine boasts over 5000 members.
But
is anti-aging really all that new? Good primary care physicians
have emphasized preventive care for a long time, espousing healthy
diets and regular exercise, and ordering tests that prevent people
from dying early. What worries most doctors today is that a mainstay
of anti-aging medicine are expensive and unproven treatments.
For
example, human growth hormone (hGH) supplementation is a
popular therapy in anti-aging clinics. Although proven to help people
with children and adults with growth hormone deficiencies, growth
hormone can cause some serious and harmful side effects if given
to just anybody. Current medical studies do not support the widespread
use of hormonal therapies such as hGH and testosterone as a supplement
to prevent disease.
The
medical community has also been skeptical of the motives of some
anti-aging proponents. The anti-aging phenomena have proven a lucrative
business, with some treatments ranging from hundreds to thousands
of dollars. Also worrisome is that the anti-aging physicians often
sell their own nutritional supplements, leaving some to wonder if
these clinics are nothing more than "money-making machines" taking
advantage of unsuspecting patients.
I think
the certification of anti-aging physicians last year, was a big
step in helping "legitimize" the practice to the medical community.
However, just as importantly, more clinical trials need to be done
on anti-aging conducted before the specialty is to be completely
embraced.
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If you plan on visiting an anti-aging
doctor, some questions you should ask are:
|
| 1.
What training has the physician done in anti-aging? |
| 2.
What does the current medical literature say about the treatments
that are recommended to me? |
| 3.
What is the overall plan recommended to me and is there an endpoint
or is the treatment lifelong? |
| 4.
Is the physician certified in any other specialty? |
| 5.
How often do you follow up on your patients (It should be months,
NOT years!) |
| 6.
Does the physician also recommend diet, exercise, and stress
reduction, along with medications? |
| 7.
Does the physician take a proper medical and family history,
as well as a physical? |
| 8.
Does the physician practice what he or she preaches? |
These
questions should go a long way in making sure you are better informed
and make better choices.
Remember,
one of the best investments you can make is to your health, and
not to someone elses pocketbook.
Look
forward to next weeks article on this subject: Is the Fountain
of Youth Available in Pill Form? By Thomas
E. Booth, MD, MS. This article will cover some the specific
agents used in the pursuit of a longer life.
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